Event Manager

“We started the Great North Run in 1981 because we were runners – and if you’re a runner you want everybody to run.” – Brendan Foster, President & Founder.

The Great Run Company is the UK’s biggest mass participation sport business, home to the Great North Run, the world’s largest half marathon. Every year we inspire over 200,000 people to take part in events in cities all over the country accompanied by world class athletes.

We are also home to Film Nova, the TV production arm of the Great Run Company, producing programmes and events for clients including BBC Sport, Channel 4, UEFA, Olympic Broadcasting Services, IAAF, European Athletics and British Triathlon.

The Great Run Company welcomes everyone and anyone who is inspired to get active.

Teamwork, Excellence, Accountability and Ambition are lived and breathed by the team at Great run. We work hard as one team to ensure every event that we deliver is the best it can be, creating an amazing experience for our participants, partners, charities, and our employees.

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Events Manager to lead the delivery of medium to large‑scale mass participation events within our portfolio. Due to the nature of the role you can be based remotely in the UK or from our Newcastle Head office (with hybrid working). This role does require regular UK wide travel.

You will take full operational ownership of assigned events, ensuring they are delivered safely, on time, within budget, and to the highest possible standard. You will also provide primary operational support across other events within the portfolio as required.

This is a fantastic opportunity to play a key role in delivering world‑class live sporting events, including the internationally renowned Great North Run.

• Lead the planning, coordination, delivery and oversight of assigned event projects
• Take operational ownership of key events to ensure delivery aligns with agreed objectives
• Work closely with the Commercial team to support event activation and sponsorship feasibility
• Collaborate with the Charity Coordinator to plan and deliver charity village operations
• Manage event budgets in partnership with Finance and Project Managers, proactively monitoring and controlling costs throughout the project lifecycle
• Oversee delivery against the operational requirements of key stakeholders including sponsors, broadcasters, participants and audiences
• Lead engagement with local authorities and stakeholders, including Safety Advisory Groups, councils, police, highways, medical providers and building control
• Coordinate with the Event Coordination team to recruit and deploy crew, volunteers, officials and timekeepers
• Plan for participant safety and welfare, including crowd flow management and detailed risk assessments
• Define event task structures and support project planning, including resource allocation
• Apply and champion company safe systems of work
• Undertake senior operational roles on event days to support the wider Operations team
• Ensure compliance with relevant legislation and maintain up‑to‑date internal policies and procedures

You are an experienced live events professional with strong leadership capability and a deep understanding of UK road running or mass participation events. You are calm under pressure, highly organised and confident managing multiple stakeholders in complex environments.

• Minimum 3 years’ experience delivering live events
• Strong knowledge of UK road running events and associated safety requirements
• Experience leading Safety Advisory Group (SAG) and external stakeholder meetings
• Experience operating within a formal project management framework
• Experience managing event budgets
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  
  Highly organised with exceptional attention to detail
• Able to work to strict deadlines and remain calm under pressure
• Proactive, adaptable and solutions‑focused
• Willing to work weekends and travel extensively
• Full UK driving license
• Right to work in the UK
• Experience delivering highway-based mass participation events (running, cycling, triathlon)
• Experience working on live televised events

If you are…