Events and Community Partnership Manager
Purpose of the role:
At Mind in Havering, Barking & Dagenham, we believe in the power of events to bring communities together and create lasting impact. Our events are more than just fundraisers—they’re experiences that inspire, entertain, and engage. From Christmas Land to Summer Fest, we’ve established a calendar of exciting, community-driven events that celebrate local culture and connect people across boroughs. Now, we’re looking for a visionary Events and Partnership Development Manager to take our events to the next level.
Are you a creative and experienced event professional with a passion for producing dynamic and large-scale events? Do you thrive on curating memorable experiences that bring communities together? We’re looking for an innovative and technically skilled Events Manager to lead, develop, and expand our portfolio of events.
In this role, you will spearhead the planning, production, and execution of both existing and new events—ranging from intimate community engagements to large-scale festivals (20,000+ attendees). With a focus on creating impactful experiences, you’ll collaborate with musicians, film producers, food vendors, and production teams to curate unforgettable events. You’ll also play a key role in growing our brand presence and fostering meaningful partnerships with corporate sponsors and community groups.
Role Specific Responsibilities:
Curating Dynamic Events:
- Lead the design and delivery of a diverse portfolio of events, from music festivals, film screenings, and food festivals to large-scale cultural celebrations like Christmas Land and Summer Fest.
- Innovate and expand upon our existing events while curating new ones that reflect community needs and the latest event trends, ensuring every event is immersive, inclusive, and community centred.
- Work with artists, musicians, filmmakers, and local talent to create engaging and high-energy event experiences that connect with a broad audience.
End-to-End Event Production:
- Oversee all technical aspects of event production, including stage design, lighting, sound, and live performance coordination.
- Collaborate with production teams, vendors, and suppliers to ensure the seamless execution of events, with an eye for detail and a focus on delivering high-quality experiences.
- Ensure that all events meet safety, health, and regulatory standards, and handle any logistics, including permits, licenses, and risk assessments.
Community Engagement & Development:
- Develop strong relationships with local businesses, community groups, and stakeholders to foster partnerships and ensure community representation in event programming.
- Curate and develop community-centric events that draw large crowds while creating space for local talent and community participation.
- Work closely with volunteers, event partners, and local organizations to maximize community involvement and participation.
Corporate Partnerships & Sponsorships:
- Create and implement a strategic Corporate Partnership and Sponsorship Scheme that aligns with our mission and enhances event revenue.
- Negotiate and secure sponsorship deals to support major events, and foster long-term relationships with sponsors and donors.
- Collaborate with the fundraising and marketing teams to integrate sponsorship opportunities into event marketing and engagement strategies.
Innovation & Growth:
- Stay at the cutting edge of event technology, trends, and experiences to continuously improve and innovate our event offerings.
- Identify new opportunities for large-scale events (20,000+ attendees), expanding our event calendar to include diverse, high-impact experiences.
- Drive creative programming by incorporating new elements such as interactive installations, digital experiences, and community-driven content.
Marketing & Fundraising:
- Lead the promotion and marketing of events through innovative digital campaigns, social media strategies, and targeted outreach.
- Maximise fundraising potential through ticket sales, event merchandise, and value-added event experiences.
- Ensure all events are cost-effective and financially sustainable, while maintaining exceptional quality.
Key objectives include:
- Dynamic Event Experience: Proven experience in producing large-scale events (20,000+ attendees), with a portfolio that includes music festivals, film events, food festivals, or cultural celebrations.
- Technical Event Production: Strong knowledge of event engineering, including lighting, sound, staging, and production design, ensuring the flawless execution of high-quality experiences.
- Innovative Approach: A creative thinker who is always looking for ways to improve and innovate event offerings, integrating trends and cutting-edge technologies.
- Community Engagement: Strong community engagement experience, with the ability to design events that are inclusive and reflective of the diverse communities we serve.
- Partnership & Sponsorship: Demonstrated success in securing corporate sponsorships and building long-lasting partnerships to support event growth.
- Project Management: Strong organizational and project management skills, able to handle multiple events simultaneously and meet tight deadlines.
- Health & Safety: Experience in managing health and safety requirements for large-scale events, including risk assessments, permits, and compliance with local regulations.
Expectations
- Demonstrate strong leadership skills.
- Exhibit excellent organisational and time-management abilities.
- Communicate effectively with service users, staff, and stakeholders.
- Apply a strategic approach to service development and improvement.
- Maintain a commitment to the organisation’s values and mission.
Other
- Be willing to work outside normal working hours.
- Willingness to travel for meetings and events as needed.
- Undertake other duties appropriate to the post as requested by the Director of Strategy, Finance & Compliance.