Head of Event Operations presso Farmers Guardian Ltd

Arc is a dynamic B2B events, data, and media platform redefining the way professionals connect and grow. With a portfolio of over 150 annual events and industry-leading content platforms, we empower communities in HR technology, agriculture and food, financial services, investing, and education technology.

Our talented team of 350+ colleagues spans the US, UK, Netherlands and Singapore, united by a shared mission: to create meaningful opportunities for businesses to come together—anytime, anywhere, and in any format that drives success. At Arc, innovation meets collaboration to help industries and professionals thrive.

Role Overview

The Head of Event Operations will be responsible for the strategic planning and operational delivery of Arc’s extensive UK and European exhibitions within the Agriconnect and HR Tech European portfolios. This role requires a seasoned professional adept at managing relationships with P&L leaders, vendors, and customers across multiple events and industries.

The Head of Event Operations will oversee venue management, logistics, production, and technical services for our European based exhibitions, working with a geographically dispersed team to ensure an exceptional experience for all our customers.

Key responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership
  • Develop and implement a comprehensive operations strategy that aligns with Arc’s long-term business vision and goals.
  • Identify and capitalise on opportunities to optimise operational processes, drive efficiency, and enhance profitability.
  • Collaborate cross-functionally with P&L leaders, commercial, marketing, and content teams to deliver innovative, customer-centric solutions.
  • Manage, mentor and develop a team of operations professionals

• Operational Delivery
  • Direct the end-to-end planning, execution, and evaluation of our European exhibitions— including leading venue management, onsite logistics, technical production Oversee the selection, negotiation, and management of vendors and suppliers, including venues, general contractors, AV production, caterers, security, transport, and accommodation.
  • Champion sustainability initiatives across event operations, including waste reduction, energy conservation, and ethical sourcing.

• Financial & Performance Management
  • Develop and manage budgets and forecasts for event operations, ensuring accurate cost control and maximising ROI.
  • Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to track success and drive ongoing improvement.

• Risk & Compliance Management
  • Identify, assess, and mitigate operational risks, ensuring rigorous health & safety, and security standards.
  • Develop and maintain comprehensive crisis management and contingency plans.

Skills & Experience

• Extensive and a proven track record of leading operations for major trade shows, exhibitions, or large-scale live events. A deep understanding of owning all areas of the process at scale.
• Comfortable handling complex and high impact projects
• Deep understanding of the UK and European events landscape, including venue management, supplier management, logistics, production, and technical services.
• Strong financial acumen with demonstrable experience in budgeting, forecasting, and commercial negotiations.
• Exceptional stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence, inspire, and collaborate across diverse teams and geographies.
• Experienced in leading and developing high-performing, multi-location teams.
• Excellent problem-solving, strategic thinking, and decision-making capabilities.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with a focus on partnership, innovation, and results.
• Certified in IOSH Managing Safely (or equivalent), preferred

What you can expect from us:

As well as working with the most interesting, talented and fun people, we operate a culture where success is recognised. You will be supported throughout your career, tailoring your development through management support, internal & external training courses and on the job training.

We also offer a range of benefits including:

• 25 days annual leave increasing to 27 after two years
• An extra day off on your birthday
• Matched pension contributions up to 6%
• Employee Life Assurance x4 basic annual salary
• Employee assistance programme
• Employee Discount site

All souls are welcome 

As an equal opportunity employer we hire, develop and retain the best people regardless of their social background, age, sex, ethnicity, religion/belief or disability, and to make use of their talents.

We value everyone as an individual. We recognise that everyone is different and have created a work environment where we treat everyone fairly and in a consistent way and promote a culture of respect and dignity, to create a company that’s the right fit for every person inside of it.

We are excited by the incredible potential of AI and the innovative ways it can enhance the way we work. However, in our hiring process, we aim to get to know you. To stand out to our hiring managers, we encourage you to let your personality shine through, rather than relying on an AI-generated application.

You are welcome to use AI as a writing assistant to help structure and articulate your thoughts. Please do not use it to generate fictional skills or experiences. Using AI responsibly can support your application, but your application must ultimately represent you.