Congress Program Manager

BCD

7d•$60,000 - $78,000•Hybrid

About The Position

BCD Meetings & Events (BCD M&E) is seeking a Congress Program Manager to join their Life Sciences Division. This client-facing role involves acting as the congress planning lead and project manager for client-attended Congresses/Conferences. The position requires collaboration with internal teams, vendors, and meeting owners to ensure flawless and compliant execution of events. The ideal candidate will be adept at managing multiple priorities and programs simultaneously, keeping projects on time, on budget, and within compliance guidelines.

Requirements

Exceptional organizational skills
Attention to detail
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment
Managing multiple priorities and being adaptable
Exceptional problem-solving skills
Calm under pressure
Ability to work well in a collaborative environment
Managing the complex world of Conferences, Congresses, Associations, Meal Caps, State Laws and TOV reporting
Event execution including housing selection, registration, ground transportation, menu planning, onsite execution, budget reconciliation
Working in a multicultural environment with a solid understanding of US, EMEA, and APJ cities
Communicating effectively and efficiently

Nice To Haves

College Degree strongly preferred in event management, hospitality or related field or proven experience in event planning and management.
Preferably experience in the conference or meeting settings
Minimum two (2) years’ experience managing ancillary meetings in conjunction with Congresses.
Minimum of two (2) years’ experience managing outside vendors, sourcing, and negotiating contract services.
Experience managing budgets required.
Pharmaceutical Industry experience
Strong organizational and project management skills.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with internal planning team to organize and secure space for ancillary meetings (product theaters, receptions, board meetings, etc.) on behalf of clients.
Understand the guidelines in the Conference/Congress space.
Manage logistics and planning of ancillary meetings at congresses (conferences).
Act as the main point of contact for client contacts, providing an end-to-end meeting planning solution with a consultative approach.
Work with peers, business owners, and housing agencies to understand sourcing needs and country requirements, recommending suitable properties.
Serve as the primary client liaison for all logistic arrangements surrounding ancillary meetings, including venue selection, menu selections, audio visual requirements, ground transfers, housing, attendee communication, meeting spaces, and onsite support.
Build, monitor, and maintain concise and accurate event budgets, identifying creative cost-saving and menu planning ideas to ensure compliance.
Negotiate vendor contracts and build long-lasting partnerships.
Manage time and projects efficiently, with flexibility in hours to accommodate global teams, meeting owners, suppliers, and international programs.