Sr Congress / Trade Show Specialist (Memphis, TN; Andover, MA; Fort Worth, TX)

Smith+Nephew•Fort Worth, TX

119d

About The Position

Life Unlimited. At Smith+Nephew, we design and manufacture technology that takes the limits off living. What will you be doing? As a Senior Congress / Trade Show Specialist, you’ll take the lead in planning and executing strategic congresses that support key business and franchise initiatives. You’ll work independently and collaboratively with high-level stakeholders—including societies, healthcare professionals, and senior leadership—to deliver impactful, compliant, and innovative event experiences across your assigned geographic area. In this role, you’ll be a driving force behind our congress strategy, ensuring alignment with franchise priorities and overseeing all aspects of event execution—from budgeting and sponsorships to educational programming and post-congress communications. You’ll collaborate closely with Global and downstream Marketing, Sales, Compliance, Medical Education, and other internal teams to deliver scalable, high-quality congresses that reflect Smith & Nephew’s brand and values. This is a high-impact role where your leadership, creativity, and attention to detail will shape the success of our congress presence and customer engagement. If you’re passionate about events and thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment, we’d love to hear from you. What will you need to be successful? To thrive in this position, you’ll need a strong foundation in congress and event management, along with the ability to lead cross-functional teams and drive strategic initiatives. You’ll be comfortable working with stakeholders at all levels and confident in your ability to manage complex logistics and communications.

Requirements

You hold a Bachelor of Arts degree or an equivalent qualification.
You bring 8–10 years of hands-on experience in congress or event management, with a proven track record of delivering high-impact events.
You excel in both written and verbal communication, able to convey ideas clearly and build consensus across teams.
You’re a skilled project manager who can juggle multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and keep stakeholders aligned.
You build strong relationships across departments and work effectively with marketing, sales, compliance, and medical education teams.
You’re confident presenting to internal and external audiences and leading meetings that drive results.
You bring a leadership mindset and a strategic approach to congress planning, always looking for ways to innovate and improve.
<35–50% Travel Requirements

Responsibilities

Leading the development and execution of strategic congress plans, including messaging, promotional tactics, and stakeholder engagement.
Managing sponsorship schedules and logistics, including hotel accommodations, AV needs, booth setup, and vendor coordination.
Creating and executing strategic communications plans for pre-show and post-show engagement.
Building strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to ensure seamless collaboration.
Mentoring junior team members and serving as a resource across cross-functional project teams.
Driving continuous improvement by identifying trends, recommending innovations, and ensuring brand consistency.
Overseeing lead generation programs and ensuring qualified leads are distributed to Sales teams.
Managing congress budgets, tracking expenditures, and reporting trends to senior leadership.
Leading special projects as assigned by the Senior Director, Global Congresses and Events.