US Convention Manager

AbbVie•Mettawa, IL

About The Position

AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas including immunology, oncology and neuroscience - and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com . Follow @abbvie on LinkedIn, Facebook , Instagram , X and YouTube. The Convention Manager is responsible for providing strategic collaboration and stewardship to marketing stakeholders within the US Commercial Conventions space. Reporting through the Associate Director of Conventions, within the broader Digital Lab team, the selected candidate will work in partnership with brand marketing and agencies to strategize, plan, produce, and oversee execution of i sland booth assets and portables. The CM will work cross functionally to manage convention related planned activities, sponsorships, media, promotions, printed materials and digital marketing assets (e.g. social, web, apps, etc.). Focusing on new and unique ways to attract, engage, and nurture target audience and enhancing the customer’s experience. Works closely with the Associate Director in strategizing vendor sourcing and vendor management in conjunction with enterprise initiatives. Collaborate with purchasing to solicit or bid new proposals for existing vendors that uphold AbbVie’s standards along with budgetary constraints. Be flexible to independently manage large scale initiatives and develop positive working relationships in a matrix environment. Excellent communication and problem-solving skills, with strong project management aptitude and ability to analyze and resolve tasks in a timely manner are fundamental to success in this role.

Requirements

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 software fluency including Office 365, and the ability to learn latest programs specific to the conventions/digital industries.
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 deliveries and meeting deadlines.
Creates a learning environment, open to suggestions and innovation and experimentation for improvement.
Must be able to think on your feet, change direction and be accountable.
Candidates for this position must be willing and anticipate long workdays (on your feet) during conventions. Work hours may be long and irregular, especially in the time leading up to a convention and/or at the convention.
Travel approx. 20-25 % domestic, depending on show schedule – includes weekends.
Bachelor’s degree in business or marketing with 5+ years of related experience, preferably in healthcare/pharmaceutical arena, or other highly regulated industry.
With emphasis on marketing operations, promotional review, and/or digital marketing experience.
Experience in developing and aligning marketing strategies and identifying new areas of growth through pharmaceutical conventions.
Forward thinker able to pre-empt challenges, having a problem-solving approach.
Must have excellent peer-to-peer and senior management 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, and objectives.
Aptitude to manage multiple projects and vendors simultaneously with high diligence and adherence to departmental process in a fast-paced matrix environment.
Raises the bar and is never satisfied with the status quo.
Ability to multi-task and oversee multiple conventions, vendors, and internal constituents at one time, while meeting deadlines.
Must be able to negotiate and influence change with vendors, agencies, and associations.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with PhRMA, CFR, Sunshine Act, and global pharmaceutical requirements a plus
Ability to learn and support new digital technology.

Responsibilities

Strategy & Planning – strategically plan in the following ways: Pull brand strategic imperatives into 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.
Leverage in house booth metrics to assess convention ROI and provide recommendations for the next year.
Uncover opportunities to incorporate technology and innovation within booth or virtual experiences, which would support enterprise related initiatives that drives improvements in broader Digital Lab endeavors.
Acquire a full understanding of the AbbVie Digital Lab Convention capabilities such as in house badge scanning applications, emails, dashboards, and future enhancements.
Educate Brand Marketing and Omnichannel partners on available marketing channels within the Digital Lab. Initiate capabilities per conventions as requested and oversee execution.
Assist in analyzing vendor contracts and strategize ways to enhance the overall relationship and discover cost-saving opportunities.
Management & Execution – tactically plan in the following ways: Overall project/program management from start to finish for each National convention, by managing and anticipating any budget developments, along with ownership of booth maps, sponsorships, materials, pre-con meetings, booth staff, vendor partners and compliance.
Manage all vendors. Act as main contact for Associations.
Collaborate with Marketing leads, Finance, Customer Experience, Medical, OEC, Regulatory, Media, Public Affairs, and Marketing Ops fostering deep and continuous cross functional partnerships.
Consult brand teams in the convention space, bringing in-house and vendor/agency expertise together to strategize in achieving brand goals and objectives.
Conduct status updates with vendors and/or partners to monitor spending, including invoices and POs; looking for opportunities to streamline processes where appropriate.