UCAS is at the heart of connecting people to higher education.

UCAS is the world’s leading shared admissions service for higher education. We provide application services for UK universities and colleges as well as delivering a wide range of research, consultancy and advisory services to schools, colleges, careers services, professional bodies and employers.

We’re a successful and fast-growing organisation, which helps hundreds of thousands of people every year. We're committed to delivering a first-class service to all of our customers — they're at the heart of everything we do.

Led by Dave Penney, Chief Communications and Marketing Officer. This broad business unit and incorporates the following functions: 

• UCAS Media education and industry Sales  
• Education and Industry Marketing 
• Digital Marketing Operations 
• Events
• Partnerships 
• Apprenticeships 
• Public Affairs, Press and Communications 
• Insights

The business unit is set up to deliver against the objectives of UCAS charity and operate UCAS Media (UCAS’s commercial subsidiary) to help fund UCAS’s charitable operations. For the charity, our objective is to provide everyone with the information, advice and guidance they need to make informed decisions on their next steps. We deliver on this via our media ecosystem which consists of information, advice and guidance on ucas.com, our social media feeds across various channels, email, live events and webinars.

For UCAS Media, our business objective is to generate revenue through paid collaborations with higher education providers who wish to improve their position in the market, and commercial brands who want to reach students. All brands wishing to use our media ecosystem and insight services must align with our framework. All profits generated are gift aided to UCAS the charity and in turn fund the charitable objectives, such as our recent announcement that students in receipt of free school meals will no longer need to pay the UCAS application fee. 

To work with the Head of Events to ensure the best in class implementation and execution of an ambitious events strategy. The Exhibition and Conference Manager will lead the team of Event Organisers to ensure the planning, implementation, and delivery of in person exhibitions and conferences that enables our audience to discover a world of exciting possibilities after school and college.

Key accountabilities:

• To support the Head of Events in the development of the Events Strategy for in person exhibitions and conferences

• To manage the attendee experience across in person exhibitions and conferences

• To manage the implementation of the events strategy across in person exhibitions and conferences to lead the delivery of a market leading events offering to support the commercial growth plan

• To manage and be accountable for all related events and conference budgets to ensure the events meet the financial forecast and income and surplus targets

• To represent UCAS in meetings and presentations to colleagues / clients / membership-based associations

• To manage and be accountable for supplier / contractor relationships and contracts relating to in person exhibitions and conferences to ensure appropriate individual event requirements are met

You can find the full job description in the attached role profile below.

• Experienced Exhibition and conference manager with proven experience planning and implementing in person exhibitions and conferences

• Awareness and interest of current trends and innovations in the events business to be able to contribute ideas and views to expand our events offer

• A proven ability to plan multiple events across the calendar being able to draw on expensive project management experience to ensure adequate resource and timelines are met

• A strong team manager, with experience of motivating and developing teams to deliver great customer service

• A high degree of self-organisation, and the ability to manage multiple priorities, as well as the ability to solve problems on the ground, and remain calm when dealing with unforeseen circumstances

• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build and sustain open, trusted relationships with customers, stakeholders, and suppliers

• Knowledge of the higher education sector, particularly the decisions facing young people when they leave school, is desirable, but not essential

• Full clean driver’s licence, and a willingness and ability to travel across the UK, including overnight stays, sometimes at short notice

Salary - up to £38,000 (plus overtime)

• Purpose-driven work in a charity-led organisation connecting people to education and opportunity

• Internal training, mentoring, and access to industry-recognised certifications through our development academies

• Hybrid working model built on trust and flexibility, with a 35-hour week and flexible contracts

• 30 days annual leave, 3 concessionary days over Christmas, bank holidays, and the option to purchase additional leave

• Everyday wellbeing support through Perkbox, offering discounts and wellness tools

• Onsite facilities including a free gym, subsidised café, and free parking at our Cheltenham office

• Inclusive culture supported by employee networks, wellbeing champions, and Mental Health First Aiders

• Recognition and reward through our quarterly employee scheme and an ex-gratia bonus for going above and beyond

Studies have shown that some groups of people are less likely to apply to a role unless they tick every box. At UCAS, we recognise that talent comes in various forms and we are committed to delivering a fair and equitable recruitment process where applicants have an equal opportunity to demonstrate their skills. So, if you are interested in this vacancy, but don't necessarily meet every single point on the job description, please still apply.

If you have any questions, please email the Talent Acquisition team via careers@ucas.ac.uk and one of us will be in touch.