Citizens UK

Citizens UK is the UK’s biggest, most diverse and most effective people-powered alliance. We bring communities and local organisations together to work on issues that matter; from campaigning for zebra crossings on dangerous roads, to reforming the immigration system, to the Living Wage campaign. We have a track record of winning change through hundreds of local and national campaigns. We know everyday people have the ability to shape the world around them. We believe that through developing local leaders, we can drive nationwide change and create community-led solutions to big and small problems.

Living Wage Foundation

The Living Wage movement began in 2001, after Citizens UK brought together communities in East London to discuss poverty and low pay. The campaign grew in momentum and soon required a mechanism to recognise employers who wanted to join the movement, which saw the establishment of the Living Wage Foundation in 2011.

Still part of Citizens UK today, the Living Wage Foundation continues to work with community organisations to make sure the voices of both workers and businesses are part of the Living Wage movement. We now work with over 16,000 employers, benefitting half a million people and winning over £3bn of better wages for people who need it most. 

Citizens UK works with a broad base of institutions across the political spectrum. At the Living Wage Foundation, we take the same deliberately broad-based approach and accredit all organisations who pay the real Living Wage to their directly and indirectly employed staff and are committed to tackling in work poverty.  As a team we work across a range of industries and sectors to achieve this mission. We seek pragmatic coalitions to progress specific campaigns, and partnership around a particular issue such as Living Wage, does not imply an endorsement of broader purpose and policies.

Purpose

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced events professional to join the Living Wage Foundation team as an Events Manager. You will be responsible for developing, delivering, and supporting the team with innovative events to promote the Living Wage movement, support the existing employer network, increase public support for fair pay and encourage Living Wage accreditation.

You will be responsible for our annual Champion Awards ceremony and organising parliamentary events, roundtables and webinars for our network of employers and beyond, as well as providing strategic oversight of events at our annual Living Wage Week in November where we celebrate Living Wage Employers nationwide with multiple events.

The ideal candidate would be an organised events manager, with strong project management skills, the ability to communicate with senior stakeholders internally and externally and the skills to establish strong relationships. They would have experience running online and in-person events with clear objectives and connecting them to organisational strategy.

This post will be joining a Communications team that spans events, media, digital communications and research, with colleagues based across the UK with monthly in-person team meetings. They will be responsible for the line management of the Events Officer. They will report to the Senior Media & Communications Manager.

Main Responsibilities

Contribute to CUK mission and its strategic objectives:

· Develop creative, participative events that raise awareness and promote the Living Wage Foundation and our key messages, influence public opinion, encourage accreditation, and engage our network of accredited employers

· Work with both the Communications and Membership teams to create an annual calendar of events, launches, webinars and roundtables to meet business plan objectives

· Identify, manage and develop partnerships and alliances to further our events plans and business plan objectives

· Work alongside Membership and Partnerships and Campaigns colleagues to ensure that all Living Wage Week events meet overall aims and objectives

Build and manage projects and achieve work targets effectively:

· Work with the team to produce detailed plans for events: timeline, venues, suppliers, legal obligations, staffing, budgets, external communications

· Produce detailed analysis and evaluation of the success of events, using data and feedback to improve delivery

· Provide support for delivery of events, including taking a senior role on the day

· Manage a significant events budget to deliver objectives efficiently

· Manage and mitigate risks associated with events

· Create a project plan for Living Wage Week events, including structured meetings and delivery milestones

· Management of the annual Living Wage Champion Awards

· Work with wider team to coordinate nominations and shortlisting process

Learning, Expertise, Wellbeing & Inclusion:

· Maintain up-to-date knowledge on event trends, techniques and best practice

· Keep strategy and guidance to ensure events are accessible, representative and inclusive up to date

· Share learning and skills across Citizens UK through training, coaching and informal support

· Ensure lived experience contributions at events are represented responsibly and inclusively

· Contribute to a positive and inclusive team culture

Develop and manage external relationships:

· Develop database of venues and suppliers and develop strong relationships with partners and freelancers

· Identify, manage and develop partnerships and alliances

· Manage strategic relationships including sponsors and external agencies

· Create opportunities for community leaders and workers to participate in and speak at events

· Work with employers, freelancers and advocates to deliver Living Wage Week events

· Lead on events-related communications with senior stakeholders, including high-profile politicians and public figures

Communications:

· Work with communications team, designers and content managers to develop event resources, promotion and materials

· Support external communications relating to events

Develop and manage internal relationships:

· Lead and coordinate the work of the LWF team involved in delivering events, including coaching and development

· Manage events project groups and meetings with clear responsibilities and structured planning

· Work cross-functionally with Communications, Membership, Business Development and Partnerships & Campaigns teams

· Work with wider LWF team on nominations and shortlisting for Champion Awards

Generate income and resources:

· Manage events budget effectively

· Manage or facilitate sponsor relationships

Person Specification

(D) Desirable, (E) Essential

Experience

· Experience managing in-person and online events (E)

· Experience communicating effectively with senior stakeholders (E)

· Experience using project management tools. (D)

· Experience using Microsoft 365 apps including Loop and Planner (D)

· Experience of line management (D)

Key skills and knowledge

· Knowledge of risk management protocols (E)

· Project management skills, including monitoring and evaluation (E)

· Excellent attention to detail  (E)

· Ability to effectively communicate and build strong relationships with colleagues and external stakeholders (E)

· Excellent planning, organisation, and prioritisation skills, including the ability to manage competing demands and deal with unforeseen issues  (E)

· Good IT skills, including experience using Microsoft 365 apps (D)

· Knowledge of marketing and communication best practice (D)

· Creative thinker and problem solver (E)

Personal qualities & values

· An interest and enthusiasm for planning events, and the mission of the Living Wage Foundation (E)

· Highly self-motivated with ability to work well independently as well as part of a team (E)

· A commitment for Diversity and Inclusion (E)

About the application process

We work within diverse communities bringing people together. In line with our Inclusion value, we would love to see applications from LGBTQIA+ people, people from racialised communities, people living with disabilities and people of faith, all to better represent the communities we work in. We want our employees to have the working conditions that allows them to fully participate, be able to be their best authentic selves and thrive doing so, and we have employee networks to support staff. Even if you don’t quite meet all the required criteria still consider applying, as we invest in our employees and support them to develop the skills and knowledge required to deliver their role.

For questions and reasonable adjustments regarding your application including information in a different format, or our recruitment process, please email recruitment@citizensuk.org. 

Got any more questions?    If you would like further information on the role, the organisation, or our commitment to addressing under-representation and the development and progression of all colleagues, we would be happy to answer any questions.  

If you’d like to know more about the role, please email lea.corban@livingwage.org.uk.

Interviews will take place 5 May TBC.