Head, Congress Strategy & Operations

Head, Global Congress Strategy & Operations, ViiV Healthcare The posting period will end on the 16th of January in 2026 Business Introduction: We are a specialist pharmaceutical company 100% dedicated to developing medicines to treat and prevent HIV. Born out of a partnership between GSK and Pfizer in 2009, with Shionogi joining in 2012, our ambition is to end the HIV epidemic. As the pioneers in HIV innovation, we constantly look to push the boundaries of science to develop medicines that can change lives and give people more choice. Beyond our medicines, we are proud of our deep connection with the HIV community and work with partners to advance research and development, address HIV-related stigma, increase access to our medicines and provide funding and support to local community organizations to support their efforts in the HIV response. We are ViiV Healthcare. Here until HIV and AIDS are not. About this role: The Head, Congress Strategy & Operations is a critical leadership position at ViiV Healthcare, responsible for driving the global congress strategy and operations to support the company mission of transforming the HIV landscape globally. This role is pivotal in optimizing customer experiences at congresses and facilitating engagement around long-acting HIV injectable treatments and prevention at over a dozen international congresses. The position requires a digital-first mindset, vision toward omnichannel and customer experience, strong cross-functional leadership, and the ability to deliver best-in-class congress experiences across global events. You will design high-quality scientific and medical congress programs that amplify our evidence and engage healthcare professionals, patients, and partners. You will work across medical affairs, research & development, communications, commercial teams, digital strategy, government affairs, and external agencies to deliver coordinated and compliant congress activity. We value a strategic thinker who leads with empathy, who can manage complex programs and who enjoys developing people. This role offers growth, visible impact and the chance to help ViiV unite science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together. Key responsibilities: This role will provide YOU the opportunity to lead key activities to progress YOUR career. These responsibilities include some of the following: Develop, lead, and execute strategic planning and operational execution for large-scale international congresses Manage cross-functional teams and matrix stakeholder engagement Align congress activities across Commercial, Medical, and Sci Comms leadership teams to ensure a consistent scientific portfolio message at all Congresses, that support the business vision Lead with digital-first mindset, with fluency in digital tools and GenAI technologies Understanding the importance of omnichannel engagement pre, during, and post conference and identifying opportunities to improve customer experience at Congresses Develop and communicate the congress portfolio narrative internally and externally, ensuring alignment on strategy and messaging with the overall ViiV Healthcare mission and vision Demonstrate ability in budget management, cost control, and operational excellence Ensure all congress operations adhere to compliance, legal, and regulatory requirements. Identify and mitigate operational risks as needed Manage vendor and partner relationships for optimal outcomes Lead and develop a high-performing Congress Operations team, including direct reports and matrix oversight of regional congress leads Manage relationships with external vendors, agencies, and partners to ensure service excellence and optimal value Develop actionable congress planning and execution frameworks for regional and local teams, shaping ViiV Healthcare perception and engagement at congresses Represent ViiV Healthcare in engagements with external stakeholders, including congress organizers (IAS, EACS, Infectious Disease Society Association), and drive external engagement with HIV community, prescribers, and PLHIV Basic Qualifications: We are seeking professionals with the following required skills and qualifications to help us achieve our goals: Degree in life sciences, medicine, pharmaceutical, public health or related field, or equivalent experience Experience in medical affairs, congress planning, or scientific communications Proven experience managing multi-stakeholder projects and external vendor relationships Strong budget management skills and experience overseeing event operations Preferred Qualifications: If you have the following characteristics, it would be a plus: Experience within the pharmaceutical or biotech or private sector global congress strategy Familiarity with regulatory and compliance requirements for medical congress activity Experience using digital congress platforms and virtual event tools Strong analytical skills with experience measuring medical engagement outcomes Demonstrated people leadership experience and a track record of coaching team members What we offer A chance to work on high-impact scientific communications at a company focused on meaningful health outcomes. You will join a supportive, collaborative environment where your work helps shape how scientific evidence reaches patients and clinicians. If you are motivated to lead, inspire and deliver excellent congress outcomes, we want to hear from you. *LI-GSK Why Us? At ViiV Healthcare, we will not rest until we leave no person living with HIV behind. Until the 40 million people living with HIV is down to zero, we will continue searching for new ways to limit the impact of HIV. We are the only pharmaceutical company solely focused on combating, preventing, and ultimately eradicating HIV and AIDS. At ViiV Healthcare, we do things differently. Born out of a partnership between GSK and Pfizer in 2009, with Shionogi joining in 2012, we are determined to help end the HIV epidemic. We are guided by our mission to leave no person living with HIV behind and it is this mission that unites our employees located across the globe. We combine expertise in research, manufacturing, policy and more to push the boundaries of what people think is possible in HIV treatment and care. As a result of our connection with GSK, we are able to draw on their proud history and resources. This means that you would receive all the employee benefits offered by GSK. Living our mission of leaving no person living with HIV behind means keeping inclusion and diversity at the heart of everything we do - from our breakthrough innovation, to our diverse portfolio of medicines as well as the work we do to partner with HIV communities. Having a truly inclusive culture where we’re all able to be ourselves and feel like we belong will make us an even stronger team, better able to perform as a business and deliver on our mission to leave no person living with HIV behind. ViiV is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This ensures that all qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), parental status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), military service or any basis prohibited under federal, state or local law. Important notice to Employment businesses/ Agencies ViiV does not accept referrals from employment businesses and/or employment agencies in respect of the vacancies posted on this site. All employment businesses/agencies are required to contact ViiV's commercial and general procurement/human resources department to obtain prior written authorization before referring any candidates to ViiV. The obtaining of prior written authorization is a condition precedent to any agreement (verbal or written) between the employment business/ agency and ViiV. In the absence of such written authorization being obtained any actions undertaken by the employment business/agency shall be deemed to have been performed without the consent or contractual agreement of ViiV. ViiV shall therefore not be liable for any fees arising from such actions or any fees arising from any referrals by employment businesses/agencies in respect of the vacancies posted on this site. Please note that if you are a US Licensed Healthcare Professional or Healthcare Professional as defined by the laws of the state issuing your license, ViiV may be required to capture and report expenses ViiV incurs, on your behalf, in the event you are afforded an interview for employment. This capture of applicable transfers of value is necessary to ensure ViiV compliance to all federal and state US Transparency requirements. For more information, please visit the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) website at https://openpaymentsdata.cms.gov/ We are a global biopharma company with a special purpose – to unite science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together – so we can positively impact the health of billions of people and deliver stronger, more sustainable shareholder returns – as an organisation where people can thrive. Getting ahead means preventing disease as well as treating it, and we aim to impact the health of 2.5 billion people around the world in the next 10 years. Our success absolutely depends on our people. While getting ahead of disease together is about our ambition for patients and shareholders, it also about making GSK a place where people can thrive. We want GSK to be a place where people feel inspired, encouraged and challenged to be the best they can be. A place where they can be themselves – feeling welcome, valued and included. Where they can keep growing and look after their wellbeing. So, if you share our ambition, join us at this exciting moment in our journey to get Ahead Together. Find out more on our career site.