Bespoke Challenge Events Manager - Maternity Cover

About CoppaFeel!

CoppaFeel! are the UK s only youth focused breast cancer awareness charity, and we re on a mission to get every 18-24 year old checking their chest. We educate people on the signs of breast cancer and encourage them to check their chests monthly, so that if they notice something unusual they are empowered to contact their GP and advocate for themselves.

We do this because when diagnosed early, breast cancer treatments are more effective and survival rates are higher. Early detection can save lives.

Breast cancer does not need to be detected late, and as long as we are here and continue to be supported by people like you, we will do all we can to make sure this doesn t continue to happen.

The Role

The Bespoke Challenge Events Manager maternity cover is crucial to ensure a smooth delivery of our trek programme in 2026. You will manage our flagship CoppaTrek! events, which will include five treks in 2026, with a total target of £2.3m. There will be three multi day treks one in the UK and two abroad. There will also be two One Day events held at weekends in the UK. All five of these events span June September. You will also be required to support the Senior Manager in the launch of the 2027 programme.

Line Managing two Assistants, the Bespoke Challenge Events Manager will need to hit the ground running to manage all events booked in with their support, getting totally stuck in. Unusually, the Senior Challenge Events Manager (the line manager for this role) will also be a maternity cover role for the same period of time. This elevates the need for clean, organised and focused delivery of our events.

In addition to the delivery of 2026, the Bespoke Challenge Events Manager will need to support in the preparation for 2027, and work with other teams to successfully launch them towards the end of 2026. You will be required to contribute to the budgeting for 2027 s events.

This role does require some evening and weekend work - although not behind the laptop (unless it s a zoom call to excite all the fundraisers)! You will be lacing up your walking boots, and walking and talking, alongside our CoppaTrek! participants. Therefore, please bear in mind that as part of this role, you will be expected to travel and stay away from home for up to 9 days at a time. The benefit being you get to see some incredible parts of the world and meet amazing people. TOIL is awarded for out of hours work according to our policy.

In terms of the office, it is a hybrid role, with the expectation that you will attend the London office two days per week.

This is a fixed term contract for 14 months.

Duties and Responsibilities

Event Delivery

• Lead the design, planning, and delivery of CoppaTrek! events, ensuring each trek meets the charity s goals and provides an exceptional participant experience.
• Manage each event budget, with support from the Senior Challenge Events Manager.
• Coordinate with external suppliers and partners to ensure smooth operations before, during, and after the event.
• Attend CoppaTrek! events through the year.

Manager Key Stakeholders

• Build and maintain relationships with key internal and external stakeholders, including suppliers, sponsors, colleagues, volunteers and fundraisers.

Stewardship

• Ensure excellent stewardship of participants, sponsors, and donors throughout their engagement with the CoppaTrek! programme.
• Provide ongoing support and communication to participants pre- and post-event, including training resources, fundraising guidance, and event-day logistics.
• Acknowledge contributions and achievements of participants and supporters through thank-you gifts, social media shout-outs, and other recognition methods.

Celebrity Liaison

• Support with celebrity involvement in the CoppaTrek! programme, from initial outreach to event participation.
• Ensure celebrities are well-informed and supported throughout the process, with a focus on creating a positive experience for them and our trek participants.

Marketing & PR

• Follow and deliver a marketing plan for the year to ensure the CoppaTrek! programme remains relevant and popular.
• Work in collaboration with marketing team to lead the acquisition for new challenge event participants, ensuring we grow the number of supporters year-on-year.
• Support on website and social media content.
• Work with the PR and marketing team to maximise celebrity involvement.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

• Ensure that CoppaTrek! is inclusive, accessible, and welcoming to people from all backgrounds and abilities.
• Promote diversity in participant recruitment, with a focus on engaging underrepresented groups.
• Foster a supportive and inclusive environment for all participants, volunteers, and staff.

Line Management

• Manage line reports with clear direction, support, and development opportunities.
• Set clear goals and performance targets for team members, ensuring they are working towards KPIs.
• Provide regular coaching and feedback to enhance individual and team performance.

Skills, Experience and Qualifications

Essential

• 3 years+ experience of planning and delivering successful in-person events
• Excellent at communicating and relationship building
• Experience of working within the charity or events sector
• Great organisation and time management skills
• Experience and understanding of donor stewardship - including high value supporters and celebrity ambassadors
• Experience of fundraising and income generation
• Very good at problem solving and taking a solutions-focused approach
• Excellent at using data and insight to drive decisions
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines successfully
• Experience in managing stakeholders and working with third-party event organisers
• Good understanding of budgeting and forecasting
• Line Management experience

Desirable

• Experience of planning and delivering a charity s challenge event programme
• Experience of recruiting and managing volunteers
• Knowledge of fundraising regulations and delivering best practice in relation to challenge events
• Experience of working with a fundraising database and fundraising platforms
• Experience of managing multiples projects or a variety of events
• Experience of line management
• Understanding of charity and fundraising law

Application information

Applications will close at 9am on 3rd November 2025 with the aim to commence shortlisting test as applications come in.

CoppaFeel! reserves the right to close the vacancy early in the event that we receive a high number of applications before the closing date. Please be aware we are actively recruiting and so early application is advised.

Main Benefits and Terms & Conditions

Annual Leave entitlement - 22 days and 3 days off at Christmas + public holidays, a day off for your birthday and for Kris cancerversary.

Benefits

• Wellbeing fund
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Access to Self Space training and 1:1 therapy
• Core working hours 10am - 4pm
• Enhanced Maternity and Paternity Leave
• Flex Friday; every other Friday off, with the flexibility of being available in the case of emergencies

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

At CoppaFeel! we support a diverse range of communities and we understand that diversity within our team is central and crucial to meeting the needs of the young people we exist to serve. We strongly encourage applications from Black, and people of colour, LGBTQIA+ candidates, candidates with disabilities, from men, and from those with a lived experience of cancer because we would like to increase the representation of these groups within the charity.

We promote equality, diversity and inclusion in our workplace and make recruitment decisions by matching the charity's needs with the skills and experience of candidates, irrespective of age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. We recognise the value in encouraging a diverse range of perspectives, skills, experience and knowledge at the charity.

While the successful candidate will be selected purely on merit, in the event of a tie between two candidates with equal suitability, we may select a candidate with lived experience of the issues we are seeking to address through our work.

We are a Disability Confident Employer and we commit to offering an interview for all applicants with disabilities who meet our required criteria for the role. If you have any accessibility requirements or need any adjustments for the interview process please get in touch.