The successful candidate will play a key role in the Society’s high profile events programme, with responsibility for organising a wide range of events, from small seminars to large public lectures and conferences, including generating and researching ideas for events, securing speakers, raising sponsorship, organising publicity and liaising with venues.

Events Manager
£18,000 - £25,000 pa + 6 weeks’ holiday and 7% pension contribution

The Fabian Society
The Fabian Society is Britain’s leading left of centre think tank and political society, committed to creating the political ideas and policy debates which can shape the future of progressive politics.  The Society is unique among think-tanks in being a thriving, democratically-constituted membership organisation, affiliated to the Labour Party but organisationally and editorially independent. With over 300 Fabian MPs, MEPs, Peers, MSPs and AMs among our national membership of 7000 people, the Society plays an unparalleled role in linking vigorous grassroots debate with the ability to influence policy debates at the highest level.

Fabian Society events help to develop new political and public policy ideas and proposals, and to stimulate and inform public debate about these. Our programme of events includes high-profile major conferences and public events, lectures on significant policy issues, and small high-level invitation only policy seminars with leading decision-makers and opinion formers. Leading figures in government, politics, business, academia and civil society regularly speak at and contribute to the Fabian Society’s events, which are often covered in both national and specialist media as well as being disseminated to expert audiences.

The Society has a staff team of around fifteen people, based in our offices in Westminster (near St James’s Park Underground Station and within walking distance of Victoria and Charing Cross British Rail stations). The Society’s work is governed by an Executive Committee elected annually by the membership, along with a handful of co-opted experts.

About the Post
The Fabian Society is seeking to recruit an Events Manager to work on its events programme, to be managed by the Events Director. The post is full-time and offered on a 12 month contract, within an events team of four full-time staff members.

The Events Manager will be responsible for organising a wide range of events, from small-scale seminars to large public lectures and debates, covering a wide range of public policy issues. Specific responsibilities will include developing event proposals, securing speakers, arranging publicity, raising funds, and liaising with venues and caterers. The post holder will also be expected to participate in planning the events programme as a whole.

We are looking for a hard working and efficient self-starter with an ability to manage multiple projects, a keen interest in political and policy ideas, an understanding of the UK political process and at least one year’s relevant work experience. 

Principal Duties
1. To manage a portfolio of Fabian events, including public meetings, conferences, lectures, receptions and policy seminars, and to take overall responsibility for their success under the direction of the Events Director.
2. To research and develop subjects for Fabian events.
3. To identify and secure suitable speakers for Fabian events.
4. To identify and secure sponsorship for Fabian events.
5. To identify and secure appropriate venues, to arrange catering and other services, and to liaise with suppliers.
6. To manage the design and production of publicity and other materials for events.
7. To be responsible for drawing up and managing event budgets.
8. To promote and publicise Fabian events through the media and other dissemination networks, including political, academic, NGOs, trade unions, and the Labour Party.

Other roles
1. To contribute to the intellectual and organisational development of the Society.
2. To represent the Society publicly where appropriate.
3. To supervise interns as appropriate.
4. To undertake other duties for the Society as required by the Events Director or General Secretary.

Person Specification 
The ideal candidate would: 
1. Have a strong interest in and good understanding of politics and current public policy issues.
2. The successful candidate should be able to demonstrate at least one year’s relevant work experience in a think-tank or similar political/public policy environment, in addition to strong degree level and/or postgraduate education.
3. Be entrepreneurial, including strong intellectual ability in identifying and framing events on significant political and policy issues, and the networking and practical skills to identify appropriate sponsors, and secure the speakers and participants required for an effective  think-tank event.
4. Be able to liaise effectively with potential speakers, including senior government and politicians, academics across a range of disciplines.
5. Have experience of taking responsibility for projects from inception to completion and an ability to plan their own work effectively.
6. Have a high degree of competence in the Microsoft Office suite, and a strong ability to use the internet as a research tool.
7. Have awareness of the (political) media, including key publications, broadcasters and programmes, and experience of or an aptitude for media work.
8. Be an effective communicator, able to work effectively both in a small team and independently.
9. Be in sympathy with the aims and values of the Fabian Society.

Conditions
The current Fabian Society staff salary grade for the Events Manager role is £18,000 to £25,000 pa. The starting salary will therefore be within this range and dependent on experience. The remuneration package includes a contribution towards a personal pension plan of 7% of gross salary, and 30 days holiday.

We work a 35 hour week with contracted hours from 9.30am to 5.30pm – the role does regularly involve evening and weekend commitments for which time off in lieu is given. Two month's notice of termination of contract is required. 

The Society has an equal opportunities policy and aspires to be an equal opportunity employer. The Society welcomes applications from any individual.  Our offices are not wheelchair accessible but any practical issues would be discussed between interview and appointment.

Please note that the Society has the primary right to the professional services of its staff. No outside activities affecting or concerning the Society may be undertaken without the explicit agreement of the General Secretary.

To Apply
Email your application to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   including a copy of your CV, along with a covering letter of no more than two sides, setting out how your skills and experience meet the person specification for the post, as well as your reasons for applying.

Please also include a note (of not more than two sides of A4) setting out your ideas for the Fabian New Year Conference to take place in January 2010. This will be a public conference with about 750 people attending. Your note should firstly cover your ideas for the content of the event, and secondly set out how you would approach some key organisational issues to ensure the event succeeds.

Your application should arrive no later than 5pm on Wednesday 24th September 2008.

Interviews will be held on 2nd and 3rd October at our London offices.  If you do not hear from us before this date, this means that your application has not been shortlisted, and unsuccessful candidates will receive formal notification of this by email after the interview process.