Manager - Conference - CRDF

Conferences at CEPT and CRDF create a space for serious conversations on the ideas, policies and innovations shaping India s built environment.
They bring together professionals, policymakers, researchers, industry leaders and students to exchange knowledge across architecture, urban planning, urban design, civil engineering, infrastructure and management.
As CRDF expands this initiative through flagship conferences, the ambition is to build a series of nationally recognised platforms that convene leading voices from across sectors and influence professional practice, public policy and the future direction of the built setting.

The Manager Conferences will play a central role in this effort.
The incumbent will be responsible for translating academic and professional vision into high-quality conferences that create value for participants, partners and sponsors while strengthening CEPT Universitys position as a leading institution for thought leadership and interdisciplinary exchange.
The position requires a highly organised and entrepreneurial professional who can successfully combine programme management, stakeholder engagement, sponsorship development and commercial acumen.

Key Responsibilities

Conference Portfolio Management

Lead the planning and execution of CRDFs annual conference portfolio, including flagship conferences, practice-focused conferences and centre-led events.

Develop annual calendars, implementation plans and delivery milestones aligned with institutional priorities.

Monitor progress across the portfolio, anticipate risks and ensure successful delivery against agreed objectives.

Capture learnings and strengthen CRDFs long-term capability to manage and grow nationally recognised conferences.

Develop standard operating procedures, workflows and governance frameworks for conference management.

Programme Event Delivery

Translate academic vision into professionally managed conferences by working closely with faculty, organising committees and research centres.

Oversee registrations, venue management, logistics, hospitality, exhibitions and on-site operations.





Ensure every conference delivers a high-quality experience for speakers, delegates and partners.

Partner Sponsorship Management

Manage any partners or event management organisations that CEPT may choose to work with, ensuring contractual deliverables, budgets, timelines and quality standards are met.

Develop and manage the sponsorship pipeline in collaboration with the PCO and Conference Committee.

Build long-term relationships with sponsors, industry partners and service providers while maintaining sponsor records within CRDF systems.

Facilitate sponsorship approvals in accordance with CRDFs governance processes.

Build and maintain institutional repositories of sponsors, speakers, vendors and conference documentation.

Speaker Stakeholder Engagement

Coordinate and assist with the identification, invitation and participation of national and international speakers.

Manage speaker communications, travel, hospitality and honoraria.

Liaise with government agencies, professional bodies, institutional partners and advisory groups to strengthen conference programmes and collaborations.

Financial Performance Management

Ensure sound financial management of conferences and events.

Prepare conference budgets, financial projections and event-wise PLs in collaboration with the Finance teaM

Monitor revenues, sponsorship collections and expenditures against approved budgets.

Track performance through regular reporting and recommend corrective actions where required.

Key Performance Indicators

Successful delivery of the conference portfolio

Sponsorship mobilisation and partnership development

Delegate registrations and participant satisfaction

Revenue generation and budget adherence

Quality of conference delivery

Growth of institutional partnerships





Development of conference systems and organisational capability

Brand visibility and impact of CEPT conferences

Qualifications

Masters degree in Management, Event Management, Marketing, Communications, Business Administration or a related discipline.

Experience

Minimum 8 10 years of progressively responsible experience in conference management, large-scale events, institutional partnerships or related fields.

Demonstrated experience in managing conferences involving multiple stakeholders, sponsors and external partners.

Experience in sponsorship development, programme management and budget administration.

Exposure to academic, government, research or professional institutions will be an advantage.

Experience in managing Professional Conference Organisers (PCOs) or comparable event agencies is desirable.

Competencies

Strategic and entrepreneurial thinking

Conference and programme management

Sponsorship development and partnership management

Financial planning and commercial orientation

Stakeholder engagement and negotiation

Project management and execution excellence

Communication and influencing

Fluency in English and Hindi (Gujarati is an added advantage)

Reporting Relationship

Reports to: Head Admin and HR, CRDF

Other Stakeholders:

Vice Chairperson, Director and Financial Controller

Conference Committee

Centre Heads and Faculty

Communications Team

Finance, Procurement and Administration Teams

Sponsors, Government Agencies and Industry Partners

University outreach team and Administration

Location: CRDF, CEPT University, Ahmedabad

Based at CRDF, CEPT University, Ahmedabad, this role combines the intellectual rigour of academia with the scale and impact of national platforms.
It is an opportunity to build conferences that extend CEPTs influence beyond the campus and contribute meaningfully to the future of Indias built environment.

Disclaimer : This job posting has been aggregated from external source. Role details, content, and availability are subject to change. Applicants are advised to confirm the latest information directly on the company website before applying.

📌 Manager - Conference - CRDF (Ahmedabad)
🏢 CEPT Research and Development Foundation
📍 Ahmedabad