Senior Defense Conference Portfolio Lead

About the company

A fast-growing international B2B events business operating within the defense and security sector, and part of a larger multinational media group. The business runs a portfolio of large-scale international conferences connecting senior military, government and industry stakeholders. Backed by significant investment from its parent organisation, the business has ambitious plans to scale existing events and expand into new international markets.

Role responsibilities

• Take ownership of a defense-focused conference portfolio, shaping its direction and identifying new revenue streams, with a target of scaling portfolio revenue by around 25% year on year.
• Research, write and produce large-scale international conferences (2-3 day formats), delivering each to a high standard within tight production schedules.
• Drive primary market and VIP guest acquisition throughout production, working closely with sponsors to shape agendas and audience delivery.
• Build and maintain senior relationships across military, government, industry and international organisations to support portfolio growth.
• Lead post-event debriefs and growth planning, working cross-departmentally to ensure each event iteration builds commercially on the last.
• Champion the use of AI and digital tools to streamline production processes and free up time for revenue-generating activity.
• Mentor junior production team members and represent the portfolio externally at key industry events.

Candidate background

• 4-5 years’ experience in B2B conference/event production, ideally already operating at portfolio or senior producer level.
• A demonstrable track record of growing or scaling an event portfolio – not just delivering events, but making them bigger and more commercially successful.
• Confident and consultative approach – comfortable offering a point of view and pushing back with well‑reasoned recommendations.
• Strong commercial acumen and comfort working towards revenue, speaker and delegate targets.
• Experience building senior‑level relationships, ideally within defense, government or a related regulated sector (not essential).
• Comfortable operating autonomously and helping lead strategy for a high‑profile, fast‑growing portfolio.

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