Head of Events (Maternity Cover)

The opportunity

This is an exciting opportunity to play a pivotal role leading the delivery of key events to support UAL’s first major fundraising campaign.

As Head of Events you will have responsibility for the events strategy and delivery within the Development department at UAL. Working with the support of an Events Manager and an Events Officer, you will provide a central hub of expertise for events management for high-profile external audiences, primarily to advance the fundraising and relationship management goals of the Development department and the wider Social Purpose Group. 

You will work with the Director of Development, the Head of Campaign and other senior colleagues to lead on the planning, development and implementation of a programme of events in support of UAL’s first-ever comprehensive fundraising campaign, which is expected to deliver a £75 million pound fundraising target to support UAL’s strategic priorities.

In addition to this, you will lead on the project management and strategic delivery of UAL's most important institutional events, including graduation ceremonies for 8,000+ students and their guests, and UAL’s all-staff summer party.

About you

You will need significant experience of leading and delivering events in a fundraising environment, such as gala dinners and bespoke cultivation and stewardship events.

You will also need experience of devising an events programme in collaboration with colleagues and setting and meeting objectives for a programme of events.

Demonstrable knowledge or understanding of arts and culture is equally important.

If you have any queries about this role or need any reasonable adjustments for your application, please contact Zele Akhilele, Resourcing Adviser via email at  SocialPurposestaffrecruitment@arts.ac.uk.

What we offer

To recognise the hard work of our staff and their contributions, we provide a wide range of benefits – please check our careers site/Canvas for further information as conditions and exclusions apply:

▪ at least 34 days of annual leave in addition to bank holidays.
▪ generous defined benefit pension schemes (LGPS).
▪ flexible working and family-friendly policies for improved work-life balance.
▪ 2 days of paid volunteering leave for a UK registered charity.
▪ discounts including TOTUM, gyms, nursery and private healthcare insurance.
▪ continuous learning and development opportunities including free UAL Short Courses.
▪ season ticket loan, cycle to work scheme, free counselling via EAP and more! 

We are UAL

University of the Arts London (UAL) offers an extensive range of courses in art, design, fashion, communication and performing arts. We are a collegiate University spread across London with six Colleges, four Institutes and five Research Centres. UAL also has two subsidiary companies, delivering specialist activities – UAL Short Courses Ltd, and UAL Arts Temps Ltd.

We’re made up of all types of people, coming together in London, the world’s creative capital. We are designers, artists, performers, thinkers, researchers and makers. Our students, staff and graduates form a global network of creatives, entrepreneurs and leaders. Together, our ideas change the world. Because the world needs creativity.

We are ranked highly across the board. We are ranked first for specialist art and design, second in the world for Art and Design in the 2023 QS World University Rankings (for the fifth year in a row), ranked fifth in sustainability and two of our colleges were rated in the top three fashion schools in the world. 

Our culture

We have become one of the world’s most international Universities, welcoming over 22,000 students and 6,000 staff from 130 countries. And, as a global university, staff and students learn from different cultures and perspectives, which leads to new conversations and innovative work. At our very core, everything we do seeks to challenge the status quo by driving social purpose and standing up for what matters.

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds including those who may feel underrepresented in the workforce due to their socioeconomic circumstances such as those from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (B.A.M.E.) backgrounds. We aim to be a university where everyone can be themselves and are supported to reach their full potential.

With our commitment to inclusion and diversity, we are proud to be a Race Equality Charter (REC) member to help us reduce barriers that negatively impacts B.A.M.E. staff, a Stonewall Diversity Champion to ensure all LGBTQ+ people are valued at work, a Disability Confident Scheme Committed employer and member of the Business Disability Forum which help us to improve the lives of disabled people in the workplace.