Executive Development Manager Leadership Programs Executive Events

Executive Development Manager – Leadership Programs & Executive Events (Program Mgr III)
Location:
North Chicago, IL (Abbott Park area)
Work Model:
Hybrid – 3 days onsite / 2 days remote Contract Duration:
12 months, with potential for extension Schedule:
Flexible business hours, generally 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM Travel:
Local travel within the Chicago area for approximately 6–7 program dates $93-$98/hr based on health benefit selections Orion Group is seeking an experienced Executive Development Manager to support high-impact leadership development programs and executive experiences for a leading global pharmaceutical organization.
This highly visible role will support the planning, design, coordination, and execution of leadership development initiatives serving approximately 400 senior leaders across the organization.
The ideal candidate brings a strong combination of program and project management, executive stakeholder engagement, leadership development, strategic communications, and event experience design.
This position requires a polished, highly organized professional who can confidently partner with senior executives, manage multiple moving pieces, and deliver exceptional leadership experiences from initial planning through execution and post-program evaluation.
Key Responsibilities Executive Leadership Program Management Lead end-to-end planning, coordination, and execution of executive leadership development programs, including multiple program cohorts and leadership events.
Develop and maintain project plans, timelines, agendas, participant rosters, program documentation, and deliverables.
Coordinate multiple workstreams involving program design, communications, executive speakers, vendors, logistics, and participant engagement.
Monitor milestones, identify potential roadblocks, and ensure programs remain on schedule.
Partner with internal teams and external vendors to ensure seamless execution and a high-quality participant experience.
Leadership Development & Experience Design Support the design and development of engaging executive learning experiences, leadership forums, workshops, and events.
Collaborate with stakeholders to establish learning objectives, program themes, session formats, agendas, and discussion topics.
Develop program concepts, event blueprints, executive recommendations, and supporting materials.
Coordinate leadership panels, executive discussions, external speakers, and facilitator-led sessions.
Ensure program content and experiences align with organizational leadership development priorities.
Executive Stakeholder & Speaker Management Build and maintain strong working relationships with senior executives, program sponsors, facilitators, and cross-functional stakeholders.
Coordinate executive speakers, external experts, and panelists, including scheduling, preparation, briefing materials, and communication.
Facilitate stakeholder discussions, gather feedback, and drive alignment on program objectives and messaging.
Prepare executive briefings, speaker biographies, moderator guidance, and presentation materials.
Strategic Communications & Participant Engagement Develop polished communications for executive participants, speakers, facilitators, and internal stakeholders.
Manage invitations, save-the-dates, program announcements, agendas, pre-work, confirmations, reminders, and post-event communications.
Coordinate messaging with executive communications and internal leadership teams.
Develop participant guides, briefing documents, presentation materials, and program resources.
Maintain accurate participant information, registrations, waitlists, and program updates.
Executive Event Planning & Operations Partner with meeting planners, event vendors, and internal teams to coordinate leadership program logistics.
Support event planning discussions, venue arrangements, meeting flow, room setup, materials, and operational readiness.
Develop event checklists, logistical plans, and execution timelines.
Support onsite program execution and ensure a seamless experience for senior-level participants and speakers.
Coordinate approximately 6–7 local Chicago-area program events as needed.
Program Reporting, Analytics & Continuous Improvement Administer post-program surveys and collect participant and stakeholder feedback.
Analyze qualitative and quantitative feedback to identify trends, themes, and improvement opportunities.
Develop executive summaries, leadership presentations, and program effectiveness reports.
Translate program outcomes into actionable recommendations for future leadership development initiatives.
Identify opportunities to improve program processes, participant experiences, and overall operational efficiency.
Required Qualifications Demonstrated experience in program management, project management, leadership development, executive events, or related enterprise initiatives.
Strong ability to manage complex programs involving multiple stakeholders, timelines, vendors, and