Manager, US Conventions & Events

Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 114,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.

Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals, and branded generic medicines. Our 109,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.

For years, Abbott’s medical device businesses have offered technologies that are faster, more effective, and less invasive. Whether it’s glucose monitoring systems, innovative therapies for treating heart disease, or products that help people with chronic pain or movement disorders, our medical device technologies are designed to help people live their lives better and healthier. Every day, our technologies help more than 10,000 people have healthier hearts, improve quality of life for thousands of people living with chronic pain and movement disorders, and liberate more than 500,000 people with diabetes from routine fingersticks.

Main Purpose

The Manager, US Conventions & Events is responsible for leading the division convention and meeting strategy to ensure a successful presence at key healthcare conventions & events in support of business goals, priorities, and company mission. This role requires significant collaboration with Product Marketing, Marketing Communications, Education, Clinical Marketing, Public Relations and Brand Communications, Clinical Affairs, and our U.S. Giving Programs. Reporting to and working closely with the Global Director of Conventions & Events, this person is responsible for implementing strategy for the US congress and events activity and help to mentor the junior staff. Specifically, this individual must work closely with internal and external stakeholders to ensure alignment of convention and event goals and objectives while also recognizing that these high visibility activities have a direct impact on the company’s image in the industry – bolstering trust and enhancing relationships with key opinion leaders, customers, regulatory agencies, societies, and other key stakeholders.

This role requires a strong ability to work across the division and multiple therapy functions, at various levels and with the leadership qualities to resolve issues at the team level while providing solutions to issues that impact a high-level audience.

Job Duties

• Responsible for the strategic planning and execution of assigned US Conventions and Events.
• Support the Global Director with the training & development of the US conventions & events team and maintaining a “lead by example” role.
• Capitalize upon the division’s product therapy groups to institute best practices and consistency in process and strategy.
• Collaborate with Global Marketing External Affairs to maintain appropriate external-facing overarching brand and disease state messaging to support US product, marketing, and sales initiatives
• Utilize the inherent value of Events & Conventions as a channel to reach, engage and educate our customers.
• Lead the effort to organize and coordinate all logistical details of corporate attendance to include exhibit space location, exhibit property selection, lodging and registration, travel, booth staffing and training, pre- and post-event pro motions, and employee and customer correspondence.
• Manage the budget on assigned events and report monthly/quarterly updates in collaboration with Finance with the goal of 95% to budget. Seek opportunities to reduce costs while not impacting quality.
• Collaborate with external partners (CWT, HB, event suppliers), and internal relationships with Abbott global corporate procurements services to drive adoption of new relationships, as necessary.
• Provide recommendations on Convention participation/strategy based on direct experience and data analysis.
• Assist in the organization and execution of National Sales and other specific meetings and corporate functions as requested by Executive Management.
• Work with Global Director on managing the global calendar of Conventions and Events.
• Ability and desire to be an agent for change, continuous improvement and navigate the team through transitionary periods within the organization.
• Complies with U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations, other regulatory requirements, Company policies, operating procedures, processes, and task assignments. Maintains positive and cooperative communications and collaboration with all levels of employees, customers, contractors, and vendors.
• Performs other related duties and responsibilities, on occasion, as assigned.
• Domestic travel approximately 35 – 40% annually
  
  

Qualifications & Experience You Will Bring

Bachelors Degree (± 16 years) In Marketing, Public Relations, Journalism, Advertising, Communications, English or equivalent (or) an equivalent combination of education and work experience

Experience/Background

• Minimum 3-5 years of progressively more responsible work experience in the field of conventions and event planning preferred in the industry of medical device, pharmaceutical, healthcare, IT or other similar field.
• 2-3 years of experience managing vendors/contractors.
• Bullet Point added: 4-6 years of trade show & meeting, planning and execution experience.
• Prior & proven leadership experience in Leading & managing a team.
• Track record of delivering measurable and engaging exhibit booth experiences. Demonstrated strong project management skills and also showcases a customer-service focused mentality.
• Experience managing a budget encompassing multiple vendors, cost-centers and payment terms.
• Experience working with a global brand.
• Comprehensive personal computer skills including demonstrated spreadsheet, word processing and database management capabilities.
• Experience working with lead management tools, including web and mobile apps.
• An entrepreneurial, take-charge, change-agent spirit is critical with a passion for working in the healthcare industry.
• Ability to work in a highly matrixed and geographically diverse business environment.
• Ability to work within a team and as an individual contributor in a fast-paced, changing environment.
• Ability to leverage and/or engage others to accomplish projects.
• Strong verbal and written communications with ability to effectively communicate at multiple levels in the organization.
• Multitasks, prioritizes and meets deadlines in timely manner.
• Strong organizational and follow-up skills, as well as attention to detail.
• Ability to travel approximately 30%, including internationally.
  
  

The base pay for this position is $97,300.00 – $194,700.00. In specific locations, the pay range may vary from the range posted.