Events Programme Manager, Penguin Connect

At Penguin Connect, we are passionate about connecting businesses and their people to the ideas that matter. We do this principally through curated B2B event programmes, taking our authors into the hearts of organisations to spark learning, create debate and inspire personal and professional growth.

Creating memorable live experiences with our authors and brands is central to our audience and brand strategy, and critical for driving audience awareness and acquisition, book sales and generating new revenue streams.

As the Programme Manager you will bring your events experience to lead on client delivery and author relationships for the Penguin Connect programmes, working in partnership with all of our publishing houses and audience teams, to orchestrate first class Connect Events for Penguin Random House and to build an ongoing roster of our author B2B talent across the business.

You will take full responsibility for managing all the back of house operations, tech and talent liaison across the events portfolio, and work closely with the Marketing team to help build awareness of the Penguin Connect brand and drive lead generation and audience reach.

As part of a dynamic, creative and expert team you will be focused on achieving clear, measurable goals based on reach, reputation and revenue, ensuring Penguin Connect is renowned for producing remarkable events, and helping to continually raise the profile of our authors, brands, books and the pleasure of reading. 

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of the curation of the B2B event programmes, the creation and maintenance of a B2B talent roster, and of compelling talent pitches to ensure the Head of Product and Brand is supported to win client pitches.

• Take the lead on liaising with existing clients to design events and multi-event programmes for Penguin Random House authors to ensure Penguin Connect achieves its goals and develops a market leading B2B reputation. Work with the Head of Product and Brand to ensure Penguin Connect is maximising all commercial opportunities with existing and new clients.

• Work with the Head of Product and Brand to determine an ambitious future direction for Penguin Connect, and contribute to the 3-year strategic plan on how to achieve this.

• Remain focused on what makes an event compelling to each target audience. 
• Be the primary point of liaison with authors and talent either directly or via publicists/agents. Make first class author care a defining characteristic of a Penguin Connect event ensuring Penguin Connect is the B2B events partner of choice for all.
• Working closely with the Senior Marketing Executive, always look for pioneering ways to extend the reach and impact of live events through harnessing opportunities like live video streaming, and be bold about innovative use of relevant technologies that ensure Penguin Connect events stand out and create conversation.
• Work closely with the Senior Marketing Executive and clients on clearly establishing the audience, pitch and positioning of events to drive engagement and impact of author’s content.

• Work with the Head of Product and Brand, Penguin Connect to run a commercially successful live events programme, ensuring that we are maximising value for our authors, Penguin Random House and our clients. Run regular retrospectives on the events to understand what works and what doesn’t.

• Attend the vast majority of Penguin Connect events.  Regularly attend non Penguin Connect events to retain an expert view on the B2B events marketplace and build a strong network of potential partners in this space.

• Share regular insight into how other media and entertainment businesses are developing their B2B strategies and which events or delivery methods are creating the greatest audience engagement and reach. 

• Build strong working relationships with the marketing, publicity and editorial teams across the business and understand what matters to them and their business.

• Contribute to the overall development of the Audiences & Audio department, helping develop a culture that inspires and celebrates success at an individual and group level.

Please apply with CV and Covering Letter by 21st June