Events Manager

About the Role

The John Locke Institute (JLI) seeks an Events Manager to plan and deliver JLI’s residential

programmes and international events including Summer Schools, Academic Programmes,

Alumni Events, Seminars and Global Essay Prize Awards ceremony. Working closely with

Admissions and Marketing, the Events Manager is responsible for all aspects of delivery

from venue contracts and logistics through to the last student’s departure.

This is an operational role; during residential programmes you will live on site, lead the

delivery team and deal personally with whatever the day brings, ensuring seamless delivery

of a world-class participant experience. This position requires exceptional organisational

and communication skills, a global mindset, and the ability to work across multiple time

zones and teams.

JLI is a small, founder-led organisation of around 15–20 people. This is not a role for

someone who needs a large team to be effective. Ideological compatibility with JLI’s

classical liberal positioning is preferred for this role.

What to Expect

The role is demanding and hands-on. The residential programmes primarily take place in

universities and schools. Accommodation is therefore in halls of residence or boarding

houses with shared facilities and institutional catering. You will live on site alongside

students and staff for the duration of each one. Many participants are under 18; their safety

and welfare are paramount, and safeguarding is a critical part of the job. Programmes run

mainly over the summer months, before Christmas, over New Year and Easter, and time-off

during this period is restricted. The ideal candidate will take satisfaction in events running

smoothly because of their own effort; the role will not suit anyone seeking a conventional

working pattern or a front-of-house events role.

What You’ll Do

Planning and logistics

• Plan and deliver JLI’s residential programmes and events, including summer schools, academic seminars, the Global Essay Prize awards, and new events such as the unDebating Championship and Economics Olympiad.
• Source, evaluate and negotiate with universities, accommodation providers and suppliers worldwide, securing sound terms and value for money.
• Coordinate travel, accommodation, catering, transport and excursions for students, faculty, speakers and staff.
• Prepare programme schedules, staff briefings, risk assessments and contingency plans.
• Manage registration systems, event apps and participant records, including enrolment, logistics and administrative data, keeping them accurate and complete.

On-site delivery

• Lead on-site operations at each programme from first arrival to final departure.
• Act as the principal point of contact for students, faculty, parents, university partners and suppliers during programmes.
• Resolve problems quickly and calmly at any hour, and escalate where appropriate.
• Look after faculty, speakers and guests so that they can concentrate on teaching.

Safeguarding and student welfare

• Implement JLI’s safeguarding and welfare policies on every programme and ensure that all staff understand and follow them.
• Ensure that supervision ratios, curfews, sign-in and sign-out procedures, medical and dietary information, and emergency protocols are in place and observed.
• Respond promptly to welfare incidents, medical emergencies and safeguarding concerns; record them accurately and report them to the Designated Safeguarding Lead.
• Communicate with parents where required, with discretion and clarity.

Staffing

• Determine staffing requirements (interns and preceptors) for each programme; recruit, onboard, train and brief residential staff and interns.
• Manage rotas, supervise staff on site and hold them to a high standard of conduct.
• Budgets, contracts and reporting
• Manage programme budgets, track expenditure and key performance metrics for each
• event.
• Maintain accurate records of contracts, supplier arrangements and costs.
• Produce concise post-programme reports covering costs, attendance, incidents and participant feedback, with specific recommendations.

Working across the Institute

• Partner with the Marketing team to ensure all event communications (pre-event promotions, participant emails, on-site materials) are accurate, on-brand and timely.
• Work closely with the Admissions team to align event planning with registration goals and participant experience.
• Collabo…