Senior Operations Manager

Senior Operations Manager – Global B2B Events / Aviation Ground Handling

Hybrid: (Dartford nr Bluewater), 3 days in the office

Salary: £40,000, depending on experience and company benefits.

Contract: Permanent, full-time

What You’ll Be Doing

• Take end-to-end responsibility for the operational delivery of all GHI events globally, including the GHI Conferences and GSE Expo Europe.
• Ensure events are delivered on time, within budget and to a consistently high quality standard.
• Lead onsite event delivery, acting as the senior operational decision-maker and ensuring seamless execution.
• Oversee all technical and logistical elements of events, ensuring smooth and efficient delivery.
• Manage and reconcile event budgets, maintaining strong cost control and negotiating with suppliers to achieve best value without compromising quality.
• Collaborate with Sales to optimise floorplans and support revenue opportunities.
• Contribute to post-event reporting, analysing operational performance, costs and opportunities for improvement.
• Act as a key operational contact for industry partners and associations, ensuring expectations are met and exceeded.
• Work closely with internal teams, including sales, marketing and design, to deliver cohesive and successful events.
• Develop and deliver event signage plans, working closely with design teams and suppliers.
• Identify process improvements and drive operational efficiencies across the portfolio.
• Line manage one direct report and contribute as a senior member of the wider operations team.
• Ensure health and safety, risk management and compliance across international events.

As a Senior Role, You Will Also

• Set clear operational priorities across the GHI events portfolio and translate them into effective delivery plans.
• Take accountability for operational budgets, supplier performance and event delivery standards.
• Lead, coach and support one direct report while contributing to the wider success of the operations team.

Must-haves

• Strong operational events experience, with proven ability to deliver B2B conferences and exhibitions end to end.
• Confidence working with internal stakeholders, suppliers, partners and senior-level contacts in a live event environment.
• Strong organisational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Commercial awareness, including experience managing budgets, costs and supplier negotiations.
• Confidence leading in live, high‑pressure event environments and making sound decisions under pressure.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management and problem‑solving skills.
• A detail-focused, proactive and adaptable approach with a strong commitment to quality delivery.

Nice-to-haves

• 5+ years’ experience delivering B2B conferences and/or exhibitions.
• Experience working on international events.
• Experience collaborating closely with commercial teams to support revenue opportunities, including floorplan optimisation.
• Experience or an interest within aviation, transport, logistics or another specialist B2B market.
• Experience managing signage production and wider event supplier coordination.

We Offer

• Hybrid working.
• Real ownership in your role.
• Development through hands‑on learning, mentoring and internal progression.
• Exposure to specialist markets and loyal professional audiences.
• A culture shaped by our values: Passionate, Creative, Nurturing and Fair.

If you do not meet every requirement but bring transferable skills, sound judgement and fresh thinking, we encourage you to apply.

Right to work: Applicants must have the right to live and work in . We are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.

#J-18808-Ljbffr…