Job Title - Advanced Specialist, Events

DESCRIPTION

Deliver exceptional customer, partner and industry event experiences that support Pearson's commercial, marketing and brand objectives. Comparable market titles for this opportunity may include Senior Event Manager, Event Marketing Manager, Sponsorship Manager, Conference Manager, Events Programme Manager, Strategic Events Manager, Experiential Marketing Manager, B2B Events Manager, Customer Events Manager, Association Partnerships Manager, Event Operations Manager or Senior Events Specialist.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Advanced Specialist, Events independently owns critical components of customer-facing events, conferences, sponsorships and association programmes that support Pearson's go-to-market priorities.

Recognised as a subject matter expert, you will translate business objectives into high-quality event experiences, coordinating internal teams, external partners, vendors and sponsors to ensure successful delivery. You will manage complex workstreams with a high degree of autonomy, making informed decisions, solving execution challenges and maintaining alignment across multiple stakeholders.

In addition to event delivery, you will help improve the tools, processes and standards used across the events function while providing practical guidance and support to junior colleagues.

This role is ideal for an experienced events professional who enjoys balancing strategy, organisation, stakeholder engagement and flawless execution while contributing to the continuous improvement of a global events programme.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

Lead Event Planning & Delivery

• Own assigned event workstreams from planning through post-event follow-up.
• Manage timelines, budgets, vendors, venues, registration activities, attendee communications, materials and production requirements.
• Translate marketing, commercial, audience and brand objectives into clear event plans, milestones and measures of success.
• Coordinate activities across internal teams and external partners to maintain readiness and delivery excellence.
• Support successful event execution while ensuring a high-quality attendee experience.

Manage Sponsorship & Association Programmes

• Manage sponsorship and association deliverables from planning through activation.
• Coordinate benefit fulfilment, partner communications and promotional commitments.
• Support speaking opportunities, executive engagements and customer-facing activities.
• Ensure sponsor and association requirements are delivered accurately and professionally.

Stakeholder & Vendor Management

• Partner closely with Marketing, Sales, Product, Communications, Procurement and Finance teams.
• Coordinate vendors, agencies, sponsors and external partners throughout the event lifecycle.
• Ensure external suppliers deliver against agreed scope, quality, timeline and contractual expectations.
• Build strong working relationships that support successful programme delivery.

Risk Management & Operational Excellence

• Identify risks, dependencies and execution challenges early.
• Recommend solutions and make informed tactical decisions within agreed parameters.
• Escalate significant strategic, financial, contractual or reputational risks appropriately.
• Maintain accurate project plans, budgets, decision logs, sponsor trackers and event documentation.
• Ensure event programmes are delivered consistently and professionally.

Measurement & Continuous Improvement

• Capture event outcomes, engagement metrics, feedback and lessons learned.
• Analyse performance data and recommend improvements to future programmes.
• Support enhancements to attendee experience, event quality and operational efficiency.
• Pilot new tools, technologies and ways of working that improve scalability, measurement and consistency.
• Contribute to the ongoing evolution of Pearson's events capability and best practices.

Knowledge Sharing & SME Support

• Provide practical guidance, coaching and support to junior colleagues.
• Share templates, tools and best practices across teams.
• Help improve consistency and capability throughout the events function.
• Serve as a trusted subject matter expert in event planning and delivery.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Essential Experience

• Demonstrated experience independently managing complex business events, conferences, sponsorship programmes, customer events or association partnerships.
• Strong project management capability, including work planning, budget management, dependency tracking and stakeholder coordination.
• Experience managing multiple priorities simultaneously while maintaining quality and attention to detail.
• Proven success working with vendors, agencies, sponsors and external partners.
• Experience delivering successful event programmes from planning through post-event reporting.

Knowledge & Skills

• Strong organisational and project management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication capabilities.
• Ability to influence stakeholders and drive alignment without direct authority.
• Sound judgement, adaptability and problem-solving capability.
• Working knowledge of event technology, attendee communications, registration systems and event reporting.
• Understanding of how events support customer engagement, brand awareness, sales enablement and thought leadership objectives.
• Ability to analyse data and convert insights into practical recommendations.
• Commitment to inclusive, accessible and professionally executed event experiences.

Desirable

• Experience using Cvent or comparable event management platforms.
• Experience supporting conferences, sponsorships, exhibitions and association programmes.
• Exposure to Higher Education, Education Technology, SaaS or B2B environments.
• Familiarity with CRM systems, lead capture processes and event measurement frameworks.

WHY THIS ROLE MATTERS

Events play an important role in how Pearson engages customers, partners and industry stakeholders.

This role helps ensure our events deliver meaningful experiences, support business objectives and represent Pearson's brand to a consistently high standard. Through excellent planning, stakeholder coordination and operational execution, the successful candidate will contribute directly to the effectiveness and impact of Pearson's events strategy.

BEHAVIOURAL EXPECTATIONS

Customer Centricity

Anticipate the needs of attendees, customers, sponsors and partners and create experiences that deliver meaningful value.

Raise the Performance Bar

Identify and implement improvements that strengthen event quality, engagement, efficiency and business impact.

Exceptional Collaboration for Value

Build trusted relationships, share expertise openly and align teams around common objectives.

Our Leaders Inspire

Lead through expertise, professionalism and example while remaining calm, positive and solutions-focused under pressure.

WHY JOIN PEARSON?

At Pearson, we're committed to helping learners realise the life they imagine through learning.

As an Advanced Specialist, Events, you'll play an important role in delivering impactful experiences that connect customers, partners and industry stakeholders with Pearson's mission and solutions. You'll work across a diverse portfolio of programmes while continuing to build your expertise within a collaborative, global organisation.