Senior Manager, Speaker Programs & Peer-to-Peer Operations

Position Overview

The Senior Manager, Speaker Programs & Peer-to-Peer Operations is responsible for implementing, managing, and continuously improving the operational infrastructure needed to deliver compliant, scalable, and effective commercial speaker bureau, peer-to-peer (P2P), and patient education programs.

This individual serves as the operational lead and business process owner for speaker bureau and program execution, partnering closely with Marketing, Sales, Field Leadership, Legal, Compliance, Finance, and external agency partners to ensure consistent, efficient, and compliant program delivery.

The Senior Manager oversees the end-to-end program lifecycle, including request intake and scheduling, speaker onboarding and contracting, training coordination, attendee management, logistics, agency oversight, payment processing, compliance documentation, financial reconciliation, technology-enabled workflows, and performance reporting. This role drives operational excellence through process optimization, cross-functional collaboration, financial stewardship, and continuous improvement initiatives that enhance program efficiency, quality, compliance, and scalability.

Duties and Responsibilities

Program Operations, Technology & Reporting

• Establish and maintain operating models for HCP speaker bureau, peer-to-peer, and patient education programs, including processes, governance, standards, and approval workflows for in-person, virtual, and hybrid formats.
• Lead day-to-day program operations from request intake through closeout, serving as the primary operational point of contact for internal stakeholders and external partners.
• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs), templates, job aids, and training materials. Train internal teams and agency partners on established processes.
• Serve as the business owner for speaker program technology platforms, partnering with agencies and internal teams to implement and optimize workflows for intake, approvals, scheduling, attendee management, and documentation.
• Identify opportunities for automation, system integration, and workflow improvements to increase operational efficiency and scalability.
• Define program key performance indicators (KPIs) and service-level expectations. Develop reporting and dashboards to track program volume, speaker utilization, attendance, spending, cancellations, and geographic distribution.
• Maintain a centralized program calendar that provides stakeholders with visibility into scheduled and completed activities.
• Analyze operational trends and post-program results to support program evaluation, return on investment (ROI) assessments, and business decision-making in partnership with Marketing.

HCP Speaker Management

• Oversee agency execution of the speaker lifecycle, including onboarding, contracting, scheduling, training, and payment processing. Ensure adherence to established procedures, timelines, and service-level expectations.
• Partner with agencies to develop and deliver speaker training, defining requirements with Compliance, Legal, and Medical, as applicable. Ensure all required training is completed and documented before speakers are activated.
• Collaborate with Legal, Compliance, and Finance to ensure speaker contracting and compensation processes meet applicable requirements.
• Coordinate with Marketing, Field Leadership, Legal, and Compliance on speaker selection, eligibility, and program readiness.
• Support speaker needs assessments and fair market value (FMV) documentation in accordance with company policies.
• Maintain speaker documentation and participation records, monitor utilization, and administer speaker rotation, utilization limits, periodic evaluations, and speaker retirement in accordance with company policy.
• Serve as an operational resource for speakers and internal stakeholders regarding participation requirements, processes, and program expectations.

Program Execution

• Oversee the operational execution of peer-to-peer and patient education programs from approved request through program closeout.
• Coordinate program logistics, including venue sourcing, food and beverage, audiovisual requirements, invitations, registration, attendee communications, and other execution needs.
• Develop and coordinate program communications for HCPs and patients, including confirmations, reminders, and follow-up communications. Route applicable materials through Medical, Legal, and Regulatory (MLR) review.
• Ensure program readiness, resolve operational issues, and escalate risks or issues as appropriate.
• Oversee post-program reconciliation, documentation, and closeout activities.
• Establish consistent execution standards that promote quality, efficiency, and compliance across all program formats.

Agency & Vendor Management

• Serve as the primary operational contact for speaker bureau, peer-to-peer, and patient education program agencies and vendors.
• Manage agency workflows, deliverables, timelines, service levels, and issue resolution.
• Monitor agency performance, program-level spending, and service fees to identify opportunities for improved efficiency and cost management.
• Establish clear performance expectations and hold external partners accountable to service-level agreements (SLAs).
• Build effective working relationships with agency partners to support reliable, high-quality program delivery.

Compliance & Documentation

• Partner with Legal and Compliance to translate speaker program policies and regulatory requirements into practical operational processes.
• Ensure required approvals and documentation are completed throughout the program lifecycle.
• Maintain processes supporting attendee eligibility, attendance records, meal limits, and other applicable compliance requirements.
• Support transparency reporting and program spend reporting in partnership with the appropriate internal functions.
• Maintain accurate, audit-ready program documentation and records in accordance with company policies and retention requirements.
• Identify, escalate, and support the resolution of compliance risks and operational issues.
• Support audits, monitoring activities, and compliance reviews related to speaker bureau and program operations.

Financial Operations

• Manage operational budget tracking for speaker bureau, peer-to-peer, and patient education programs.
• Coordinate purchase orders, invoices, speaker payments, program expenses, and financial reconciliation in partnership with Finance and Procurement.
• Monitor program spending, maintain accurate financial records, and support forecasting, accruals, and budget reconciliation.
• Identify opportunities to optimize program spending while maintaining quality, compliance, and operational effectiveness.

Qualification:

• Five or more years of experience in speaker bureau operations, peer-to-peer programming, meetings and events, commercial operations, field engagement, sales operations, or a related pharmaceutical or biotechnology function.
• Demonstrated knowledge of pharmaceutical speaker program operations and associated compliance requirements.
• Experience managing external speaker bureau agencies or similar service providers.
• Strong experience with HCP contracting, speaker payments, program documentation, and financial reconciliation.
• Experience with program management, speaker bureau, or meeting management technologies.
• Demonstrated ability to translate business requirements, company policies, and compliance standards into practical, scalable operational processes.
• Experience supporting pharmaceutical or biotechnology commercial organizations during pre-launch or launch phases preferred.

Skills & Abilities

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, PowerPoint, and Word, with the ability to develop professional reports, dashboards, and presentations.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with exceptional attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple programs, stakeholders, and deadlines simultaneously.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, including the ability to identify operational issues, evaluate solutions, and drive resolution.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate effectively and influence stakeholders at all organizational levels.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across cross-functional teams and external partners.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, evolving environment and adapt to changing business needs and priorities.
• Demonstrated commitment to operational excellence, process improvement, financial accountability, and compliant program execution.