Exhibition Operations Manager

Fairfest Media · India

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.