Events Officer (FT26)

Background

The Commercial Development Team (CDT) within Research & Innovation (R&I) Directorate plays a key role in helping Manchester Met turn research into tangible outcomes (through new products, partnerships, or spin-out companies). We support academics to maximise the reach, value, and impact of their work.

At the heart of this is the Catalyst Fellowship (est. April 2026) and the Innovation + Commercialisation Academic Network (I+CAN) (est. October 2025). I+CAN is entering a key refresh phase with an expanded programme of activity and a renewed focus on engagement. Both initiatives support researchers to explore and deliver innovation beyond academia.

The internship window aligns to a critical delivery period for a concentrated programme of events, workshops, and engagement activities (Stage 2 of the Catalyst Fellowship and a growing set of I+CAN gatherings).

Universities are under pressure to demonstrate research impact and contribute to economic and societal change. The main purpose of this role is to play a direct part in making that happen. It will:

• help deliver the initiatives that support researchers to create real-world impact;
• contribute to Manchester Met’s priority to increase commercialisation and culture change;
• directly improve how the University engages academics with commercial opportunities.

Role Summary

This is a time bound role that offers an opportunity to gain transferable skills in event coordination, stakeholder engagement, and project delivery during the CDT’s peak activity period. The intern will work closely with the team, wider R&I colleagues, and academic stakeholders across faculties.

They will be at the centre of delivering the Catalyst Fellowship and I+CAN activities, managing the full lifecycle of delivery from planning and promotion through to execution and follow-up. Because I+CAN is evolving, the role will also support the development of new formats and contribute ideas to enhance engagement.

It is a standalone project opportunity designed to deliver clear outputs within a set timeframe. It will give them ownership, accountability, and the chance to build a strong portfolio of experience.

This internship directly aids the successful rollout of aforementioned initiatives by ensuring that they run smoothly and participants have a high quality experience. It is ideal for someone who wants to build a career in:

• Events & project management
• Consultancy or professional services
• Innovation, enterprise, or start-ups
• Marketing, communications, or stakeholder engagement
• Higher Education or public sector delivery

The role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the evolution of a growing university-wide initiative for entrepreneurial culture change. It will culminate in clear outputs, including insights and recommendations to enhance future programme delivery and engagement.

Event Planning

• Manage event logistics (room bookings, online platforms, scheduling)
• Liaise with speakers, including collecting bios and presentations
• Set up and manage event booking platforms (e.g. Eventbrite)
• Support creation of promotional materials (text, posters, content)

Marketing

• Promote events across internal channels (intranet, SharePoint, internal newsletters)
• Coordinate targeted communications to academics and research leaders
• Manage mailing lists and attendee communications
• Support outreach to increase attendance and engagement

Operational Delivery

• Coordinate AV, catering, and technical requirements
• Deliver on-the-day event support (both in person and online)
• Act as a professional point of contact for attendees and speakers

Post-Event Delivery

• Send follow-up communications and maintain stakeholder relationships
• Upload recordings and resources to internal platforms
• Track attendance and engagement metrics
• Collect and analyse feedback to generate insights and recommendations for future delivery to contribute to the ongoing refresh of I+CAN

In this role, the graduate would be expected to improve/develop the following skills:

• Project management (planning, organising, and delivering outputs to deadlines)
• Stakeholder engagement (working with academics, senior staff, and external experts)
• Professional communication (writing, promotion, and relationship management)
• Event management (a transferable skillset across industries)
• Problem solving under pressure (delivering live events and adapting in real time)
• Digital & systems skills (event platforms, internal systems, communications tools)

These are the same capabilities employers look for in roles such as: Programme Coordinator; Project Officer; Events Manager; Consultant; Marketing & Communications Executive.

Essential:

• Highly organised with strong attention to detail
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines
• Confident working both independently and in a team
• Good IT skills (Microsoft Office, digital platforms like Eventbrite)
• A proactive and can-do attitude
• Interest in events, projects, or professional services

Desirable: 

• Experience supporting events, projects, or activities (study, work, volunteering)
• Experience using tools like Eventbrite or Canva
• Interest in innovation, research, or enterprise
• Experience working with different stakeholders or audiences

Please apply via the Apply button, completing the application form and attaching your CV.  

Please make sure to provide as much detail and evidence as possible on your application form. Incomplete applications will not be considered.  

You may apply for multiple roles as a part of the scheme. 
 
The deadline for applications is 11:59pm on Sunday 5 July 2026. 

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to onto campus during w/c 20 July 2026 for a compulsory assessment centre. There will be no capacity to offer an alternative date.  

It is expected that the assessment centre will consist of:

• Opportunity to network with Hiring Managers to discuss their roles
•  Group task

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