Director, Event Technology & Digital Experience

Role Purpose & Context

Role Summary

The Director, Event Technology & Digital Experience is here to define and deliver a multi-year vision for how technology transforms our global events. You'll own the strategy for our event tech stack, making sure it supports our commercial objectives and delivers genuinely memorable attendee experiences. This isn't a hands-on app build role anymore; it's about setting the direction, building the teams, and making sure we're always ahead of the curve. Your work directly influences how we engage with millions of attendees and generate millions in revenue through our events. Get it right, and we'll be seen as industry leaders in digital event innovation. Get it wrong, and we risk falling behind competitors, losing attendee engagement, and ultimately, impacting our bottom line. The challenge? Navigating a rapidly evolving tech landscape while managing significant budgets and diverse stakeholder expectations. The reward? Seeing your strategic vision come to life in truly impactful, large-scale events that move the business forward.

Reporting Structure

• Reports to: VP, Global Events & Experiential Technology
• Direct reports: Roughly 25-100+ people, including managers and specialists.
• Matrix relationships: VP, Event Tech & Digital Strategy, Head of Event Platforms, Director of Experiential Technology, Global Head of Event Innovation,

Key Stakeholders

Internal:

• C-Suite (CEO, CMO, CTO)
• Sales & Marketing VPs
• Product & Engineering Leadership
• Finance & Legal Teams
• Global Event Heads

External:

• Strategic Event Tech Vendors (Cvent, Bizzabo)
• Industry Bodies & Associations
• Key Partners & Sponsors
• External Agencies & Consultants

Organisational Impact

Scope: This role directly shapes the digital face of our entire organisation's events. You'll be responsible for driving significant P&L impact (typically £2M-£10M+) through technology investments, influencing our market position, and ensuring our event experiences are truly differentiated. Your decisions will affect everything from attendee satisfaction to lead generation and brand perception on a global scale.

Performance Metrics

Quantitative Metrics

1. Metric: Event Tech Stack ROI
2. Desc: The measurable return on investment from our overall event technology platforms and initiatives.
3. Target: Demonstrate a positive ROI of at least 1.5x within 18 months, increasing to 2.0x by year 3.
4. Freq: Annually, with quarterly reviews.
5. Example: If we spend £2M on event tech, we'd expect to see £3M in attributable value (e.g., efficiency savings, increased lead quality, higher sponsorship revenue) within 18 months.
6. Metric: Digital Engagement & Conversion Uplift
7. Desc: The percentage increase in key digital engagement metrics (e.g., session attendance, networking connections, content downloads) and conversion rates (e.g., MQL to SQL) directly attributable to event technology enhancements.
8. Target: Achieve a 15% year-on-year increase in overall digital engagement scores and a 10% uplift in event-driven MQL to SQL conversion rates.
9. Freq: Quarterly, aggregated across all major events.
10. Example: After implementing a new AI-powered networking tool, we saw a 20% increase in 1:1 meetings booked through the app, contributing to a 12% higher conversion rate for those attendees.
11. Metric: Event Technology Budget Optimisation
12. Desc: How effectively you manage and optimise the multi-million-pound event technology budget, including vendor negotiations and platform consolidation.
13. Target: Achieve a 10% reduction in overall event tech licensing and operational costs while maintaining or improving platform capabilities, year-on-year.
14. Freq: Annually, with monthly budget reviews.
15. Example: By consolidating platforms and renegotiating a multi-year deal with our primary app provider, you saved £250K on a £2.5M annual budget without sacrificing features.
16. Metric: Data Strategy & Governance Compliance
17. Desc: The successful implementation and adherence to a robust event data strategy, ensuring data quality, security, and compliance with global regulations (e.g., GDPR, CCPA).
18. Target: Maintain 100% compliance with data privacy regulations and achieve a 'Good' rating in all internal data audits.
19. Freq: Bi-annually for audits, ongoing monitoring.
20. Example: Successfully implemented a new data anonymisation protocol for post-event analytics, passing a stringent external GDPR audit with zero findings.

Qualitative Metrics

1. Metric: Strategic Influence & Thought Leadership
2. Desc: Your ability to shape the broader event strategy, influence C-level decisions, and position the organisation as an innovator in event technology.
3. Evidence: Regularly invited to present to the Board on event tech strategy; cited by industry peers or publications; direct feedback from C-suite on strategic contributions; successful adoption of your strategic recommendations.
4. Metric: Team & Organisational Capability Building
5. Desc: How effectively you build, mentor, and scale a high-performing event technology team, fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.
6. Evidence: High retention rates within your team (above 85%); successful internal promotions; positive 360-degree feedback from direct reports and peers; development of new skill sets within the team (e.g., AI integration specialists).
7. Metric: Cross-Functional Collaboration & Partnership
8. Desc: Your effectiveness in building strong, strategic partnerships with other departments (Sales, Marketing, Product, IT) and key external vendors to deliver integrated solutions.
9. Evidence: Jointly owned KPIs with other departments; successful multi-departmental projects delivered on time and budget; positive feedback from peer Directors on collaboration; successful, long-term vendor relationships.

Primary Traits

• Trait: Strategic Composure
• Manifestation: When a major tech partner experiences an outage during a flagship event, you're the one calmly assessing the enterprise-level risk, communicating clearly to the CEO, and directing your teams to implement contingency plans. You don't just solve problems; you anticipate them and build resilience into the entire system. You'll keep a level head when the stakes are incredibly high, which they usually are at this level.
• Benefit: At this level, panic is contagious and detrimental. Your ability to remain composed under immense pressure, especially when millions of pounds and our brand reputation are on the line, is absolutely critical. It allows you to make clear, rational decisions and instil confidence in your team and senior leadership.
• Trait: Visionary Architect
• Manifestation: You're not just thinking about the next event; you're sketching out a 3-5 year roadmap for our digital event experience. You'll see how emerging technologies like the metaverse or advanced AI could fundamentally change how we run events, and you'll figure out how to weave them into our strategy. You're constantly looking for the next big thing, but also how it fits into the bigger picture.
• Benefit: The event technology landscape moves incredibly fast. Without a clear, forward-thinking vision, we'll quickly become irrelevant. This role needs someone who can not only see the future but also design the practical steps to get us there, ensuring our investments today pay off tomorrow.
• Trait: Executive Translator
• Manifestation: You can take a complex discussion about API limitations or data architecture and explain its business implications to the CEO in a 5-minute, easy-to-understand summary. You'll translate high-level business goals (e.g., 'increase brand affinity') into concrete technology requirements and vice versa. You're equally comfortable talking to a developer about code and to a board member about ROI.
• Benefit: You're the bridge between deep technical expertise and executive decision-making. If you can't clearly articulate the 'why' behind our tech investments in business terms, you won't get the buy-in or budget needed to drive transformation. It's about making complex things simple for those who need to make strategic calls.

Supporting Traits

• Trait: Organisational Empathy
• Desc: You understand the political landscape and the different motivations of various departments (Sales wants leads, Marketing wants brand, Finance wants cost savings). You'll navigate these complexities with a genuine understanding of their needs.
• Trait: Principled Pragmatism
• Desc: You have strong convictions about what good technology looks like, but you're also realistic about budget, timelines, and existing constraints. You'll push for innovation but know when to make a pragmatic compromise.
• Trait: Change Champion
• Desc: You're not afraid to challenge the status quo and lead significant organisational change. You'll inspire your teams and influence senior peers to embrace new ways of working and new technologies.

Primary Motivators

1. Motivator: Driving Business Transformation
2. Daily: You'll spend your days thinking about how technology can fundamentally change how we run events, not just incrementally improve them. This means evaluating new platforms, designing new attendee journeys, and challenging existing processes.
3. Motivator: Building High-Performing Teams & Capabilities
4. Daily: A significant part of your role is about mentoring your managers, developing your team's skills, and creating a structure where they can thrive. You'll get satisfaction from seeing your people grow and deliver exceptional work.
5. Motivator: Strategic Influence & Impact
6. Daily: You'll be in rooms with senior leadership, shaping the future of our events. Your recommendations will directly influence multi-million-pound decisions and the company's public perception. This isn't a role for someone who shies away from the spotlight.

Potential Demotivators

Honestly, if you thrive on day-to-day tactical execution or prefer a role where decisions are made for you, this won't be a good fit. You'll be setting the direction, which means dealing with ambiguity and sometimes making tough calls with imperfect information. If you need to see every single piece of work you initiate come to perfect fruition, you'll struggle. The reality is, some strategic initiatives will pivot, and some pilots won't scale. You need to be okay with that, learn from it, and move on.

Common Frustrations

1. Getting bogged down in operational details when your focus needs to be strategic.
2. Resistance to change from established teams or legacy processes.
3. Budget constraints that limit the pace of innovation you want to drive.
4. The constant need to justify technology investments to non-technical stakeholders.
5. Finding top-tier talent who can bridge the gap between events and deep tech.

What Role Doesn't Offer

1. A purely hands-on technical role where you're coding or configuring apps daily.
2. A predictable, unchanging environment; expect constant evolution.
3. A role without significant P&L responsibility or direct reports.
4. The ability to avoid difficult conversations or strategic trade-offs.

ADHD Positives

1. The broad scope and strategic focus of this role can be highly engaging for those with ADHD, offering constant novelty and intellectual stimulation.
2. The need to quickly pivot between high-level strategic thinking and problem-solving during live events can play to strengths in rapid decision-making.
3. Leading multiple initiatives and managing diverse teams can provide the variety and challenge that keeps focus.

ADHD Challenges and Accommodations

1. The sheer volume of information and strategic inputs could be overwhelming; we can support with dedicated executive assistants for information synthesis.
2. Maintaining focus on long-term, multi-year strategic roadmaps might require structured check-ins and visual planning tools (like Miro boards) to keep the vision tangible.
3. Managing a large team requires consistent communication and follow-up; we can provide coaching on delegation and task management strategies.

Dyslexia Positives

1. The emphasis on strategic vision, pattern recognition, and big-picture thinking is often a strength for individuals with dyslexia.
2. Strong verbal communication and presentation skills are paramount at this level, allowing for effective information sharing beyond written reports.
3. The ability to simplify complex technical concepts into clear, actionable strategies can be a significant advantage.

Dyslexia Challenges and Accommodations

1. Extensive written reports, board papers, and policy documentation are part of the role; we can offer access to proofreading software, dictation tools, and support from executive assistants for drafting.
2. Reviewing detailed contracts or technical specifications might be time-consuming; we can ensure sufficient time is allocated and provide tools for text-to-speech.
3. Organisational communication often relies heavily on written channels; we encourage and support the use of visual aids and verbal summaries in all key communications.

Autism Positives

1. The role requires deep analytical thinking, logical problem-solving, and the ability to build robust, scalable systems, which can be strong suits for autistic individuals.
2. A focus on data-driven decision-making and clear, objective metrics provides a structured approach to strategy.
3. The ability to identify patterns and predict future trends in event technology can be a significant asset in this forward-looking role.

Autism Challenges and Accommodations

1. Navigating complex organisational politics and unspoken social cues can be tricky; we can provide clear expectations for stakeholder engagement and offer coaching on executive communication styles.
2. Frequent high-stakes presentations to the board and C-suite might require specific preparation; we can offer presentation coaching and opportunities for dry runs.
3. Dealing with unexpected, high-pressure live event crises requires rapid, often non-linear, problem-solving; we can ensure clear protocols are in place and support with a strong, experienced operational team.

Key Responsibilities

Experience Levels Responsibilities

1. Level: Director, Event Technology & Digital Experience (16-20 years)
2. Responsibilities: Define the multi-year event technology strategy and roadmap, making sure it aligns perfectly with the overall business objectives and market trends. This means looking 3-5 years out, not just the next quarter.
3. Own the P&L for the entire event technology function, managing budgets typically ranging from £2M to £10M+. You'll be accountable for every pound spent and the return we get on it.
4. Lead, mentor, and grow a large, diverse team of event tech professionals, including managers and specialists. This involves setting clear expectations, fostering a culture of high performance, and making sure everyone's developing.
5. Drive significant business unit transformation through technology. You'll be identifying opportunities for competitive advantage, new revenue streams, or major efficiency gains, then making them happen.
6. Present regularly to the C-Suite and Board on event technology performance, strategic initiatives, and market insights. Be ready for tough questions and to defend your recommendations with solid data.
7. Architect and oversee the entire event technology ecosystem, from platform selection and vendor negotiations to data governance and security protocols. This isn't about picking a single app; it's about building a robust, integrated system.
8. Represent the organisation externally as a thought leader in event technology and digital experience, speaking at industry conferences and building strategic partnerships. Your voice will help shape our reputation.
9. Supervision: You're fully autonomous on execution within your strategic remit. Your supervision will be focused on monthly or quarterly strategic alignment discussions with the VP, Global Events & Experiential Technology, and regular check-ins with the C-suite on key performance indicators and strategic initiatives.
10. Decision: You'll have full strategic authority within your domain. This includes P&L responsibility for £2M-£10M+, hiring and firing decisions for your entire department (including senior roles), major vendor selection and contract negotiations (up to £1M+), and significant organisational design changes within your function. Board-level decisions, of course, require CEO and Board alignment.
11. Success: Success at this level means consistently delivering on your strategic roadmap, achieving significant ROI on tech investments, building a highly capable and engaged team, and positioning the organisation as a leader in digital event experiences. It also means effectively navigating complex internal and external landscapes to drive meaningful, measurable business impact.

Decision-Making Authority

• Type: Event Tech Stack Selection
• Entry: No involvement; uses pre-selected tools.
• Mid: Provides feedback on user experience for existing tools.
• Senior: Researches and recommends specific platforms for project needs, with manager approval.
• Type: Budget Allocation (Event Technology)
• Entry: Tracks personal expenses.
• Mid: Manages project-specific budgets up to £5K, flags overspend.
• Senior: Proposes budget for specific workstreams up to £50K, with Director input.
• Type: Team Hiring & Structure
• Entry: No hiring authority.
• Mid: Participates in interviews for junior roles.
• Senior: Interviews and provides strong recommendations for specialist roles, mentors new hires.

Competency Requirements

Foundation Skills (Transferable)

At the Director level, your foundation skills need to be rock solid, but critically, they must be applied at an executive level. We're talking about leading, influencing, and shaping, not just doing. These are the core behaviours that underpin everything else.

• Category: Executive Communication & Influence
• Skills: Board-level Presentation: Articulating complex strategies and performance metrics clearly and concisely to non-technical executive audiences, handling challenging questions with gravitas.
• Strategic Storytelling: Crafting compelling narratives around technology investments and their business impact, gaining buy-in from diverse stakeholders.
• Negotiation & Persuasion: Leading high-stakes vendor contract negotiations (multi-million-pound deals) and influencing cross-functional leaders to adopt new strategic directions.
• Category: Strategic Leadership & Vision
• Skills: Organisational Design: Structuring and scaling teams to meet evolving business needs, fostering a culture of innovation and accountability.
• Vision Setting: Developing and articulating a clear, inspiring multi-year vision for event technology that aligns with enterprise goals.
• Change Leadership: Driving significant organisational transformation, managing resistance, and guiding teams through periods of change.
• Category: Business Acumen & Financial Stewardship
• Skills: P&L Management: Full accountability for a multi-million-pound P&L, including forecasting, budgeting, and cost optimisation.
• ROI Justification: Developing robust business cases for technology investments, clearly demonstrating expected return on investment.
• Risk Management: Identifying, assessing, and mitigating strategic, operational, and reputational risks associated with event technology.
• Category: Problem Solving & Decision Making
• Skills: Ambiguity Navigation: Making critical decisions with incomplete information in high-pressure, complex scenarios (e.g., live event crises).
• Strategic Prioritisation: Ruthlessly prioritising initiatives across a large portfolio, ensuring resources are focused on the highest impact areas.
• Systems Thinking: Understanding how various event tech components, teams, and business processes interact to form a cohesive ecosystem.

Functional Skills (Role-Specific Technical)

These are the specific skills and knowledge areas you'll need to master to effectively lead our event technology and digital experience function. It's about deep expertise applied at a strategic level.

Technical Competencies

• Skill: Enterprise Event Technology Architecture
• Desc: Designing and overseeing the entire event technology ecosystem, including integration strategies, data flow, and platform interoperability across a global portfolio. This isn't just about one event; it's about the whole system.
• Level: Expert
• Skill: Event Data Strategy & Governance
• Desc: Defining how event data is collected, stored, analysed, and used to drive business decisions, ensuring compliance with global data privacy regulations (e.g., GDPR, CCPA). This means setting the rules for everyone.
• Level: Expert
• Skill: Digital Experience Design Principles
• Desc: Understanding and applying advanced UX/UI principles to large-scale digital event experiences, ensuring intuitive, engaging, and accessible attendee journeys across all platforms.
• Level: Advanced
• Skill: Vendor Relationship & Contract Management
• Desc: Leading strategic relationships with major event technology vendors, negotiating complex multi-year contracts, and managing service level agreements (SLAs) to ensure optimal performance and value.
• Level: Expert

Digital Tools

• Tool: Cvent (Attendee Hub) / Bizzabo / Webex Events (Socio) - Enterprise Admin
• Level: Strategic
• Usage: Leading platform evaluation (RFPs), managing enterprise-level license agreements, defining governance and best practices for the entire organisation. You'll set the standards, not just use the tools.
• Tool: Salesforce (Sales Cloud) - Architect Level
• Level: Architect
• Usage: Designing the end-to-end data flow from event registration to CRM, defining the 'golden record' for attendee data, ensuring GDPR/CCPA compliance across all integrations. You're building the data highways.
• Tool: Tableau / Power BI - Executive Dashboarding
• Level: Strategic
• Usage: Defining the key event KPIs, interpreting complex data visualisations, and presenting data-driven insights to C-suite leadership to influence future event strategy and budget. You're telling the story with the numbers.
• Tool: Asana / Monday.com / Smartsheet - Portfolio Management
• Level: Strategic
• Usage: Managing the entire event technology programme portfolio, allocating resources across multiple strategic initiatives, and reporting on programme health to the PMO and senior leadership. It's about orchestrating everything.
• Tool: Miro / Mural - Strategic Planning & Collaboration
• Level: Advanced
• Usage: Leading virtual workshops for strategic planning, mapping complex attendee journeys at an enterprise level, and facilitating cross-functional ideation sessions with executive peers.

Industry Knowledge

• Area: Global Event Market Dynamics
• Desc: Deep understanding of global event trends, competitive landscape, and evolving attendee expectations across different regions and event formats (physical, virtual, hybrid).
• Area: Experiential Marketing Principles
• Desc: Expertise in how technology can enhance and create immersive, memorable experiences that drive brand engagement and measurable outcomes in experiential marketing.
• Area: Regulatory & Compliance Landscape
• Desc: Comprehensive knowledge of global data privacy regulations (GDPR, CCPA, etc.) and accessibility standards relevant to event technology, ensuring full compliance across all platforms.

Regulatory Compliance Regulations

• Reg: General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
• Usage: Ensuring all event technology platforms and data processes are fully compliant with GDPR, particularly concerning attendee data collection, storage, processing, and consent management across all EU-facing events. You're the ultimate guardian of data privacy here.
• Reg: California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)
• Usage: Applying CCPA requirements to event data for US-based attendees, especially regarding consumer rights to access, delete, and opt-out of personal information sales. This means understanding the nuances of US privacy law.
• Reg: Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)
• Usage: Overseeing the implementation of WCAG standards (e.g., WCAG 2.1 AA) across all digital event platforms to ensure accessibility for attendees with disabilities. We want our events to be for everyone.

Essential Prerequisites

• Proven track record of leading large-scale event technology programmes or departments for at least 10 years, with significant P&L accountability.
• Demonstrable experience in defining and executing multi-year technology roadmaps that have driven measurable business transformation.
• Extensive experience in managing and mentoring teams of 20+ individuals, including other managers.
• Deep expertise in enterprise-level event app platforms (e.g., Cvent, Bizzabo) and their integration with CRM (Salesforce) and marketing automation systems.
• A strong history of presenting strategic recommendations and performance updates to C-suite executives and/or Board members.

Career Pathway Context

You'll typically have come from a Senior Manager or Lead Event Technologist role, or perhaps a Director-level position in a related digital experience or marketing technology function. The key is that you've already proven you can operate at a strategic level, manage significant budgets, and lead large teams to deliver complex technology solutions.

Qualifications & Credentials

Emerging Foundation Skills

• Skill: Ethical AI & Data Stewardship
• Why: Critical within 12 months—as we use more AI for personalisation, content generation, and attendee insights, the ethical implications and potential biases become paramount. Regulators and attendees will demand transparency and fairness.
• Concepts: [{'concept_name': 'AI Explainability (XAI)', 'description': "Understanding how AI models make decisions so we can justify recommendations and avoid 'black box' issues in attendee experiences."}, {'concept_name': 'Algorithmic Bias Detection', 'description': 'Identifying and mitigating biases in AI models that might lead to unfair or exclusionary attendee experiences or content recommendations.'}, {'concept_name': 'Privacy-Preserving AI', 'description': 'Exploring techniques like federated learning or differential privacy to use AI for insights without compromising individual attendee data.'}, {'concept_name': 'AI Governance Frameworks', 'description': 'Developing internal policies and guidelines for the responsible and ethical use of AI across all event technology applications.'}]
• Prepare: This month: Read up on the latest EU AI Act proposals and their implications for event tech.
• Next quarter: Attend a virtual summit or course on AI ethics and governance.
• Month 3-6: Lead an internal working group to draft our company's 'Responsible AI for Events' principles.
• Month 6-12: Evaluate our current AI-powered tools for potential biases and implement mitigation strategies.
• QuickWin: Start by critically reviewing any AI-driven personalisation features in our current event apps. Ask: 'Could this inadvertently exclude or disadvantage certain attendee groups?'
• Skill: Immersive Experience Strategy (Metaverse/XR)
• Why: Important within 18-24 months—while still nascent, the 'metaverse' and extended reality (XR) are changing how people interact digitally. We need to understand how these technologies could create truly unique, engaging, and scalable event experiences beyond traditional 2D virtual events.
• Concepts: [{'concept_name': 'Spatial Computing Principles', 'description': 'Understanding how users interact in 3D digital environments and how to design intuitive navigation and engagement.'}, {'concept_name': 'Digital Twin Concepts', 'description': 'Exploring how virtual replicas of physical event spaces could enhance hybrid experiences or pre-event planning.'}, {'concept_name': 'Web3 & Decentralised Event Models', 'description': 'Investigating the potential of blockchain, NFTs, and decentralised autonomous organisations (DAOs) for new event ticketing, access, and community models.'}, {'concept_name': 'Hardware & Software Ecosystems', 'description': 'Understanding the current state and future potential of VR/AR headsets, haptic feedback, and relevant platforms (e.g., Unity, Unreal Engine).'}]
• Prepare: This quarter: Experiment with a simple VR experience (e.g., Oculus Quest) to understand user interaction.
• Next quarter: Commission a small internal research project on 'Metaverse for Events: Opportunity & Risk'.
• Month 6-12: Partner with a specialist agency to run a small, experimental 'metaverse' event activation.
• Month 12-18: Develop a strategic white paper outlining our long-term approach to immersive experiences.
• QuickWin: Start by exploring existing virtual world platforms (e.g., Decentraland, Spatial) to understand the current capabilities and limitations for event activations. No need to build yet, just observe.

Advancing Technical Skills

• Skill: Advanced Data Mesh & Fabric Architectures
• Why: Critical within 12 months—as event data sources proliferate, we need more scalable and governed ways to manage and access data. Moving beyond centralised data warehouses to a decentralised 'data mesh' approach will be key for agility and data ownership.
• Concepts: [{'concept_name': 'Domain-Oriented Data Ownership', 'description': 'Structuring data ownership around event domains (e.g., registration data, engagement data) rather than central IT.'}, {'concept_name': 'Data as a Product', 'description': 'Treating event data sets as products with clear APIs, documentation, and quality standards for internal consumers.'}, {'concept_name': 'Self-Serve Data Infrastructure', 'description': 'Empowering event teams to access and analyse data independently, with appropriate governance.'}, {'concept_name': 'Data Governance & Security at Scale', 'description': 'Implementing robust governance frameworks for decentralised data environments.'}]
• Prepare: This quarter: Read Zhamak Dehghani's 'Data Mesh' book or key articles on the topic.
• Next quarter: Work with our CTO/Head of Data to understand our enterprise data strategy and identify alignment points.
• Month 6-12: Pilot a 'data as a product' approach for one key event data set (e.g., attendee engagement data).
• Month 12-18: Develop a roadmap for transitioning our event data architecture towards a data mesh model.
• QuickWin: Start by mapping out our current event data flow from end-to-end. Identify where data ownership is unclear or where bottlenecks exist in accessing critical insights.
• Skill: Low-Code/No-Code Platform Strategy
• Why: Important within 12-18 months—the ability to rapidly build and deploy custom event solutions without extensive coding will be a huge competitive advantage. You'll need to understand how to strategically use these platforms to empower your teams and respond quickly to market needs.
• Concepts: [{'concept_name': 'Citizen Developer Enablement', 'description': 'How to empower non-technical team members to build simple applications or automations.'}, {'concept_name': 'Platform Governance & Security', 'description': 'Establishing guardrails and security protocols for low-code/no-code development to prevent shadow IT or data risks.'}, {'concept_name': 'Integration with Enterprise Systems', 'description': 'Ensuring low-code solutions can securely connect with our core event tech stack and CRM.'}, {'concept_name': 'Use Case Identification & Prioritisation', 'description': 'Knowing when low-code is appropriate versus when a custom-coded solution is needed.'}]
• Prepare: This month: Research leading low-code/no-code platforms relevant to events (e.g., AppGyver, Bubble, Zapier for advanced automation).
• Next quarter: Identify one or two small, internal event processes that could be automated or improved with a low-code solution.
• Month 3-6: Run a small pilot project with a low-code platform, perhaps building a custom internal tool for event feedback collection.
• Month 6-12: Develop a strategy for how low-code/no-code platforms can be integrated into our broader event tech capabilities.
• QuickWin: Explore how existing automation tools (like Zapier or Make.com) can connect different event platforms to streamline simple tasks, even if it's just for your own team's efficiency.

Education Requirements

• Level: Minimum
• Req: A Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Alts: We're pragmatic here. If you've got 20+ years of demonstrable, progressive experience in leading event technology functions, including significant P&L and team management, that's absolutely equivalent to a degree. We care about what you can do, not just where you studied.
• Level: Preferred
• Req: A Master's degree (e.g., MBA, MSc in Digital Marketing, or Technology Management).
• Alts: An MBA or similar advanced qualification often helps with the strategic and financial acumen needed at this level, but it's not a hard requirement if your experience speaks for itself. We're looking for sharp minds, however they've been honed.

Experience Requirements

You'll need roughly 16-20 years of progressive experience in event technology, digital experience, or marketing technology roles. This must include at least 8-10 years in senior leadership positions, with significant P&L accountability (ideally £2M-£10M+), and a proven track record of managing large, multi-disciplinary teams (20+ direct and indirect reports). We're looking for someone who has genuinely led a function through significant growth or transformation, not just managed projects.

Preferred Certifications

• Cert: Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) or Certified Event Designer (CED)
• Prod: Events Industry Council / Event Design Collective
• Usage: These demonstrate a deep understanding of core event management principles, which is crucial for aligning technology with event objectives, even at a strategic level.
• Cert: Project Management Professional (PMP) or PRINCE2 Practitioner
• Prod: Project Management Institute / AXELOS
• Usage: Useful for managing complex programme portfolios and ensuring strategic initiatives are delivered effectively and efficiently across your department.
• Cert: Relevant Cloud Platform Certifications (e.g., AWS Cloud Practitioner, Azure Fundamentals)
• Prod: Amazon Web Services / Microsoft Azure
• Usage: Demonstrates a foundational understanding of cloud infrastructure, which underpins most modern event technology platforms and data solutions. It shows you speak the language of modern tech.

Recommended Activities

• Regularly attend and speak at industry conferences (e.g., Event Tech Live, IMEX, SXSW) to stay abreast of emerging trends and represent our brand.
• Participate in executive leadership programmes focused on digital transformation, change management, or strategic innovation.
• Engage with peer groups and industry associations (e.g., PCMA, MPI) to share best practices and build a strong professional network.
• Mentor junior and mid-level professionals within the event technology space, contributing to the growth of the wider industry.

Career Progression Pathways

Entry Paths to This Role

• Path: Head of Event Technology / Senior Manager, Event Tech
• Time: You'd usually spend 5-8 years in a senior management role, leading a significant part of an event tech function, before stepping into a Director position. This is where you'd prove your strategic capabilities.
• Path: Director, Digital Experience / Marketing Technology
• Time: Someone from a broader digital experience or marketing tech background might transition into this role, usually after 10-15 years in that space, bringing a fresh perspective on customer journeys and platform integration.

Career Progression From This Role

• Pathway: VP, Global Events & Experiential Technology
• Time: Roughly 3-5 years in the Director role, demonstrating consistent, high-impact strategic leadership.
• Pathway: Chief Experience Officer (CXO) / Chief Digital Officer (CDO)
• Time: This could be a lateral move, or a step up, typically after 4-6 years as Director, depending on the organisation's structure and your broader impact.

Long Term Vision Potential Roles

• Title: Chief Events & Experience Officer (CEEO)
• Time: 7-10 years post-Director
• Title: Chief Technology Officer (CTO) - with an Events/Marketing focus
• Time: 10-12 years post-Director
• Title: Board Member / Industry Advisor
• Time: 15+ years post-Director

How Zavmo Delivers This Role's Development

DISCOVER Phase: Skills Gap Analysis

Zavmo maps your current competencies against all requirements in this job description through conversational assessment. We evaluate your foundation skills (communication, strategic thinking), functional skills (CRM expertise, negotiation), and readiness for career progression.

Output: Personalised skills gap heat map showing strengths and priorities, estimated time to competency, neurodiversity accommodations.

DISCUSS Phase: Personalised Learning Pathway

Based on your DISCOVER results, Zavmo creates a personalised learning plan prioritised by impact: foundation skills first, then functional skills. We adapt to your learning style, pace, and neurodiversity needs (ADHD, dyslexia, autism).

Output: Week-by-week schedule, each module linked to specific job responsibilities, checkpoints and milestones.

DELIVER Phase: Conversational Learning

Learn through conversation, not boring modules. Zavmo uses 10 conversation types (Socratic dialogue, role-play, coaching, case studies) to build competence. Practice difficult QBR presentations, negotiate tough renewals, and handle churn conversations in a safe AI environment before facing real clients.

Example: "For 'Stakeholder Mapping', Zavmo will guide you through analysing a complex enterprise account, identifying key decision-makers, and building an engagement strategy."

DEMONSTRATE Phase: Competency Assessment

Zavmo automatically builds your evidence portfolio as you learn. Every conversation, practice scenario, and application example is captured and mapped to NOS performance criteria. When ready, your portfolio supports OFQUAL qualification claims and demonstrates competence to employers.

Output: Competency matrix, evidence portfolio (downloadable), qualification readiness, career progression score.