Convention Manager

The Convention Manager is responsible for providing strategic collaboration and stewardship to marketing stakeholders within the US Commercial Conventions space. Reporting to the Associate Director of Conventions, within the broader Customer Experience team, the selected candidate will work in partnership with brand marketing and agencies to strategize, plan, produce, and oversee the execution of marketing activities to drive engagement with our customers pre, during and post show. Focusing on new and unique ways to attract, engage, and nurture target audience and enhancing the customer's experience.

Independently manage large scale initiatives and develop positive working relationships in a team-based environment. Excellent communication and problem-solving skills, with strong project management aptitude and ability to analyze and resolve tasks in a timely manner is fundamental to be successful in this role.

Key Responsibilities:
 

• Strategy & Planning - strategically plan in some of the following ways:
  • Pull brand strategy through convention tactics, establishing measurements of effectiveness, by promoting new and unique ways to attract, engage and nurture target audience
  • Partner with brand teams in the development and pull-through of a differentiated, and insights-driven customer experience, utilizing post show analytics to assess success and adjust strategy for future events
  • Uncover opportunities to incorporate technology and innovation within booth experiences, which would support enterprise related initiatives that drives improvements in broader customer experience endeavors
• Management & Execution - tactically plan in some of the following ways:
  • Overall project/program management from start to finish for each convention, by managing and anticipating any budget developments, along with coordinating sponsorships and housing with the associations
  • Collaborate with Marketing, Finance, Customer Experience, Medical, OEC, Regulatory, ProMO/PMR, Paid Media and Public Affairs, fostering deep and continuous cross functional partnerships
  • Consult brand teams in the convention space, bringing in-house and vendor/agency expertise together to achieve goals against booth objectives

Basic:

Bachelor's degree in Business or Marketing with 7+ years of related experience, preferably in healthcare/pharmaceutical arena, or other highly regulated industry. With emphasis in marketing operations, promotional review or digital marketing experience.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience in developing and aligning to marketing strategies and identifying new areas of growth through events
• Forward thinker able to pre-empt challenges, having a problem-solving approach
• Must have excellent peer-to-peer communication skills
• Effectively manage conflict, diffuse situations, and lead positive change
• Must be able to determine and effectively communicate a trade show's goals, purpose, message and impression and provide input to internal clients
• Aptitude to manage multiple projects and vendors simultaneously with high attention to detail and adherence to departmental process in a fast-paced matrixed environment
• Raises the bar and is never satisfied with the status quo
• Ability to multi-task and oversee several conventions, vendors, and internal constituents at one time, face many deadlines and coordinate activities of different groups of individuals
• Attend convention industry events to keep up on new offerings in the marketplace
• Must be able to negotiate and influence change with vendors, agencies, and associations
• Travel approx. 25 - 35% domestic, depending on show schedule, which may include weekends
• Familiarity with PHRMA, CFR, Sunshine Act and global pharmaceutical requirements a plus

General Competencies:

• Ability to work and lead independently without day to day supervision
• Strong business acumen with effective written and verbal communication skills
• Strong project management skills
• Microsoft Office fluency, including Office 365, and the ability to learn new programs specific to the conventions industry
• Inquisitive with strong analytical skills, including the ability to infer and apply learnings
• Ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams and influence without direct authority to ensure deliverables and deadlines are me
• Candidates for this position must be willing and anticipate long workdays during shows. Work hours may be long and irregular, which could include weekends, especially in the time leading up to a convention and at the convention
• Creates a learning environment, open to suggestions and innovation and experimentation for improvement