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