Job Profile Job Title Conference Producer Line Manager Conference Manager Direct Reports N/A Location Wimbledon Job Purpose To research, design and develop a range of CIPD conference programmes in order to achieve commercial objectives and enhance the CIPD’s reputation as a leading forum for HR and learning and development issues. Key accountabilities 1 To research and develop a range of CIPD conferences, to ensure they achieve commercial targets, are leading edge and meet the changing needs to the HR and learning and development profession. 2 To carry out telephone research to assess the viability of topics for future events and to identify key topics and leading organisations and individuals in the field as potential speakers. 3 To develop informal networks with practitioners, to gain ideas about the future development of the CIPD’s conferences. 4 To source, vet, book and brief speakers, ensuring they are up-to-date in their subject, have effective presentation skills and are able to deliver the material in an appropriate manner for the relevant event. 5 To conduct speaker briefings, in order to ensure speakers are adequately briefed about both the session and the aims and objectives of the conference. 6 To work with sales and marketing team to ensure that conference programmes are produced to agreed production schedules and that key deadlines are met. 7 To ensure the conference runs smoothly on site, providing speaker support and assisting with all “on-site” administration, as required. 8 To manage the proposal process whereby organisations and individuals approach the CIPD with a view to taking part in one of these events. To screen, evaluate and provide feedback to all parties and where appropriate, identify potential speakers and case studies. 9 As part of a team, to ensure the conference development process runs smoothly by ensuring that handouts are prepared in time, speakers are dealt with effectively and appraisal feedback is collated and used for developing future events. Job profile – Conference Producer January 2014 Nature and scope You will be responsible for the design and development of a range of CIPD conferences and work with the Conference Manager to ensure our events meet the changing needs of our customers. This involves ensuring the programmes remain up-to-date and leading edge. You will put relevant research systems in place; be able to set up networks with key contacts in the field, read widely round the subject areas and have a good understanding of the latest developments in the field of people management and development. You will work with the Conference Manager to develop the programme design of relevant conferences by identifying new initiatives and to source high calibre and topical speakers. Liaising with speakers at all stages of the conference process: from planning and holding speaker briefings to the actual event and then post event. You will be expected to deal with senior people across all areas of people management and development. Your project management skills will be required to plan each conference programme to ensure tight deadlines are met. The job requires attendance at CIPD Conferences, including the Annual Conference in Manchester in order to ensure the conferences run effectively and to assist the conference team on site as required. Contacts Internal HR Practice Information Services Customer Services Sales and Marketing Press Office Business Managers Publishing External Consultants Senior Practitioners Agents Speakers Haymarket Dimensions Financial Staff Contribute to budgeted revenue from conferences = £1,633,000 in 2013/14. 60% profitability on each conference n/a Other n/a Job profile – Conference Producer January 2014 Knowledge, qualifications and experience Of graduate calibre with good experience in a similar role, you will have the ability to research and design conference programmes which are leading edge and meet the changing needs of the HR and learning and development profession. You should have good commercial understanding with previous experience in a commercial environment. Copy writing skills are essential as you will need to write commercial copy in order to promote the conference programmes effectively. A good understanding of current people management and development issues is required and you should have an interest in keeping up-to-date on the latest developments in the field and to enjoy reading widely around the subject. Excellent administrative and project management skills are required in order to meet conference deadlines. You will also be able to prioritise and work under pressure, using your own initiative. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills are required as is the ability to deal effectively with senior managers and directors from all sectors of industry. The job holder is required to demonstrate appropriate levels of competence and behaviours against CIPD’s values and core competencies. Our values are: purposeful, agile, collaborative and expert. Our core competencies are: business awareness and professional excellence; leading myself and others; customer centric; problem solving and decision taking; building and maintaining strong relationships; continuous improvement and innovation; and driven to deliver. Full details of our values and competencies will be provided at induction. Job profile – Conference Producer January 2014