Head of Events and Sponsorship

Job description

• Set the Events strategy, prioritize the annual events calendar, and ensure each event or sponsorship is aligned with investment promotion objectives, target sectors, priority markets, and measurable outcomes.
• Lead the full events lifecycle: strategy, evaluation, planning, budgeting, procurement, content/programming coordination, audience acquisition, logistics, on-ground execution, follow-up, and reporting.
• Shape compelling event programming, identify relevant speakers, curate meaningful content themes, and select the right partners for each event based on target market, audience profile, investment priorities, and strategic objectives.
• Use audience insights, registration trends, market priorities, event performance metrics, and post-event analysis to shape event strategy, assess ROI, and continuously improve outcomes.
• Assess sponsorship and event opportunities through a commercial lens, evaluate value for money, negotiate deliverables, manage budgets, and ensure each opportunity supports strategic priorities and expected outcomes.
• Manage timelines, budgets, procurement coordination, supplier management, risk management, approvals, and post-event reporting.
• Lead teams, agencies, and cross-functional workstreams under tight deadlines with excellent stakeholder management, negotiation, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Lead, coach, and develop a team, set clear priorities, delegate effectively, manage performance, and build accountability across the Events function.
• Manage team capacity, assign ownership across multiple events, provide timely guidance, resolve delivery issues, and support a high-performing, collaborative team culture.
• Seek opportunities to encourage joint promotional activities when possible.
• Coordinate closely with the Marketing team to forward plan collateral requirements such as brochures, exhibition stands, corporate gifts, and direct marketing materials.
• Receive insight from Sector Teams and International Offices to decide where and when promotional activities should take place to target specified investors.

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Business Administration, Event Management, International Relations, or a related discipline is required.
• A postgraduate qualification, professional certification in event/project management, or relevant executive training would be an advantage.
• Minimum 8–10 years of experience in events, sponsorships, partnerships, destination promotion, marketing, communications, or related fields, with at least 3–5 years in a people management or senior project leadership role.
• Experience overseeing a full annual events calendar across multiple formats, markets, audiences, and strategic objectives.
• Proven experience delivering complex, high-profile events, including flagship forums, international roadshows, business delegations, sponsored events, VIP programmes, and senior-level networking engagements.
• Experience working with senior government, business, and investor audiences, with a strong understanding of protocol, audience acquisition, programme design, sponsorship evaluation, and event ROI measurement.
• Proven experience managing direct reports, setting team priorities, delegating responsibilities, coaching team members, and managing performance.
• Knowledge of Bahrain, the GCC business environment, investment promotion priorities, and international stakeholder engagement is preferred.
• Event Strategy & Prioritization: Ability to set the Events strategy, prioritize the annual events calendar, and ensure each event or sponsorship is aligned to investment promotion objectives, target sectors, priority markets, and measurable outcomes.
• Full Event Lifecycle: Able to lead the full events lifecycle: strategy, evaluation, planning, budgeting, procurement, content/programming coordination, audience acquisition, logistics, on-ground execution, follow-up, and reporting.
• Programming and Partner Strategy: Ability to shape compelling event programming, identify relevant speakers, curate meaningful content themes, and select the right partners for each event based on target market, audience profile, investment priorities, and strategic objectives.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Strong data fluency, with the ability to use audience insights, registration trends, market priorities, event performance metrics, and post-event analysis to shape event strategy, assess ROI, and continuously improve outcomes.
• Commercial & Sponsorship Assessment: Ability to assess sponsorship and event opportunities through a commercial lens, evaluate value for money, negotiate deliverables, manage budgets, and ensure each opportunity supports strategic priorities and expected outcomes.