Head of Events - 14 Month FTC

We believe in the power of ingenuity to build a positive human future.

As strategies, technologies, and innovation collide, we create opportunity from complexity.

Our teams of interdisciplinary experts combine innovative thinking and breakthrough technologies to progress further, faster. Our clients adapt and transform, and together we achieve enduring results.

We are over 4,000 strategists, innovators, designers, consultants, digital experts, scientists, engineers, and technologists. And we have deep expertise in consumer and manufacturing, defence and security, energy and utilities, financial services, government and public services, health and life sciences, and transport.

Our teams operate globally from offices across the UK, Ireland, US, Nordics, and Netherlands.

PA. Bringing Ingenuity to Life.

Become part of the Team

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Head of Events to join a high-performing events team within the global marketing function at PA.

What we're looking for

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Head of Events, ideally from a professional services background, to join the team for a 14-month maternity cover. This role will focus on the end-to-end delivery of key strategic events at PA, provide guidance and maintain a best-in-class framework for our global colleagues, and successfully line-manage the events team.

We're looking for a candidate with extensive experience in both in-person and virtual event management, and a proven track record of managing sponsorships and delivering high-impact presence at third-party conferences and exhibitions.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate exceptional stakeholder management skills, including experience working with senior and C-suite leaders - and a commercial mindset that ensures every event delivers commercial value. They will also be flexible and adaptable, able to respond to changing priorities and fast-paced environments.

Key areas of responsibility

This role includes but is not limited to:

Strategic leadership

• Lead the strategic planning, development and implementation of PA's marketing events programme.
• Recommend innovative event strategies and programmes in response to marketing campaign briefs, ensuring alignment to commercial and brand objectives.
• Provide strategic oversight across all PA marketing events, ensuring excellence in delivery and measurable contribution to business goals.

Team and stakeholder management

• Line manage and develop the events team, providing leadership, performance management and professional growth opportunities.
• Build strong relationships with senior stakeholders, including partner level, offering expert guidance and influencing event decision-making.
• Develop strong relationships across the marketing function, including the client-facing teams and centres of excellence.
• Represent the events function across the business, championing its value and impact in a fast-paced, ideas-led environment.

Event delivery and execution

• Take a hands-on role in the planning and execution of flagship and complex events, working closely with event managers, sector marketers and consulting teams to ensure seamless delivery.
• Personally lead the delivery of high-profile events where needed, managing logistics, timelines, and stakeholder expectations directly.
• Oversee PA's presence at third-party conferences and exhibitions, including sponsorship activations, speaker coordination and on-the-ground execution.
• Ensure all events are delivered to an exceptional standard, aligned with PA's brand identity and strategic objectives, and reflective of our creative and innovative culture.

Operational excellence

• Develop and maintain best practice documentation, driving firm-wide adoption of high standards in event planning and delivery.
• Manage supplier relationships, ensuring quality service levels and negotiating contracts where appropriate.
• Manage risk across events, ensuring compliance with PA's policies and procedures.

Commercial and financial management

• Develop and manage central and event-specific budgets, ensuring cost-effective delivery and strong ROI.
• Collaborate with the Digital Marketing team to analyse event performance, report on outcomes and use insights to inform future planning.

Tools & systems

• Oversee the management and use of the Zoom webinar license and other relevant platforms and tools.
• Explore and evaluate new technologies, platforms and tools that could enhance event delivery, audience engagement or operational efficiency.
• Make recommendations for innovative solutions that align with PA's creative and forward-thinking approach to events.

Hybrid working - our approach is to be in the office or on client site a minimum of 2 days per week. However, the actual time you spend and where you spend it will vary by role or assignment.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years event management experience, with 3 years in a similar leadership role
• Proven track record and extensive experience of B2B event delivery, ideally in a professional services environment

We know the skill-gap and 'somewhat need to tick every box' can get in the way of meeting brilliant candidates, so please don't hesitate to apply - we'd love to hear from you.

Apply today by completing our online application

Please be aware that some of our UK roles at PA Consulting require a UK security clearance.

All PA people are required to undergo background checks and to achieve the Baseline Personnel Security Standard however, some UK roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting, where applicants must have at least 5 years of continuous residency in the UK.

We therefore ask that you only apply if you meet the residency requirements (i.e. you are a British citizen or have been resident in the UK for the past 5 years), as this is the prerequisite for a security clearance. If you're unsure about your eligibility, we encourage you to review the UK Government's guidance on security vetting before applying.

Additional information

Life At PA encompasses our peoples' experience at PA. It's about how we enrich peoples' working lives by giving them access to unique people and growth opportunities and purpose led meaningful work.

Our purpose guides how we work with our clients and our teams, and support our communities, to deliver insight and impact, solving the world's most complex challenges. We're focused on building a workplace that values human difference and diverse mindsets, and a culture of inclusion and equality that unlocks the potential in our people so everyone can be their best self.

We are dedicated to supporting the physical, emotional, social and financial well-being of our people. Check out some of our extensive benefits:

• Health and lifestyle perks accompanying private healthcare
• 25 days annual leave (plus a bonus half day on Christmas Eve) with the opportunity to buy 5 additional days
• Generous company pension scheme
• Opportunity to get involved with community and charity-based initiatives
• Annual performance-based bonus
• PA share ownership
• Tax efficient benefits (cycle to work, give as you earn)

We're committed to advancing equality.We recruit, retain, reward and develop our people based solely on their abilities and contributions and without reference to their age, background, disability, genetic information, parental or family status, religion or belief, race, ethnicity, nationality, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity (or expression), political belief, veteran status, or any other range of human difference brought about by identity and experience. We welcome applications from underrepresented groups.

Adjustments or accommodations - Should you need any adjustments or accommodations to the recruitment process, at either application or interview, please contact us on