Tradeshow Manager
Avantor
Summary
The Tradeshow Manager supports the Communications & Events organization as a member of the Tradeshow Center of Excellence, leading the strategy, planning, execution, and measurement of Avantor's flagship tradeshows. The role combines strategic event leadership with hands-on operational excellence, driving brand awareness, customer engagement, lead generation, and measurable business impact across global markets.
Job description
How you will thrive and create an impact
- Strategic Tradeshow Leadership: Develop recommendations for participation in global and flagship shows aligned to business objectives, customer engagement goals, and brand strategy.
- Contract Negotiation & Sponsorships: Lead negotiation of exhibit space, sponsorship agreements, and event contracts to maximize value, visibility, and cost efficiencies.
- Portfolio Management: Independently manage a portfolio of tradeshows while providing consultative oversight and governance for additional regional events.
- Cross Functional Leadership: Coordinate planning efforts with Commercial, Product, Marketing, Digital, Communications, and external partners to ensure seamless execution aligned around consistent objectives and messaging.
- Logistics & Operations: Oversee registration, housing, meeting space, shipping, show services, booth assets, hospitality, lead retrieval systems, and onsite execution.
- Budget Ownership: Manage event budgets, forecasts, and expenditures with disciplined cost control and transparent stakeholder reporting.
- Asset & Vendor Management: Direct external agencies, vendors, and logistics partners while ensuring booth assets, collateral, promotional items, and displays are available and maintained.
- Performance Measurement & Reporting: Own post-event reporting, ROI analysis, lead metrics, executive summaries, attendee feedback, and strategic recommendations for future participation.
- Process Excellence: Create and maintain project documentation, Teams channels, timelines, workstreams, and best-practice standards that improve organizational efficiency.
- Relationship Management: Build trusted partnerships with organizers, sponsors, vendors, and internal stakeholders globally.
What we're looking for
Ideal Candidate: Creative and results-driven leader passionate about delivering elevated customer experiences and industry-leading programs. Highly organized self-starter demonstrating accountability, ownership, and sound judgment across multiple concurrent projects. Exceptional communicator with strong stakeholder management and influence skills in highly matrixed organizations. Experienced in global, international, and domestic trade show environments with proven ability to manage complexity. Skilled in continuous improvement, process optimization, and development of operational standards. Proficient with Microsoft 365, Teams, SharePoint, C4C, Cvent, and event measurement platforms such as iCapture.
Requirements & Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree required.
- Minimum 5-7 years of progressive experience in trade show, events, marketing, communications, or related agency environments.
- Demonstrated success leading end-to-end planning and execution of large-scale, third-party tradeshows.
- Strong contract negotiation, budget management, reporting, and project management capabilities.
- Proven cross-functional leadership within matrixed organizations.
- Healthcare, biotech, pharmaceutical, or bioprocess industry experience preferred.
- Ability to travel domestically and internationally up to 20%.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree required.
- Minimum 5-7 years of progressive experience in trade show, events, marketing, communications, or related agency environments.
- Demonstrated success leading end-to-end planning and execution of large-scale, third-party tradeshows.
- Strong contract negotiation, budget management, reporting, and project management capabilities.
- Proven cross-functional leadership within matrixed organizations.
- Healthcare, biotech, pharmaceutical, or bioprocess industry experience preferred.
- Ability to travel domestically and internationally up to 20%.
Company overview
Avantor is a leading global provider of mission-critical products and services to customers in the life sciences and advanced technology industries. Founded in 1904 as J.T. Baker Chemical Company, the company has evolved into a Fortune 500 organization with operations in over 30 countries and serving more than 300,000 customer locations worldwide. Avantor's comprehensive portfolio supports virtually every stage of research, development, and production activities across biopharma, healthcare, education, government, and advanced technology sectors. The company specializes in providing high-purity chemicals, laboratory equipment, single-use bioprocessing systems, and specialized services that enable breakthroughs in medicine, healthcare, and technology. With approximately 14,500 employees globally, Avantor plays a crucial role in supporting scientific innovation, including significant contributions to COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing through its synthetic lipid production capabilities. The company went public in 2019 and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AVTR.