Programme Manager (Conference Programme)

Employment Type: Freelance And Fixed-Term Contract

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end planning and delivery of the conference programme.
• Develop strategic agendas aligned with event objectives and stakeholder priorities.
• Research, identify, and secure high-profile speakers, moderators, and panellists.
• Manage speaker communications, briefing materials, and presentation timelines.
• Review, edit, and coordinate presentation content to ensure quality, consistency, and compliance with event guidelines.
• Coordinate session formats including keynote presentations, panel discussions, fireside chats, workshops, and roundtables.
• Develop detailed running orders, stage scripts, and show flows.
• Work closely with production, AV, protocol, operations, and event management teams to ensure seamless session delivery.
• Oversee stage management during live sessions, ensuring speakers, moderators, and production teams remain on schedule.
• Manage programme changes, speaker substitutions, and last-minute updates in a fast-paced environment.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with government stakeholders, partners, sponsors, and executive speakers.
• Ensure all programme deliverables are completed within agreed timelines and quality standards.
• Produce post-event reporting and recommendations where required.

Requirements

• 8 12+ years of experience delivering conference programmes for large-scale international events.
• Proven experience managing high-profile conferences, executive summits, government forums, or global business events.
• Strong background in agenda development and conference content strategy.
• Experience managing senior executives, ministers, VIPs, keynote speakers, and moderators.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Experience reviewing presentations and coordinating speaker content.
• Strong understanding of live event operations, stage management, and production coordination.
• Ability to manage multiple workstreams and tight deadlines simultaneously.
• Exceptional organisational, planning, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience working on government or major international events within the GCC is highly preferred.
• Bachelor's degree in Event Management, Communications, Marketing, Business, or a related field is preferred.

Preferred Experience

• Candidates with experience working on events such as:
• International government conferences
• Economic forums
• Global leadership summits
• Trade and investment conferences
• Major sporting event conferences