At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and coordinate congresses, ensuring seamless execution and collaboration across teams.
- Company: Join Novartis, a global leader impacting millions of lives.
- Benefits: Gain valuable experience in a hybrid role with a competitive contract.
- Other info: Opportunity for growth in a dynamic, supportive environment.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in healthcare while developing your project management skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in congress management and strong stakeholder engagement skills required.
The predicted salary is between 54000 - 66000 £ per year.
This is a temporary contractor opportunity at Novartis. Novartis touches the lives of a tenth of the world’s population. Every role here, regardless of contract type, makes an impact on human life! This role is offered through Magnit Global, who, if selected, will be your employer. If your services are retained, you will be assigned to provide services to Novartis as the end client. This is not an offer of employment with Novartis. If you are selected for this Temporary/External opportunity, you will not be an employee of Novartis and will not be eligible for any Novartis employee benefits or incentives.
Role Purpose: Provide end-to-end orchestration and operational delivery of priority congresses, ensuring seamless coordination across cross-functional internal stakeholders, vendors, and external stakeholders to deliver high-quality, compliant, and efficient congress execution. Act as the central orchestration lead and single point of contact (SPOC) across the full congress lifecycle.
Core Responsibilities:
- Pre-Congress (Planning & Orchestration)
- Establish and lead the cross-functional congress team (cadence, governance, ways of working)
- Build and manage the integrated end-to-end congress plan across all activities
- Lead stakeholder engagement and communication strategy
- Act as SPOC for congress organisers and key vendors
- Coordinate society sponsorship planning, approvals, and execution
- Oversee logistics vendors:
- Venue sourcing
- Accommodation
- Registration platforms
- Manage and coordinate site visits (planning, execution, reporting)
- Ensure governance and compliance processes (e.g., EEE Gov liaison, BeSure)
- Track annual planning and operational budgets (sponsorship + logistics) and elevate risks early
- Orchestrate alignment across:
- Medical Society / Scientific Communications
- Activity Owners (symposia, booth, EEEs)
- Procurement / Finance
- External vendors and agencies
- Onsite Delivery (Execution & Control)
- Provide overall operational oversight onsite across all congress activities
- Act as primary escalation point (SPOC) for:
- Internal stakeholders
- Vendors
- Congress organisers
- Coordinate daily delivery against plan
- Manage cross-vendor orchestration (e.g., logistics vs activity agencies)
- Ensure adherence to:
- Agreed plans
- Budgets
- Governance frameworks
- Drive rapid decision-making in time-sensitive scenarios to protect delivery quality
- Post-Congress (Closure & Continuous Improvement)
- Lead post-congress debrief process (cross-functional)
- Deliver operational insights and performance reporting (KPIs, highlights)
- Coordinate financial reconciliation and close-out activities
- Capture and document lessons learned and improvement actions
- Drive post-congress communications and stakeholder alignment
Requirements:
- Proven experience delivering priority congresses end-to-end
- Pharma experience in the congress space
- Strong orchestration capability in complex, matrix environments
- Deep understanding of:
- Sponsorship models
- Congress logistics
- Compliance and governance processes
- Ability to act as a central SPOC across siloed functions
- Exceptional relationship management and stakeholder influence
Highly Preferred:
- Familiarity with:
- Governance processes
- Global / International Medical Affairs operating model
- Medical Society engagement frameworks
Workload: 35 hours/week
Role type: Hybrid
Required start date: September 2026
Contract: 12 months
Payroll: Inside IR35
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?
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.
Accommodation: If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to Magnit at directsourceproteam@prounlimited.com.
Congress Lead employer: WillHire
At Novartis, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through our focus on complex scientific roles and the opportunity to engage with diverse talent across global R&D. With a hybrid work arrangement and a strong emphasis on data-driven sourcing strategies, we empower our team members to thrive in their careers while making a meaningful impact in the field of drug discovery and development.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Congress Lead
✨Tap into Consulting Networks
Get active in local management consulting networks and organisations. Attend meetups, workshops, or webinars specific to consulting where you can connect with professionals who may know of temporary roles opening up at places like WillHire. Don’t underestimate word-of-mouth – it’s massive in our field!
✨Show Off Your Skills in Real-Time
As a temporary hire, you need to demonstrate your value quickly. Consider creating a mini-case study or analysis relevant to the industry and share it on platforms like LinkedIn or even during networking events. This can be an impressive way to showcase your analytical skills and problem-solving prowess – just what consulting firms are looking for!
✨Check for Temporary Roles on Niche Job Boards
Look for temporary roles on specialised job boards for consulting gigs rather than just generic platforms. Websites like Consultancy.uk or even the Careers pages of major firms could have short-term projects or roles that are perfect for you to jump in at WillHire.
✨Leverage University and Alumni Resources
If you’re fresh out of uni or connected with a local institution, take advantage of their career services and alumni networks. Many universities have exclusive connections to consulting firms seeking temporary help. Plus, it’s a great way to meet other aspiring consultants who might share leads about opportunities at WillHire.
We think you need these skills to ace Congress Lead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Analytical Skills:In management consulting, employers love to see your problem-solving abilities right from the get-go. Be sure to highlight any relevant analytical projects you've worked on, particularly those that show how you tackled complex problems. If you’ve done any case studies or analysis during your studies, throw those in your CV!
Tailor Your Experience for the Role:Since this is a temporary position, your application should reflect your adaptability and relevant experience quite clearly. Focus on showcasing experiences that demonstrate your ability to hit the ground running, like previous projects, internships, or freelance gigs in consulting or project management.
Craft a Targeted Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to sparkle! Use it to explain why you're interested in this temporary role at WillHire and how your skills suit the specific project needs. Remember to mention how you can provide immediate value based on your past experiences.
Include Certifications or Relevant Training:If you've got any certifications like PMP, Six Sigma, or even coursework that’s super relevant, make sure to list those in your application. Management consulting can be competitive, and these extra qualifications can help you stand out in the recruitment process.
How to prepare for a job interview at WillHire
✨Prepare for Case Studies
In management consulting, case study interviews are a big deal. Expect to tackle real-world business problems on the spot. We should practise structuring our thoughts, developing hypotheses, and presenting our solutions clearly, as this is what firms like WillHire will want to see.
✨Show Off Your Problem-Solving Skills
You’ll need to demonstrate strong analytical skills and logical reasoning. Brush up on frameworks like SWOT or Porter's Five Forces, as these can come in handy. Think of instances from your experience where you tackled a complex issue—this could set you apart when speaking to WillHire.
✨Highlight Your Adaptability
Since this is a temporary role, it's crucial we showcase our ability to hit the ground running. Have examples ready that illustrate how we've adapted quickly in past positions or projects. This shows that we can contribute effectively from day one at WillHire.
✨Be Ready to Discuss Cultural Fit
Temporary roles often come with a focus on team dynamics. Prepare to discuss how we align with the values and culture at WillHire. We want to highlight our teamwork experiences and how we can mesh with their consulting teams, making it clear that we're not just looking to fill a spot but to add value.
