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.