Global Events Manager

Role Summary:

Freshfields is seeking a dynamic and experienced Global Events Manager to join our team. This role is pivotal in managing events for our global organization in a fast-paced, professional, and client-focused environment. The successful candidate will possess excellent teamwork and communication skills, the ability to build strong relationships with senior internal stakeholders and client contacts, and collaborate effectively with brand and marketing, communications, business development, and operations colleagues across the global firm. The purpose of this role is to deliver relevant, imaginative, cost-effective events that strengthen client relationships, support the development of new opportunities, enhance the firm's brand and reputation, and differentiate the Freshfields offering.

Key Responsibilities:

• Build Relationships: Establish excellent working relationships with key stakeholders and colleagues, including BD teams responsible for Practice Groups and Sectors, Global Experts, and Global Operations.

• Event Planning and Delivery: Plan, create, and deliver high-quality client-facing events, conferences, and hospitality in line with the firm's strategic focus and client-specific objectives. Organize an outstanding program of internal conferences and events with firmwide importance and in support of the firm's priority initiatives.

• Event Design: Implement a distinctive, creative, cost-effective, and brand-focused design for all events, working collaboratively with senior events managers in each region.

• Best Practices and Processes: Advise BD teams, internal stakeholders, and EAs on events best practices and processes.

• Technology and Reporting: Leverage marketing technology (e.g., Salesforce, Eventogy) and digital tools to measure and report on the success and ROI of global events.

• Supplier and Stakeholder Relationships: Build trusted relationships with external suppliers and senior internal stakeholders to achieve a 'one team' global mindset.

• Service Model: Deliver an agile and responsive bespoke service model based on mutual respect and appreciation of skillsets across the team.

• Continuous Improvement: Contribute to continuous improvement in the firm's approach to global event management, including management and coaching of colleagues and advice regarding live work projects.

Key Requirements:

• Demonstrable experience in the event industry with considerable experience in professional organizations (legal, accountancy, technology, consultancy).

• Extensive hands-on end-to-end event management experience in a professional corporate environment, including international conference management and high-end client events and hospitality.

• Strong emotional intelligence and creativity; independent thinking and execution; demonstrably mature professional judgment in areas such as relationship management, event risk assessment, and venue management.

• Excellent teamwork and collaboration skills, with the ability to build strong relationships internally and externally with clients and suppliers.

• Strong multi-tasking and project management skills; demonstrated capabilities to manage people, multiple deadlines, and changing project criteria with meticulous attention to detail and resilience under pressure.

• Effective negotiation and budgeting skills – able to plan, manage, and track costs to deliver against a budget.

• Excellent written, presentation, and oral communications skills, with demonstrated excellence in grammar and proofreading.

• Extensive working knowledge of Microsoft Suite software (Word, PowerPoint, Excel) and strong experience of using virtual event technology and delivery platforms, and online delegate registration websites.

• Ability to work flexibly in a fast-paced environment and deliver against tight deadlines and high expectations.

• Strong experience of supervising, coaching, and delegating to others.

• Natural curiosity and propensity to learn; enthusiasm to build skills and responsibilities as a trusted expert and advisor to the business.

Inclusion

Freshfields is an equal opportunities employer and all applications received by the firm will be considered on the basis of their merit alone. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals regardless of background. All offers of employment will be conditional on the candidate having/securing the right to work in the UK in the role in question and providing the firm with evidence of that right (as required by the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006) prior to employment commencing.

Freshfields is a Ban the Box employer. We ask applicants to disclose criminal convictions only if and when a conditional job offer is made. A conviction does not automatically lead to withdrawal of the offer: we make decisions on a case-by-case basis and take a number of relevant factors into account (e.g. the role you are applying for and the circumstances of the offence). You would have the opportunity to discuss the matter with us before we make a decision.