Senior Meetings & Events Planner

Merck•Burlington, MA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Event Planner is responsible for the strategic planning, creative development, and flawless execution of high-impact internal and external events that advance Life Science business priorities, strengthen our brand, and create exceptional attendee experiences. This role serves as a trusted advisor to business leaders, translating business objectives into innovative event strategies while managing every aspect of event delivery, from initial concept through post-event measurement. The Senior Event Planner combines creativity, operational excellence, project management, financial stewardship, and stakeholder management to deliver world-class experiences that inspire employees, customers, partners, and key stakeholders. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced science-driven global environment, is equally comfortable developing event strategy and negotiating hotel contracts, and brings fresh, differentiated ideas that elevate the attendee experience while maintaining rigorous attention to detail and delivering a flawless event execution.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Event Management, Hospitality, Marketing, Communications, Business, or a related field.
7+ years of progressively responsible corporate event planning experience, preferably within life sciences, healthcare, biotechnology, or another highly regulated industry.
Demonstrated success managing large-scale meetings, conferences, leadership events, customer events, trade shows, and employee experiences.
Proven experience managing complex budgets and negotiating vendor contracts.
Exceptional project management and organizational skills with strong attention to detail.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting global organizations and managing international events.
Outstanding communication skills with executive presence and the ability to influence at all levels of the organization.
Ability to manage multiple high-priority initiatives simultaneously in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
Proficiency with event management platforms such as Swoogo, Cvent or equivalent technologies.
Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation.
Additional industry certifications (CMM, CMP-HC, or equivalent) are a plus.
Knowledge of sustainability best practices in event planning.

Responsibilities

Event Strategy & Consulting: Partner with senior business leaders to understand objectives and recommend event strategies that support business, commercial, scientific, and communications goals. Signature events will include Life Science sales meetings, leadership forums, innovation summits, events at and around tradeshow planning as well as community-based, profile-raising convening events. Serve as a strategic consultant, beyond basic event coordination, to challenge assumptions and recommend the most effective event formats, experiences, and engagement approaches. Develop integrated event strategies that maximize attendee engagement, business impact, and return on investment. Incorporate innovative event concepts, technologies, sustainability practices, and experiential elements that differentiate the MilliporeSigma brand.
End-to-End Event Management: Lead the complete lifecycle ("soup to nuts") for meetings and events, including: Event strategy and concept development, Budget creation and financial management, Venue sourcing and contract negotiations, Registration and attendee management, Agenda development, Speaker management, Vendor sourcing and management, Food & beverage planning, Audio/visual and production oversight, Exhibit and sponsorship coordination, Travel logistics, Risk management and contingency planning, On-site event leadership, Post-event reporting, metrics, and lessons learned.
Project Leadership: Manage multiple complex events simultaneously while maintaining exceptional quality and customer service. Develop detailed project plans, timelines, workback schedules, and communication plans. Coordinate cross-functional teams including Communications, Marketing, Commercial, HR, Procurement, Legal, Finance, Facilities, IT, and external agencies. Anticipate issues before they arise and proactively develop solutions.
Creative Experience Design: Design engaging attendee experiences that reinforce strategic messages and strengthen organizational culture. Recommend creative formats, networking opportunities, digital engagement, and experiential activations that increase participation and impact. Stay current on industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices to continually improve event experiences.
Financial & Vendor Management: Develop and manage event budgets while identifying opportunities for efficiency and cost savings. Negotiate contracts with hotels, convention centers, production companies, and vendors. Ensure compliance with procurement policies and contracting requirements. Build strong partnerships with preferred suppliers and external agencies.
Measurement & Continuous Improvement: Define success metrics aligned with business objectives. Analyze attendee feedback, engagement data, and budget performance. Present post-event insights and recommendations to stakeholders. Build repeatable best practices and continuously improve the event management process.
Compliance & Governance: Ensure events comply with corporate policies, procurement requirements, safety standards, privacy regulations, and applicable industry guidelines. Maintain accurate documentation and financial records throughout the event lifecycle.