OPERATIONS MANAGER - FESTIVAL
About us
Invictus UK 2027 is a charity and delivery organisation for Invictus Games Birmingham 2027, taking place in July 2027 at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) and Sandwell Aquatics Centre. Founded by Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex in 2014, the Invictus Games uses adaptive sport to support the recovery of Wounded, Injured, and Sick (WIS) service personnel and veterans.
Birmingham 2027 will bring together 550 competitors from over 25 nations across 12 sports, including Archery, Athletics, Cycling, Esports, Indoor Rowing, Laser Run, Pickleball, Powerlifting, Sitting Volleyball, Swimming, Wheelchair Basketball, and Wheelchair Rugby.
The Games are about more than competition. Success is measured in every step forward, every challenge faced, every barrier overcome. Every throw, stride, and lift is a victory.
Our mission is to celebrate the unconquered spirit of WIS service personnel and veterans, deliver an outstanding Games, and create lasting social impact across Birmingham and the Midlands.
Through our Impact Programme, we will create recovery opportunities for thousands of WIS and their families, while delivering long-term benefits for Birmingham and the West Midlands.
Birmingham sits at the heart of this story, from life-saving care at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham to rehabilitation at the Defence and National Rehabilitation Centre and support at Fisher House, with many competitors returning to the place that supported them.
The role
We are looking to appoint exceptional individual to our operations team to lead the planning and delivery of the NEC Festival areas, in conjunction with the incumbent venue planning team. The post will report into the Operations Director. The Festival space will be a focus of the event, providing the first and last impression of the Games for spectators and accredited client groups. The Festival will involve free competition sports, have a go sports, activations, sponsor engagement, merchandise, food and beverage, entertainment, and general look and feel of the event.
The Festival Operations Manager will work in close collaboration with the wider Operations department and wider Invictus Games Birmingham 2027 team and will be responsible for developing a suite of operational plans including an Event Management Plan, CAD production, workstream operating plans, radio fleetmap and operational run sheets. Supplier engagement, contracting and operational budget management will be core to the role.
There are several Operations Managers required for Event Delivery. The final per role assignment will be determined based on experience and final workstream planning requirements.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
Develop a full programme of sport, entertainment and activities as part of the festival, working alongside local consultants and partners
Lead the procurement of assets and overlay, including AV, power and stage requirements
Working with the Operations Director, help manage the budget for the festival spaces
Plan for any back of house spaces, equipment and FF&E required
Coordinate all logistic and access requirements including accreditation for festival performers
Drive the integration of the festival into the wider event
Manage all operational aspects of the festival programme including the development of key documentation
Work alongside the communications team for promotion of the festival programme
Work closely with the venue incumbent team, and wider internal and external stakeholders
Games time delivery and management of the festival
Management of festival volunteers
This is a full time, fixed term role to 31 July 2027.
The salary for this position is starting from £45,000 per annum (depending on experience).
This role shall be based at our Birmingham office and flexible, hybrid working arrangements are available with the Organisation.
Employee Benefits include:
30 days annual leave per annum plus public holidays
Flexible working arrangements
Wellbeing time