Event Operations Manager

Company Description

UTAC is a market-leading international group in digital & sustainable mobility, customisable testing solutions, customisable testing systems, vehicle engineering, homologation, regulatory advice & expertise, certification, training, corporate events and classic & sportscars festivals.

The Group provides services and systems to customers in the various sectors: mobility, transport, tyre, petrochemical, agriculture and defence industries. UTAC operates test centres and laboratories in France (including the official Euro NCAP facility), the UK, USA, Finland, Morocco, and Germany; it has subsidiaries in China, Korea and Japan. UTAC employs around 1300 people across its various locations.

As a group we share a strong and clear vision to deliver safe and efficient solutions and systems to our customers. We are proud and confident in our heritage, our capabilities and our people and believe that by creating a culture where individuals feel they can make a difference and enjoy coming to work, we can deliver the best possible service to our customers.

UTAC Millbrook offers four unique venues, with the capacity to run indoor events for between 30 and 700 delegates and outdoor space to accommodate up to 5,000. The Events team at UTAC Millbrook is responsible for the delivery of a wide range of experiential events, mainly working with our agency clients for customers in the automotive industry and a small number of other clients. These events primarily comprise of automotive product launches & associated training and exhibitions, with a significant proportion of these using our famous test tracks, either as a core element when dealing with automotive customers, or to enhance events for other industry sectors.

Our core values of Expertise, Innovation and Integrity provide a clear daily guide to how we work together safely, as one team, helping each other to succeed.

Job Description

An extremely varied and fast-paced role combining both operational delivery and commercial responsibility, supporting the successful planning, coordination and execution of customer events across the Millbrook facilities. Reporting to the Head of Events, Tracks & Rental, the role provides leadership for the Event Management, Venues & Catering Team, ensuring exceptional customer service, efficient resource utilisation and the successful delivery of events from initial enquiry through to completion.

Accountable for the day-to-day management of event operations, venue activities and catering services, working closely with customers, internal stakeholders and suppliers to deliver events safely, professionally and to the highest standards. The role balances customer relationship management, sales support, operational planning and financial performance, contributing to revenue growth while maintaining effective cost control.

The position also oversees associated administrative functions, team development, process improvement and compliance activities, ensuring event operations align with business objectives, health and safety requirements, and customer expectations.

Responsibilities

• Uphold, safeguard and promote UTAC’s values of integrity, innovation and expertise.
• Providing support to the Head of Events, Tracks & Rental as necessary including providing a weekly briefing of Event and Sales activity
• Responding promptly and accurately to inbound enquiries; shared responsibility with Business Development team members
• Responsibility for ensuring that the Team remain focussed and motivated at all times
• Responsibility for maintaining discipline and a productive working environment within the department
• Increasing the sales revenue margins of the business through recognising new upselling opportunities and tightly controlling costs
• Supporting the Head of ETR to develop and optimise operational processes to drive efficiency, compliance, and continuous improvement
• Coordination of UTAC Millbrook event venue facilities, ensuring compliance with health & safety, security, and maintenance
• To undertake first line responsibility in managing, supporting and evolving the Event Management team, including appraisals and recruitment
• Overseeing allocation of holiday and checking timesheets & clock cards for direct reports
• Ensuring that the Event Management process is followed by all Event Management team members
• Attending specific industry exhibitions to promote keys events in the UTAC Millbrook calendar.
• Act in accordance with the behaviours for UTAC staff at all times.

Qualifications

Experience

The role reports to the Head of Events, Tracks & Rental (UK) and the ideal candidate will possess the following qualities and experience:

• A proven background in Venue / Event Management, capable of dealing with clients at all levels
• Proven track record in the automotive event and/or motorsport industry
• A sufficient understanding, preferably through experience, of vehicle dynamics in order to better explain to customers and staff what can and cannot be achieved on track at UTAC Millbrook

Personal Behaviours

• Confident and energetic
• Proactive and inquisitive
• Responsive and action orientated
• Excellent attention to detail
• Adheres to health and safety practices

Other

• Role is based on-site at UTAC Millbrook
• Flexibility to travel as and when required
• Full UK driving licence
• Willing to undergo a Criminal Disclosure check

Additional Information

For you, as a potential UTAC team member, we believe that the international and diverse nature of our business combined with the passion, energy and friendliness of our people create a great place to work. UTAC is proud to be an equal opportunities employer, valuing inclusion and supporting our people to be themselves and at their very best.

By joining us you will gain access to a broad range of learning relevant to your role and personal development, as well as exposure to leading technologies and expertise.

Our reward and benefit programmes are designed to support our people with competitive and locally tailored packages combined with support for individual health and wellbeing both inside and outside of work.

In the UK this includes ;

• Access to a wide range of discounts and offers via the Perkz reward scheme
• Recognition awards linked to our UTAC values of Expertise, Innovation and Integrity.
• Healthcare cashback plans
• Generous holiday benefits
• Contributory pension schemes
• Attractive family friendly policies; maternity, paternity, shared parental leave, flexible working.
• Access to a variety of employee assistance support services.

Learn more about UTAC and what and how we do what we do at www.utac.com

Candidates for positions at UTAC must be able to provide proof of identity and eligibility to work in the country the role is based in. Immigration visa sponsorship is not available for this position.