Senior Manager, Congress Operations & Planning

Bristol Myers Squibb • Princeton, NJ

20d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Manager, Congress Operations & Planning plays a critical role in ensuring the success of large-scale congresses by providing expert oversight in all aspects of pre-planning, execution, and post-event management. This position hinges on successful6 collaboration with cross-functional teams across Therapeutic Areas (TAs) to ensure that all logistical elements are flawlessly executed, strictly adhering to timelines, compliance, budgets, and strategic objectives. The individual in this role acts as a central point of coordination, bridging the gap between internal stakeholders, external agencies, association partners, and additional vendors to deliver a seamless and engaging experience for all attendees, with the ultimate goal of maximum patient and prescriber impact. With a strong focus on operational excellence, financial accountability, and continuous performance improvement, the Senior Manager is instrumental in driving alignment, awareness, and elevating the overall level of congress success. This role requires exceptional organizational skills, attention to detail, strong communication, and the ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously, making it ideal for a results-driven professional with a passion for high-level event management.

Requirements

• 5 years meeting planning experience with at least 3 years in Pharma business.
• Pharmaceutical Congress experience preferred.
• Ability to work efficiently and timely to meet deadlines
• Ability to be flexible and handle change well
• Microsoft Word and Excel experience – Advanced level
• Experience with meeting industry technology preferred (CVENT)
• Advanced oral and written presentation skills required
• Ability to take the initiative to review, prioritize, and make decisions as to what is routine versus what is critical, with little supervision
• Demonstrated complex project planning and management skills, including financial and budget management
• Proven change agility/resiliency, and ability to successfully engage internal and external stakeholders along a change journey
• Have demonstrated an innovative mindset and implemented creative solutions that simplify processes and improve end-user experience
• Attention to detail
• Demonstrated project management skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Budget management experience
• Exceptional stress management skills, with the capacity to prioritize and make critical decisions swiftly in dynamic and challenging environments.
• Team player (someone who believes in the importance and “power” of collaboratively working in a team), great people skills, empathetic, detail-oriented but without losing sight of the big picture, flexible, open to learning and sharing.
• Ability to travel

Nice To Haves

• Pharmaceutical Congress experience preferred.
• Experience with meeting industry technology preferred (CVENT)

Responsibilities

• Lead the planning & execution of logistical congress activity, partnering with the functions across the TAs to execute on time, on plan, and on budget.
• Oversee logistics agency for all congress planning, housing, registration, ancillary meetings including TLEs, planning communications, financial reconciliation and on-site logistic coordination, including manage attendees list.
• Monitor registrations, send reminders, run reports, and work with the logistic agency to make all necessary arrangements for the attendees.
• Work on multiple congresses simultaneously, requiring high multi-tasking skills.
• Coordinate onsite job responsibilities with the onsite logistics team when required and appropriate.
• Responsible for budget management, partnering closely with Finance to improve transparency and accountability across all stakeholders
• Review and approve all vendor budget estimates, contracts and SOWs PO generation, invoice approval with reconciliation
• Create individualized KPI metrics and reports per congress
• Create & manage an activity plan with the team and provide overall real-time progress tracking and flag areas for deep dives
• Provide input into and be held accountable for BMS Congress standards
• Familiar with compliance and legal WW, and local departments to ensure each event is delivered in full accordance with laws and regulations.
• Support as needed the CE Lead with sponsorship selection and approval through grants/giving process for key congresses
• Work on special projects and support the Director CE Congress Innovation, Operations and capabilities as required
• Update Exhibit Force tool for assigned congresses.
• Model BMS behaviors and reinforces such behaviors at all levels in the organization.
• Responsible for general administrative duties as required.
• Maintain a strong relationship with outside vendors to ensure high-quality service and timeliness.
• Travel to assigned congresses.

Benefits

• Health Coverage: Medical, pharmacy, dental, and vision care.
• Wellbeing Support: Programs such as BMS Well-Being Account, BMS Living Life Better, and Employee Assistance Programs (EAP).
• Financial Well-being and Protection: 401(k) plan, short- and long-term disability, life insurance, accident insurance, supplemental health insurance, business travel protection, personal liability protection, identity theft benefit, legal support, and survivor support.
• Work-life benefits include: Paid Time Off US Exempt Employees: flexible time off (unlimited, with manager approval, 11 paid national holidays (not applicable to employees in Phoenix, AZ, Puerto Rico or Rayzebio employees) Phoenix, AZ, Puerto Rico and Rayzebio Exempt, Non-Exempt, Hourly Employees: 160 hours annual paid vacation for new hires with manager approval, 11 national holidays, and 3 optional holidays Based on eligibility, additional time off for employees may include unlimited paid sick time, up to 2 paid volunteer days per year, summer hours flexibility, leaves of absence for medical, personal, parental, caregiver, bereavement, and military needs and an annual Global Shutdown between Christmas and New Years Day.
• All global employees full and part-time who are actively employed at and paid directly by BMS at the end of the calendar year are eligible to take advantage of the Global Shutdown.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed