Sr. Consultant, Events

The Sr. Consultant, Events is responsible for management of conferences and events at Blue Cross Blue Shield Association including but not limited to timelines, finances, stakeholders, contracts, and event technology for internal, external, hybrid, and virtual meetings. The role will collaborate with internal stakeholders in addition to managing the RFP process, negotiating contracts, planning, and executing logistics, facilitating agenda development, and managing budgets.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Conference & Event Management:

• Serve as the main point of contact to the content business area for assigned programs
• Create and maintain the roles & responsibilities, project plan, financials, staffing plan, event specs, and all other aspects for assigned programs
• Manage vendor relationships including contract negotiation, preferred rates, and post-event evaluations and close-out. May include hotels and convention and visitor bureaus
• Manage day-to-day activities for the assigned programs, including vendor management, professional services, contracts, and communications to the project teams
• Utilize Cvent to manage RFP creation, review and awarding of a location
• Lead weekly program-specific team meetings with the internal team and the business area teams
• Coordinate registration website set-up and review and evaluate relevant technology for current and future needs
• Create and manage marketing messages, including website copy, promotional emails, survey copy, and any onsite communications
• Speaker management, including acquisition, contracting, presentation review, and day-of management
• Onsite logistics management, including main point of contact for onsite activation, overall specs, F&B, A/V, attendee flow, session/break/meal timing, and all other details for assigned programs
• Close-out of program, including survey reports, executive summary, scorecards, certificate distribution, and financial review
• Collaborate with sponsorship team to integrate sponsorship when appropriate
• Create and maintain databases and contact lists related to assigned programs
• Serve as main point of contact for internal partners including Legal, Communications, and Corporate Travel on issues related to event planning, execution, and follow-up

Research and Education:

• Research relevant industry information to present findings and make recommendations for BCBSA in meeting procedures that incorporate changing best practices and the current environment
• Ensure that conference and event planning follows practices and protocols identified and described by the BCBSA corporate DEI initiatives

Required Education, Certifications and Experience:

• Bachelors Degree 
• 8+ years in a meeting management role overseeing large and/or complex meetings and conferences
• Experience with project management to include budget oversight
• Deep experience with contract negotiations
• Established relationships in the meetings industry with strong knowledge of first tier cities in the US
• Experience with virtual and hybrid meeting planning and execution. 
• Experience managing stakeholder expectations at all levels. 
• Microsoft Office proficiency to include Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook. 
• Comfortable with new software applications, ability to learn new products quickly. 
• Strong organization skills with ability to prioritize responsibilities. 
• Strong time management capabilities. 
• Fluidity to pivot as needed; change is inevitable. 
• Strong communication capabilities. 
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team. 
• Strong contract negotiation skills. 
• Ability to think on your feet and make quick strategic decisions in the face of chaos. 
• Critical thinking skills 
• Ability and comfort in making informed recommendations to leadership and other stakeholders.

Preferred Education, Certifications and Experience:

• 10+ years in a meeting management role overseeing large and/or complex meetings and conferences. 
• Proficient knowledge of virtual and hybrid meeting needs. 
• Knowledge of the health care industry in general and knowledge of/experience with the Blues system. 
• CMP – Certified Meeting Professional 
• FAHM – Fellowship, Academy of Healthcare Management 
• CMM – Certification in Meeting Management 
• VEMM – Certification in Virtual Event Meeting Management