Ideation Event Specialist at Vodafone Global Enterprise

Role Purpose/Business Unit:

• Vodacom Innovation is a dynamic and exciting Vodacom Group function supporting all Vodacom OpCos.
• Within Vodacom, Innovation is structured in into Ideation, Incubation, Acceleration and Commercialisation. 
• Ideation is the creative process of finding, developing and managing – through well defines processes and policies - new ideas using various solicited and unsolicited programmes. Ideas, submitted by internal and external idea originators, form the input to the ideation function and the output is well formulated ideas that is passed on to Vodacom business units for potential execution via Incubation, Acceleration and Commercialisation processes. 
• Ideation Event Specialistis a key role in the Ideation team, providing support and coordination of several Ideation activities. The successful candidate coordinates ideation activities related to the generation, management, and processing of new ideas from across the business through Innovation Challenges and the Innovation Academy. The Ideation Event Specialist will also play a key role in driving the culture of innovation and improving innovation knowledge and skills across the Group. This individual should be passionate about innovation, learning and creating the future. 

The main functions of the Ideation Coordinator are as follows:

Ideation programmes:

• Challenges: Coordinate relevant challenges from the business units and convert these to applicable online challenges and Hackathons. Maintain blueprints of the various events. Support BUs running their own challenges, for example the Vodacom Hackathon. 
• Innovation Academy: Coordinate and build the content on the Innovation Academy program to help improve and build on the quality of ideas submitted into the Innovate! Programme and ideas sent to the Vodacom Incubator.

Culture:

• Spirit: Closely integrate and support the Spirit programme from an innovation and ideation perspective. 
• Communications: Develop and coordinate strong group-wide communications plan for the ideation programmes, its activities, and achievements. 
• Evangelise Innovation: Continuously support and coordinate in the canvas of the Innovation function at town halls, inductions, and other Vodacom business unit event.  

Event Coordination:

• The ideation coordinator is responsible for every aspect of the events, from planning, organizing, execution to evaluating success afterwards. Their goal is to organize unforgettable events that will ensure the entertainment of participants, inspire the innovation culture throughout the organisation and facilitate the completion of overall business objectives. The main functions include:
• Understand the overall event requirements
• Plan event with attention to detail according to the financial and time constraints present
• Work closely with internal Vodacom World events team, external vendors and suppliers  
• Coordinate venue bookings and scheduling of speakers, stakeholders and steerco members
• Coordinate the management of all event operations (preparing venue, invitations etc.)
• Coordinate dry runs prior to the event 
• Coordinate and manage all communications on events (including social engagement and group communications)
• Coordinate and support all event engagement elements 
• Facilitate stakeholder (speakers, steerco, MC, etc.) briefing prior to the event
• Assist in final checks on the day of the event (e.g. tables, technology) to ensure everything meets standards
• Oversee event happenings and act quickly to resolve problems
• Evaluate event’s success and submit overall event reporting and blueprint

Key Accountabilities: 

• Support in ideation programmes as per the defined processes and KPIs.
• Innovation Culture 
• Event Coordination
• Innovation Event planning and execution
• Vendor/ supplier engagement
• Sponsorship solicitation and engagement
• Innovation event support and delivery
• Post event review
• Ideation Projects

The ideal candidate for this role will have:

• Degree in marketing, events planning, communications, or related field, or equivalent experience
• Three years of coordinator experience in a corporate environment (virtual event experience desirable)
• Good networking and persuasion skills 
• Communication and negotiation skills
• Proven project management, analytical, and problem-solving abilities
• Ability to manage all phases of multiple projects simultaneously and adjust to continuously changing responsibilities and priorities 
• Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills
• Excellent vendor management skills
• Able to handle stress and remain calm
• Problem-solving ability
• Excels in a fast-paced atmosphere