Exhibition Operations Manager

Job Description:
Exhibition Operations Manager — Deliver Shows That Run Like Clockwork
📍 Mumbai · 7+ yrs in exhibition operations, trade shows or large-scale B2B events
OTM Mumbai — certified by NielsenIQ as the leading travel trade show in India and Asia. TTF — India’s oldest travel show series, running since 1989. BLTM — the leader in business and MICE travel. WTE Miami — where America’s travel trade meets the world. Nine editions, six cities, a ₹100-crore-plus portfolio — now scaling across more cities and new industry themes.
The role: We’re looking for an Exhibition Operations Manager to take ownership of the operational delivery of our exhibitions — from planning and venue readiness to build-up, show days and dismantling. You will work across venues, contractors, exhibitors, suppliers and internal teams to make sure every edition is delivered safely, efficiently and to a high standard. This is a hands-on role for someone who can anticipate problems, move quickly and make things happen.
You will:
● Plan and manage the complete operational lifecycle of exhibitions — pre-show, build-up, show days and dismantling
● Manage exhibition venues, contractors, fabricators, suppliers, logistics and service partners
● Oversee floor plans, booth construction, branding, signage, utilities, security, housekeeping and venue services
● Coordinate closely with Sales, Marketing, Content and Exhibitor teams to ensure operational requirements are delivered on time.
● Coordinate F&B, transportation and hotel/accommodation requirements for Fairfest shows, managing internal requirements and coordinating with external vendors and service partners for Hosted Buyers, exhibitors, VIPs and other stakeholders to ensure seamless delivery.
● Manage exhibitor requirements and resolve on-ground issues quickly and professionally
● Drive vendor negotiations, budgets, timelines and quality control across the exhibition
● Lead venue inspections, production schedules, technical planning and show-site readiness
● Manage on-ground teams during build-up and live show days, ensuring smooth execution and timely issue resolution
● Maintain strong operational documentation, checklists, SOPs and post-show reviews to continuously improve delivery
You have:
● 7+ years of experience in exhibition operations, trade shows, conferences or large-scale B2B events
● Proven experience managing end-to-end exhibition operations, ideally for multiple or large-format shows
● Strong knowledge of exhibition venues, production, fabrication, logistics, health & safety and vendor management
● Excellent contractor and supplier management skills, with the ability to negotiate costs without compromising quality
● Strong planning and execution skills, with exceptional attention to detail and timelines
● Comfortable managing multiple stakeholders and solving problems under pressure during live events
● A hands-on, ownership-driven approach — you see a problem, take charge and get it solved.
● Willingness to travel extensively across India for exhibition build-ups and show delivery
Note: Candidates must hold a valid U.S. visa and have prior international exhibition/event experience, preferably in the U.S. Candidates should also be willing and available to travel to Miami for WTE Miami.
Why Fairfest: Join one of India’s established exhibition organisers with a growing multi-city portfolio, experienced teams, strong operational infrastructure and ambitious expansion plans. You’ll work across some of the country’s leading trade shows and play a critical role in taking them from plan to a high-quality live experience.
📍 Mumbai · If you know how to make complex exhibitions run seamlessly, we’d like to hear from you.

Work arrangement
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