Location: This is a fully onsite position located in Burlington, MA. Candidates must be local or able to commute, as relocation support is not offered. There will be approximately 25%-40% travel, local, domestic and international, to meet business needs.
Your Role:The Senior Event Planner is responsible for the strategic planning, creative development, and flawless execution of high-impact internal and external events that advance Life Science business priorities, strengthen our brand, and create exceptional attendee experiences.
This role serves as a trusted advisor to business leaders, translating business objectives into innovative event strategies while managing every aspect of event delivery, from initial concept through post-event measurement. The Senior Event Planner combines creativity, operational excellence, project management, financial stewardship, and stakeholder management to deliver world-class experiences that inspire employees, customers, partners, and key stakeholders.
The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced science-driven global environment, is equally comfortable developing event strategy and negotiating hotel contracts, and brings fresh, differentiated ideas that elevate the attendee experience while maintaining rigorous attention to detail and delivering a flawless event execution.
Key Responsibilities:- Event Strategy & Consulting
- Partner with senior business leaders to understand objectives and recommend event strategies that support business, commercial, scientific, and communications goals. Signature events will include Life Science sales meetings, leadership forums, innovation summits, events at and around tradeshow planning as well as community-based, profile-raising convening events.
- Serve as a strategic consultant, beyond basic event coordination, to challenge assumptions and recommend the most effective event formats, experiences, and engagement approaches.
- Develop integrated event strategies that maximize attendee engagement, business impact, and return on investment.
- Incorporate innovative event concepts, technologies, sustainability practices, and experiential elements that differentiate the MilliporeSigma brand.
- End-to-End Event Management
- Lead the complete lifecycle ("soup to nuts") for meetings and events, including:
- Event strategy and concept development
- Budget creation and financial management
- Venue sourcing and contract negotiations
- Registration and attendee management
- Agenda development
- Speaker management
- Vendor sourcing and management
- Food & beverage planning
- Audio/visual and production oversight
- Exhibit and sponsorship coordination
- Travel logistics
- Risk management and contingency planning
- On-site event leadership
- Post-event reporting, metrics, and lessons learned
- Project Leadership
- Manage multiple complex events simultaneously while maintaining exceptional quality and customer service.
- Develop detailed project plans, timelines, workback schedules, and communication plans.
- Coordinate cross-functional teams including Communications, Marketing, Commercial, HR, Procurement, Legal, Finance, Facilities, IT, and external agencies.
- Anticipate issues before they arise and proactively develop solutions.
- Creative Experience Design
- Design engaging attendee experiences that reinforce strategic messages and strengthen organizational culture.
- Recommend creative formats, networking opportunities, digital engagement, and experiential activations that increase participation and impact.
- Stay current on industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices to continually improve event experiences.
- Financial & Vendor Management
- Develop and manage event budgets while identifying opportunities for efficiency and cost savings.
- Negotiate contracts with hotels, convention centers, production companies, and vendors.
- Ensure compliance with procurement policies and contracting requirements.
- Build strong partnerships with preferred suppliers and external agencies.
- Measurement & Continuous Improvement
- Define success metrics aligned with business objectives.
- Analyze attendee feedback, engagement data, and budget performance.
- Present post-event insights and recommendations to stakeholders.
- Build repeatable best practices and continuously improve the event management process.
- Compliance & Governance
- Ensure events comply with corporate policies, procurement requirements, safety standards, privacy regulations, and applicable industry guidelines.
- Maintain accurate documentation and financial records throughout the event lifecycle.
Who You AreMinimum Qualifications:- Bachelor's degree in Event Management, Hospitality, Marketing, Communications, Business, or a related field.
- 7+ years of progressively responsible corporate event planning experience, preferably within life sciences, healthcare, biotechnology, or another highly regulated industry.
- Demonstrated success managing large-scale meetings, conferences, leadership events, customer events, trade shows, and employee experiences.
- Proven experience managing complex budgets and negotiating vendor contracts.
- Exceptional project management and organizational skills with strong attention to detail.
Preferred Qualifications:- Experience supporting global organizations and managing international events.
- Outstanding communication skills with executive presence and the ability to influence at all levels of the organization.
- Ability to manage multiple high-priority initiatives simultaneously in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
- Proficiency with event management platforms such as Swoogo, Cvent or equivalent technologies.
- Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation.
- Additional industry certifications (CMM, CMP-HC, or equivalent) are a plus.
- Knowledge of sustainability best practices in event planning.
Success ProfileThe successful candidate is:
- A strategic thinker who understands how events support business objectives.
- Highly organized with exceptional attention to detail, demonstrating excellent follow-up and documentation practices.
- Creative and passionate about designing memorable experiences.
- Exceptional ability to manage multiple programs simultaneously while staying calm and deadline-focused, especially when under pressure, and effective in rapidly changing environments.
- A strong relationship builder who collaborates effectively across all levels of the organization.
- Resourceful, proactive, and solutions-oriented.
- Independent decision-making and strong collaboration, while keeping sponsors and stakeholders informed.
- Passionate about delivering exceptional customer experiences and continuously raising the bar.
- Outstanding verbal and written communication skills, able to present effectively, create clear proposals, and maintain accurate records.
- Ability to build rapport quickly with clients, speakers, vendors, and internal partners.
- Entrepreneurial mindset, independent and resourceful.
- Flexible, open-minded, and highly collaborative team player.
- Strong business acumen and problem-solving.
ImpactThis role sits at the intersection of strategy, creativity, and execution, directly shaping how employees, customers, and partners experience the MilliporeSigma brand. By delivering world-class events that inspire, connect, and engage, the Senior Meeting & Event Planner plays a meaningful role in strengthening our culture, accelerating business outcomes, and bringing our mission to life.
Pay range for this position: $118,000 - $160,000
The offer range represents the anticipated low and high end of the base pay compensation for this position. The actual compensation offered will be determined by factors such as location, level of experience, education, skills, and other job-related factors. Position may be eligible for sales or performance-based bonuses. Benefits offered by the Company include health insurance, paid time off (PTO), retirement contributions, and other perquisites. For more information click here.
