REQ-10071603
Feb 12, 2026
USA

Sumar

The Lead, Congress Management and Association Relations (CMAR) is responsible for the leadership of the Congress Management efforts across all US Business Units. This enterprise leader will set the strategic direction for congress operations and association engagement, ensuring alignment with Medical, Commercial, Finance, and Compliance priorities. The Lead is accountable for ensuring the CMAR team is developed and skilled at managing all facets of congresses, including pre-planning, onsite execution and cross-functional orchestration.

About the Role

Key responsibilities

  • Enterprise leader responsible for setting the strategic direction for congress operations and association engagement, ensuring alignment with Medical, Commercial, Finance, and Compliance priorities
  • Establish and maintain governance frameworks that ensure fiscally responsible, compliant, and metrics‑oriented congress and association activities
  • Partner with associations and conference organizers to negotiate participation, visibility opportunities, and engagement models on behalf of cross‑functional Novartis teams
  • Oversee the end‑to‑end planning, execution, and post‑event evaluation of congress participation, ensuring operational excellence across timelines, risk mitigation, and cross‑functional workflows
  • Drive efficiency and innovation in congress execution through AI led processes that lead to continuous improvement and identification of new tools and operating opportunities
  • Lead and develop a multifaceted team supporting congress planning, onsite execution, and cross‑functional orchestration
  • Function as main POC for congress suppliers, providing direction to congress vendors, addressing issues, aligning expectations, and ensuring all suppliers deliver to Novartis’ operational, financial, and compliance standards in partnership with Procurement
  • Serve as the accountable owner for the third‑party service provider supporting congress operations, acting as their primary point of contact and ensuring strategic alignment on deliverables, performance expectations, and process adherence to drive efficiency and continuous improvement across CMAR
  • Management of suppliers, monitoring quality and budget, and in accordance with Procurement guidelines
  • High employee engagement, as measured by GLINT or similar survey

Essential Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree required, MBA a plus
  • Minimum 10 years of diverse experience in a variety of commercial operations roles; desired experience in Project Management, Operations Management, Finance or Continuous Improvement
  • Managerial experience with multiple teams and client groups; direct people management experience required
  • Excellent command and knowledge of applicable regulatory requirements in the Pharmaceutical industry
  • Experience managing budgets
  • Role based on East Hanover campus; 30% domestic travel

Desirable Requirements:

  • 7+ years Congress management experience preferred
  • Knowledge related to HCP engagements and pharmaceutical events desirable

Benefits & Rewards

The salary for this position is expected to range between $168,000 and $312,000 per year. The final salary offered is determined based on factors like, but not limited to, relevant skills and experience, and upon joining Novartis will be reviewed periodically. Novartis may change the published salary range based on company and market factors. Your compensation will include a performance-based cash incentive and, depending on the level of the role, eligibility to be considered for annual equity awards. US-based eligible employees will receive a comprehensive benefits package that includes health, life and disability benefits, a 401(k) with company contribution and match, and a variety of other benefits. In addition, employees are eligible for a generous time off package including vacation, personal days, holidays and other leaves.

Why Novartis: Helping people with disease and their families takes more than innovative science. It takes a community of smart, passionate people like you. Collaborating, supporting and inspiring each other. Combining to achieve breakthroughs that change patients’ lives. Ready to create a brighter future together? https://www.novartis.com/about/strategy/people-and-culture

Join our Novartis Network: Not the right Novartis role for you? Sign up to our talent community to stay connected and learn about suitable career opportunities as soon as they come up: https://talentnetwork.novartis.com/network

Benefits and Rewards: Read our handbook to learn about all the ways we’ll help you thrive personally and professionally: https://www.novartis.com/careers/benefits-rewards

Why Novartis: Helping people with disease and their families takes more than innovative science. It takes a community of smart, passionate people like you. Collaborating, supporting and inspiring each other. Combining to achieve breakthroughs that change patients’ lives. Ready to create a brighter future together? https://www.novartis.com/about/strategy/people-and-culture

Benefits and Rewards: Learn about all the ways we’ll help you thrive personally and professionally.
Read our handbook (PDF 30 MB)

EEO Statement:

The Novartis Group of Companies are Equal Opportunity Employers. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.

Accessibility & Reasonable Accommodations

The Novartis Group of Companies are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, or to perform the essential functions of a position, please send an e-mail to [email protected] or call +1(877)395-2339 and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Please include the job requisition number in your message.

Finance
Marketing
USA
New Jersey
East Hanover
Marketing
Full time
Regular
No
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REQ-10071603

Lead, Congress Management & Association Relations

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