Special events team manager

Martin House provides free specialist palliative care to babies, children and young people with complex and life-shortening conditions. Families from across West, North and East Yorkshire have access to our care 24/7, 365 days a year, including specialist doctors. Every year we care for more than 550 families, at the hospice, in hospital and in families’ own homes, as well as supporting around 200 bereaved family members.

We’re looking for an inspiring and strategic Special Events Team Manager to lead our Special Events team in delivering a vibrant, high‑impact calendar of fundraising, cultivation, and stewardship events. You’ll play a key role within the Major Relationships team, driving consistent year‑on‑year income growth and deepening supporter engagement through an ambitious and thoughtfully curated Special Events portfolio.

The role will involve:

1. Leading, managing and inspiring the Special Events Team through regular one-to-ones, appraisals and performance reviews, ensuring team members meet agreed SMART objectives and income targets.
2. Supporting the delivery of the Special Events Fundraising Strategy and managing the Special Events Portfolio, including philanthropy and major partnership engagement and development events.
3. Identifying opportunities for growth and ensuring strong return on investment across all activities.
4. Working closely with senior volunteers and committees to deliver a successful and sustainable Special Events programme.
5. Implementing, evaluating and continually reviewing the performance of the Special Events portfolio with the Head of Major Relationships to maximise income.
6. Delivering the Special Events programme within budget and to agreed timescales, supported by detailed work plans and accurate record-keeping  on the fundraising database
7. Collaborating with wider fundraising teams to ensure the Special Events Portfolio appeals to key stakeholders, including the development of sponsorship opportunities.
8. Leading the delivery of annual committee-led Special Events, working with committees, venues, suppliers, sponsors and volunteers to ensure events are delivered to target and achieve year-on-year growth.
9. Assisting with the recruitment, coordination and motivation of volunteers to support Special Events fundraising activities.
10. Maximising income from Special Events and existing supporters, while identifying, securing and developing new relationships with major donors and partners.
11. Building and maintaining strong internal and external relationships, representing Martin House at the highest level.
12. Working with the marketing team to developing and implement effective marketing and PR strategies to support the successful delivery of all Special Events to maximise ticket sales, income generation and relationship development.
13. Ensuring accurate and up-to-date records of supporters, projects and events using the fundraising database and relevant shared systems.
14. Researching, recommending, developing and delivering new and innovative fundraising products for the Special Events Team, in collaboration with the Philanthropy and Partnerships Team Manager.
15. Supporting the Head of Major Relationships with cultivation, development and stewardship events, working closely with the Philanthropy and Partnerships Manager.

There is an expectation that the post holder will need to travel to visit businesses, attend meetings and conferences etc. sometimes outside of working hours.