Associate Director, Meetings & Events - Job ID: 1874

Ascendis Pharma; United States; On-site; USD 180,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) plan with company match

Medical, dental, and vision plans

Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment insurance

Short and long-term disability benefits

Unique offerings of Pet Insurance and Legal Insurance

Employee Assistance Program

Employee Discounts

Professional Development

Health Saving Account (HSA)

Flexible Spending Accounts

Acts as an equal opportunity employer

Job summary

A global biopharmaceutical company is seeking an Associate Director of Meetings & Events to lead the management and execution of Global Congresses and meetings. The role involves collaboration with stakeholders, logistics coordination, budget management, and ensuring compliance. Ideal candidates will have over 15 years of experience in event management, preferably in a corporate pharmaceutical environment, along with strong organizational and communication skills. This position offers a comprehensive benefits package and an estimated salary range of $180-190k DOE.

Qualifications

• A minimum of 15-20 years of relevant experience executing events within the US and globally.
• Experience working internally in a corporate pharmaceutical environment or with pharmaceutical clients is preferred.
• Certified Meeting Professional (CMP), CMP-HC, or Certified Meeting Manager (CMM) is preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

• Support management and execution of Global Congresses and meetings.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to define event goals and budget.
• Work on logistics coordination with agency partners for events.
• Develop and manage event/congress budgets and track expenses.
• Conduct post-event evaluations for feedback and metrics.

Skills

Organizational skills

Communication

Problem-solving

Negotiation

Attention to detail

Adaptability

Customer service

Global Aptitude

Education

Bachelor's degree in hospitality, communications, marketing, or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Event management software (e.g., Cvent, Exhibit Force)

Job description

Ascendis Pharma is a dynamic, fast-growing global biopharmaceutical company with locations in Denmark, Europe, and the United States. Today, we’re advancing programs in Endocrinology Rare Disease and Oncology.

Here at Ascendis, we pride ourselves on exceptional science, visionary leadership, and skilled and passionate colleagues.

Guided by our core values of Patients, Science, and Passion, we use our TransCon® drug development platform to fulfill our mission of developing new and potentially best-in-class therapies to address unmet medical needs.

Our culture fosters a place where skilled, adaptable, and highly resourceful professionals can truly make their mark. We offer a dynamic workplace for employees to grow and develop their skills.

Associate Director of Meetings & Events

At Ascendis Pharma, the Associate Director of Meetings & Events will support the management and execution of Global Congresses and meetings for the organization. Additionally, the Associate Director will work on strategic meeting planning for the M&E team and vendor assessment/sourcing initiatives alongside the Global Head.

Essential duties and responsibilities

• Internal Stakeholder Collaboration: Meet with internal stakeholders to define events and congress goals, requirements, and budget as they align to the team’s strategic plans. Work closely with internal corporate functions such as Legal, Compliance, and Finance to ensure all event processes are followed.
• Logistics coordination: Work with agency partners to arrange all logistical details for our global Tier 1 congresses, including congress association management/contracting, venue management, catering, transportation, group housing management, etc.
• Budget management: Develop and manage event/congress budgets, track expenses, and process payments to ensure financial goals are met. Work closely with Finance to track and report all spending in a timely and accurate manner.
• Vendor management: Research, solicit bids, and negotiate contracts with venues, caterers, audiovisual suppliers, and other service providers related to managed events/congresses.
• Event preparation: Work alongside our agency partners to prepare meeting materials, agendas, name badges, and registration lists to ensure the team is well-prepared for on-site execution.
• On‑site execution: Oversee events on-site alongside congress vendors, including booth and meeting room setup, registration/housing management, and booth teardown, while resolving any issues that may arise. Additional ancillary events may also require management in tandem with congress activities.
• Marketing and promotion: Collaborate with internal marketing stakeholders to promote events and manage attendee registration communications as required.
• Post‑event evaluation: Conduct post‑event assessments to gather feedback and analyze metrics for future improvements.
• Compliance: Work closely with Global HQ Compliance to monitor event activities and ensure adherence to relevant regulations, contracts, HCP spend caps, and company policies are followed and reported as required.

Qualifications

• Education: A bachelor’s degree in hospitality, communications, marketing, or a related field is preferred.
• Experience: A minimum of 15‑20 years of relevant experience executing events within the US and globally is required. Experience working internally in a corporate pharmaceutical environment or with pharmaceutical clients is preferred.
• Certifications: Certified Meeting Professional (CMP), Certified Meeting Professional – Healthcare (CMP‑HC), or Certified Meeting Manager (CMM) designations are preferred but not required.
• Technical skills: Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and experience with event management software (e.g., Cvent, Exhibit Force) are required.

Key skills and abilities

• Organizational skills: Exceptional ability to manage multiple projects, prioritize tasks, and meet tight deadlines.
• Communication: Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills for interacting with clients, vendors, and internal teams.
• Problem‑solving: Aptitude for creative, rapid problem‑solving in high‑pressure situations.
• Negotiation: Strong negotiation skills to secure favorable contracts or pricing with vendors and venues related to event activities.
• Attention to detail: Meticulous attention to detail to ensure flawless event execution.
• Adaptability: Ability to adapt quickly to changing circumstances and manage last‑minute adjustments.
• Customer service: A strong, service‑oriented mindset with a commitment to internal stakeholder satisfaction.
• Global Aptitude: Ability to work well with and understand the working styles of vendors and colleagues outside the US. Must be comfortable managing events outside the US.

The estimated salary range for this position is $180‑190k DOE. Actual salary determination is dependent on a variety of factors, some of which include experience, qualifications, and geographic location. This position may be eligible for a discretionary annual bonus or an incentive compensation plan (eligibility varies by role and position level), discretionary stock‑based long‑term incentives, paid time off, and a comprehensive benefits package.

Benefits

• 401(k) plan with company match
• Medical, dental, and vision plans
• Company‑offered Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance
• Company‑provided short and long‑term disability benefits
• Unique offerings of Pet Insurance and Legal Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee Discounts
• Professional Development
• Health Saving Account (HSA)
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Various incentive compensation plans
• Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital Indemnity Insurance
• Mental Health resources
• Paid leave benefits for new parents

Ascendis Pharma is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

A note to recruiters

We do not allow external search party solicitation. Presentation of candidates without written permission from the Ascendis Pharma Inc. Human Resources team (specifically from the Talent Acquisition Partner or Human Resources Director) is not allowed. If this occurs, your ownership of these candidates will not be acknowledged.