Senior Director, Strategic Events & Executive Engagement

Caris Life Sciences; Irving (IL); On-site; USD 190,000 - 270,000; Full time

Job summary

Caris Life Sciences is seeking a Senior Director, Strategic Events to lead a company-wide events strategy that enhances reputation, engages customers, and drives business impact. You will guide trade shows, customer experiences, executive engagements, and product launch activations with a focus on measurable ROI.

This senior role requires building strong relationships with executives, managing large budgets, and delivering scalable event programs across the enterprise while aligning with brand

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, business administration, hospitality management, event management, or a related field.
• Seven (7) or more years of progressive experience in strategic events, conference management, experiential marketing, corporate events, or a related field.
• Five (5) or more years of leadership experience managing and developing high-performing teams.
• Demonstrated success managing large-scale conferences, executive meetings, customer engagement programs, and enterprise events.
• Strong executive presence, with experience interacting with C-suite leaders, customers, and external stakeholders.
• Expertise in event strategy, budget management, vendor negotiations, and operational planning.
• Demonstrated ability to develop measurable event performance programs and return-on-investment frameworks.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to influence at multiple levels of the organization and lead cross-functional initiatives.
• Ability to operate effectively as a self-starter in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and strategic planning capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a comprehensive enterprise events strategy aligned with company growth objectives and brand priorities.
• Establish a long-term roadmap for trade shows, customer experiences, executive engagements, scientific meetings, internal events, and corporate activations.
• Drive event innovation by incorporating emerging technologies, AI-enabled experiences, and industry best practices.
• Collaborate with executive leadership to identify opportunities to maximize strategic value, customer engagement, and return on investment.
• Provide strategic oversight for major corporate, commercial, scientific, executive, and customer-facing events.
• Lead the planning and execution of national sales meetings, leadership meetings, customer advisory boards, scientific conferences, executive roadshows, and product launch events.
• Develop executive hospitality and VIP experience programs that support key customer and stakeholder relationships.
• Ensure events consistently reinforce corporate brand standards, messaging, and business priorities.
• Establish standards, processes, and governance to improve event quality, efficiency, and scalability.
• Direct the organization’s trade show and conference portfolio strategy.
• Evaluate sponsorship opportunities, exhibit investments, and visibility programs to maximize business impact.
• Partner with Commercial, Biopharma, Medical Affairs, Marketing, and Communications teams to maintain strategic alignment.
• Develop measurable objectives and performance metrics for event investments.
• Create executive engagement programs that support thought leadership, customer retention, business development, and strategic partnerships.
• Partner closely with senior leadership to maximize executive participation and visibility at key events.
• Manage executive briefing materials, event communications, speaking opportunities, and stakeholder engagement plans.
• Develop and manage large-scale event budgets while ensuring disciplined fiscal management and resource allocation.
• Negotiate contracts and strategic vendor partnerships to maximize value and service quality.
• Implement processes, reporting structures, and performance dashboards to measure event effectiveness and return on investment.
• Ensure compliance with applicable regulatory, financial, legal, and corporate governance requirements.
• Build, lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing events organization.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, executional excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Establish clear performance expectations and development opportunities across the team.
• Partner cross-functionally to support organizational priorities and strategic initiatives.

Skills

Leadership

Executive presence

Budget management

Vendor negotiations

Stakeholder management

ROI frameworks

Cross-functional leadership

Strategic planning

Communication

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, business administration, hospitality management, event management, or a related field

Job description

Caris Life Sciences is seeking a Senior Director, Strategic Events to lead a company-wide events strategy that enhances reputation, engages customers, and drives business impact. You will guide trade shows, customer experiences, executive engagements, and product launch activations with a focus on measurable ROI.

This senior role requires building strong relationships with executives, managing large budgets, and delivering scalable event programs across the enterprise while aligning with brand