Job Overview

About the BMA

The British Medical Association (BMA) is the trade union and professional body for doctors in the UK.  We represent, support and negotiate on behalf of all UK doctors and medical students. 

Join the BMA at a crucial time for doctors and the NHS and be part of a team working for better pay and conditions for the profession.

About the role

Our Conference Unit delivers up to 60 events each year, from training courses and seminars to large, multi-faceted conferences. As a Conference Organiser, you’ll take responsibility for a wide portfolio of face-to-face, hybrid and online events, including commercial and branch of practice conferences. 

Working with colleagues, members, speakers and suppliers, you’ll coordinate arrangements from planning through to delivery and post-event financial reconciliation, providing excellent customer service throughout.

This role is hybrid and will involve a mix of working from BMA House, event locations across the UK and from home. It will include some early morning starts and later evening finishes. 

As a Conference Organiser you will:

• Organise allocated events, including venue selection, audio-visual requirements, catering, speaker liaison, delegate registration and attendee communications.
• Preparing and managing event budgets of up to £30K completing post-event reconciliations and working within agreed approval procedures.
• Negotiate arrangements with venues and suppliers, with contracts subject to management approval.
• Work with communications colleagues to publicise events, prepare conference materials and keep event webpages up to date.
• Keep stakeholders informed throughout the planning process and resolving practical issues calmly during events.
• Support the Conference Assistant with registration processes, payments, event databases and delegate documentation.

As a Conference Organiser you’ll ideally have:

• Experience of organising a variety of events, including face- to -face, hybrid and online events and commercial conferences
• Strong planning and organisational skills, with the ability to manage several events at different stages and deliver to deadlines and budgets
• Excellent communication skills
• Experienced in building effective relationships with a wide variety of stakeholders
• Good influencing and negotiation skills when working with planning groups, venues and suppliers
• A calm, practical approach to problem-solving and the confidence to manage events independently when required
• Excellent IT skills, including experience using databases and maintaining web content
• A professional, customer-focused approach and a commitment to working in line with the BMA’s values

Why work for us?

We offer a wide range of benefits including:

• 30 days holiday entitlement plus bank holidays and a BMA company day
• Double matching pension contributions up to 12% of salary
• Additional leave entitlement for volunteering, moving house or wedding leave (after completion of probationary period)
• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave
• Group Income protection & life assurance that is seven times your annual salary
• Annual salary reviews & incremental salary increases from year one to year three
• Onsite gym and subsidised café (at BMA House in London)
• Electric Vehicle and Cycle to work salary sacrifice scheme's (available after completion of probationary period)
• Access to a 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) with free confidential counselling, a helpline and specialist support available
• Long service recognition every 5 years
• Professional subscription cover where membership of a professional institution is required for your role
• BMA Law - discounted rates for employees requiring legal services such as will writing/conveyancing
• Multiple flexible benefits and discounts through our employee benefits platform
• Lots of Learning and Development/training opportunities via our internal learning hub
• Season ticket loan (up to £10,000) (after completion of probationary period)
• Additional annual leave- buy up to 5 additional holiday days per year

Anonymous recruitment

The BMA endeavours to be an inclusive employer, ensuring fairness and consistency to select the best candidate for roles. To support our aims, we use specific software to remove all personal identifying information from CVs and applications.  Personal information such as name, date of birth, age and gender are anonymised and will only become visible to hiring managers if you are selected for interview.

To apply please upload an up to date version of your CV and supporting information setting out your suitability for the role. 

Whether the role needs you to work at home, in an office or in a hybrid way, we`ll provide all the support you need.  

If this sounds like the right opportunity for you, please apply through our website. However,  if you require any reasonable adjustments or additional support at any point during the application process, please email recruitment@bma.org.uk.

This vacancy will close for applications at midnight on the closing date. 

The role profile outlines the current key responsibilities and expectations for the position. However, the British Medical Association (BMA) is presently engaged in an organisation design process, which aims to ensure that our structure, roles, and ways of working best support our strategic objectives and the needs of our members. As a result, the responsibilities and scope of this role may be subject to change as the association evolves. The BMA is committed to communicating any such changes transparently and supporting colleagues through any transitions that arise as part of this process.

Diversity & Inclusion Monitoring: 

Our ambition is to work together to promote a more inclusive environment, which attracts everybody with the right skills and experience and signals our commitment to celebrate and promote diversity.

BMA is committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and does not condone discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership. We want people to bring their unique blend of experiences, backgrounds, perspectives and knowledge as we recognise that diversity makes us stronger.

Please note, we are unable to provide sponsorship under the UK points-based immigration system, as we do not hold a sponsorship licence.