Head of Events Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Head of Events roles in the U.S. typically qualify as specialty occupations under the H-1B visa, making employer sponsorship achievable for candidates with a relevant bachelor's degree. Competition is real, but companies running large-scale conferences, brand activations, or corporate events regularly file LCAs and sponsor international talent.
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Get Access To All JobsJob title: Head of Events & Engagements, North America
Location: Morristown, NJ or Cambridge, MA
About the job
As Head of Events & Engagements, North America within our Global Meetings & Events (GM&E) team, you will be part of an organization that drives operational excellence by aligning events with Sanofi's priorities, maximizing outcomes, and delivering best-in-class experiences for Scientific External Experts and internal stakeholders. We bring transparency, measurability, and clear cost accountability to every event and engagement. GM&E operates under a unified model with defined roles, responsibilities, governance, and tools across internal teams and third-party vendors, enabling seamless collaboration with the GBUs, Business Operations, Digital, Finance, and Procurement. Through continuous assessment and optimization, we help raise scientific awareness, support product launches, and ensure every meeting and event delivers measurable impact for patients and the business.
This is one of the most senior business partnering roles within GM&E. You will serve as the senior strategic advisor to GBU and corporate function leaders, overseeing the end-to-end management of meetings and events for the entire North America region, including approximately 1,000 events and €350M in annual spend. You will own meetings and events management, stakeholder engagement, and agency partnerships (in collaboration with Procurement), while leading a high-performing team of Event Leads and Specialists.
You will define global event and engagement priorities for North America, align global strategy with local execution, drive organization-wide transformation, chair governance forums, and present strategic insights to executive leadership — all while building a culture of continuous improvement and high-performing partnerships across the region.
Ready to push the limits of what’s possible? Join Sanofi in one of our corporate functions and you can play a vital part in the performance of our entire business while helping to make an impact on millions around the world.
About Sanofi
We’re an R&D-driven, AI-powered biopharma company committed to improving people’s lives and delivering compelling growth. Our deep understanding of the immune system – and innovative pipeline – enables us to invent medicines and vaccines that treat and protect millions of people around the world. Together, we chase the miracles of science to improve people’s lives.
Main Responsibilities
Team Leadership & Capability Building:
- Lead, manage, and develop a team of Event Leads and Specialists, setting clear roles and performance expectations.
- Build team capabilities in strategic thinking, data-driven insights, stakeholder management, and continuous improvement.
- Coach the team on advanced stakeholder engagement and executive-level communication.
- Own talent development, succession planning, and performance management.
Stakeholder Relationship Management:
- Act as senior advisor and primary GM&E interface to GBU leaders, Market Leaders, and executive stakeholders.
- Build long-term strategic partnerships with business and agency stakeholders, earning trust and credibility at the highest levels.
- Drive alignment on priorities, initiatives, and expectations.
- Resolve high-level escalations with authority and urgency to maintain stakeholder confidence and service continuity.
- Partner with GM&E Hub Operations to ensure consistent, strategically aligned execution.
Strategic Meetings & Events Planning & Portfolio Oversight:
- Define event and engagement strategies for North America and the GBUs, aligned with business objectives and the GM&E operating model.
- Lead agency selection and investment prioritization to ensure the right partnerships are in place.
- Bridge global intent and market-level delivery, ensuring business strategy is fully reflected in GM&E execution.
- Oversee the regional event and engagement portfolio, allocating resources and priorities optimally.
Change Management & Transformation:
- Lead adoption of new GM&E processes, tools, and operating models across markets.
- Ensure sustained change and measurable impact.
- Foster a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and high-performing partnerships.
Reporting & Strategic Insights:
- Present strategic insights, return on objectives (ROO) analysis, and delivered value to executive leadership and GM&E governance forums.
- Advise on emerging trends, innovation opportunities, and optimization strategies, positioning GM&E as a forward-thinking, value-adding function.
- Shape long-term GM&E strategy through data-driven insights and stakeholder intelligence.
Governance, Compliance & Risk Oversight:
- Ensure adherence to global and local compliance policies, approval frameworks, and governance standards.
- Chair governance forums and support executive decision-making.
- Proactively identify and manage strategic risks, escalating to the Global Head of Meetings & Events when required.
About You
Experience
- 12+ years of Progressive experience in business partnering, stakeholder management, or event strategy, including significant senior leadership tenure.
- Proven track record of building high-performing teams, defining strategy, and engaging at C-suite and GBU leadership level.
- Pharmaceutical/life sciences or other highly regulated industry experience strongly preferred.
Soft Skills
- Exceptional executive presence and relationship-building skills, with the ability to influence at C-suite and GBU level.
- Visionary strategic thinker combining business acumen with deep operational understanding of meetings and events.
- Outstanding leadership and coaching skills.
- Adept at navigating complex organizational dynamics and aligning diverse global stakeholders.
Technical Skills
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office.
- Hands-on experience with Veeva Vault CRM, Cvent, SpotMe, or similar event/contracting platforms strongly preferred.
Education
- Bachelor's or master's degree in business, Life Sciences, or a related discipline.
Languages
- Fluent in English (spoken and written); additional languages are an asset.
Why Choose Us?
- Bring the miracles of science to life alongside a supportive, future-focused team.
- Discover endless opportunities to grow your talent and drive your career, whether it’s through a promotion or a lateral move, at home or internationally.
- Enjoy a thoughtful, well-crafted rewards package that recognizes your contribution and amplifies your impact.
- Make your work count by supporting a company that brings life-changing treatments to millions — and is committed to doing right by patients, communities, and the planet.
- Support teams across science, medicine, and operations by building better systems, shaping bold strategies, and enabling innovation at speed.
Sanofi Inc. and its U.S. affiliates are Equal Opportunity employers committed to a culturally inclusive workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race; color; creed; religion; national origin; age; ancestry; nationality; marital, domestic partnership or civil union status; sex, gender, gender identity or expression; affectional or sexual orientation; disability; veteran or military status or liability for military status; domestic violence victim status; atypical cellular or blood trait; genetic information (including the refusal to submit to genetic testing) or any other characteristic protected by law.
All compensation will be determined commensurate with demonstrated experience. Employees may be eligible to participate in Company employee benefit programs, and additional benefits information can be found here.
Job title: Head of Events & Engagements, North America
Location: Morristown, NJ or Cambridge, MA
About the job
As Head of Events & Engagements, North America within our Global Meetings & Events (GM&E) team, you will be part of an organization that drives operational excellence by aligning events with Sanofi's priorities, maximizing outcomes, and delivering best-in-class experiences for Scientific External Experts and internal stakeholders. We bring transparency, measurability, and clear cost accountability to every event and engagement. GM&E operates under a unified model with defined roles, responsibilities, governance, and tools across internal teams and third-party vendors, enabling seamless collaboration with the GBUs, Business Operations, Digital, Finance, and Procurement. Through continuous assessment and optimization, we help raise scientific awareness, support product launches, and ensure every meeting and event delivers measurable impact for patients and the business.
This is one of the most senior business partnering roles within GM&E. You will serve as the senior strategic advisor to GBU and corporate function leaders, overseeing the end-to-end management of meetings and events for the entire North America region, including approximately 1,000 events and €350M in annual spend. You will own meetings and events management, stakeholder engagement, and agency partnerships (in collaboration with Procurement), while leading a high-performing team of Event Leads and Specialists.
You will define global event and engagement priorities for North America, align global strategy with local execution, drive organization-wide transformation, chair governance forums, and present strategic insights to executive leadership — all while building a culture of continuous improvement and high-performing partnerships across the region.
Ready to push the limits of what’s possible? Join Sanofi in one of our corporate functions and you can play a vital part in the performance of our entire business while helping to make an impact on millions around the world.
About Sanofi
We’re an R&D-driven, AI-powered biopharma company committed to improving people’s lives and delivering compelling growth. Our deep understanding of the immune system – and innovative pipeline – enables us to invent medicines and vaccines that treat and protect millions of people around the world. Together, we chase the miracles of science to improve people’s lives.
Main Responsibilities
Team Leadership & Capability Building:
- Lead, manage, and develop a team of Event Leads and Specialists, setting clear roles and performance expectations.
- Build team capabilities in strategic thinking, data-driven insights, stakeholder management, and continuous improvement.
- Coach the team on advanced stakeholder engagement and executive-level communication.
- Own talent development, succession planning, and performance management.
Stakeholder Relationship Management:
- Act as senior advisor and primary GM&E interface to GBU leaders, Market Leaders, and executive stakeholders.
- Build long-term strategic partnerships with business and agency stakeholders, earning trust and credibility at the highest levels.
- Drive alignment on priorities, initiatives, and expectations.
- Resolve high-level escalations with authority and urgency to maintain stakeholder confidence and service continuity.
- Partner with GM&E Hub Operations to ensure consistent, strategically aligned execution.
Strategic Meetings & Events Planning & Portfolio Oversight:
- Define event and engagement strategies for North America and the GBUs, aligned with business objectives and the GM&E operating model.
- Lead agency selection and investment prioritization to ensure the right partnerships are in place.
- Bridge global intent and market-level delivery, ensuring business strategy is fully reflected in GM&E execution.
- Oversee the regional event and engagement portfolio, allocating resources and priorities optimally.
Change Management & Transformation:
- Lead adoption of new GM&E processes, tools, and operating models across markets.
- Ensure sustained change and measurable impact.
- Foster a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and high-performing partnerships.
Reporting & Strategic Insights:
- Present strategic insights, return on objectives (ROO) analysis, and delivered value to executive leadership and GM&E governance forums.
- Advise on emerging trends, innovation opportunities, and optimization strategies, positioning GM&E as a forward-thinking, value-adding function.
- Shape long-term GM&E strategy through data-driven insights and stakeholder intelligence.
Governance, Compliance & Risk Oversight:
- Ensure adherence to global and local compliance policies, approval frameworks, and governance standards.
- Chair governance forums and support executive decision-making.
- Proactively identify and manage strategic risks, escalating to the Global Head of Meetings & Events when required.
About You
Experience
- 12+ years of Progressive experience in business partnering, stakeholder management, or event strategy, including significant senior leadership tenure.
- Proven track record of building high-performing teams, defining strategy, and engaging at C-suite and GBU leadership level.
- Pharmaceutical/life sciences or other highly regulated industry experience strongly preferred.
Soft Skills
- Exceptional executive presence and relationship-building skills, with the ability to influence at C-suite and GBU level.
- Visionary strategic thinker combining business acumen with deep operational understanding of meetings and events.
- Outstanding leadership and coaching skills.
- Adept at navigating complex organizational dynamics and aligning diverse global stakeholders.
Technical Skills
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office.
- Hands-on experience with Veeva Vault CRM, Cvent, SpotMe, or similar event/contracting platforms strongly preferred.
Education
- Bachelor's or master's degree in business, Life Sciences, or a related discipline.
Languages
- Fluent in English (spoken and written); additional languages are an asset.
Why Choose Us?
- Bring the miracles of science to life alongside a supportive, future-focused team.
- Discover endless opportunities to grow your talent and drive your career, whether it’s through a promotion or a lateral move, at home or internationally.
- Enjoy a thoughtful, well-crafted rewards package that recognizes your contribution and amplifies your impact.
- Make your work count by supporting a company that brings life-changing treatments to millions — and is committed to doing right by patients, communities, and the planet.
- Support teams across science, medicine, and operations by building better systems, shaping bold strategies, and enabling innovation at speed.
Sanofi Inc. and its U.S. affiliates are Equal Opportunity employers committed to a culturally inclusive workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race; color; creed; religion; national origin; age; ancestry; nationality; marital, domestic partnership or civil union status; sex, gender, gender identity or expression; affectional or sexual orientation; disability; veteran or military status or liability for military status; domestic violence victim status; atypical cellular or blood trait; genetic information (including the refusal to submit to genetic testing) or any other characteristic protected by law.
All compensation will be determined commensurate with demonstrated experience. Employees may be eligible to participate in Company employee benefit programs, and additional benefits information can be found here.
See all Head of Events Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Head of Events roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Head of Events Jobs
Align your portfolio to specialty occupation standards
USCIS requires that your role demand a specific bachelor's degree, not just any degree. Document how your events work draws directly on a field like marketing, communications, or hospitality management, not general business experience.
Target employers with active LCA filing history
Use Migrate Mate to find U.S. employers who have filed Labor Condition Applications for events leadership roles. Companies already running that process are far more likely to sponsor again than those doing it for the first time.
Verify prevailing wage before your offer conversation
Run your target city and role through the OFLC Wage Search before salary discussions begin. Employers must pay at least the prevailing wage on a certified LCA, so knowing the floor helps you negotiate from an accurate baseline.
Anticipate the specialty occupation RFE for events roles
USCIS sometimes issues Requests for Evidence for events titles, arguing the role doesn't require a specific degree. Prepare a job duties memo that ties each responsibility, vendor negotiations, budget oversight, program design, to a theoretical framework from your degree field.
Get your degree equivalency documented early
If you hold a three-year degree or qualifications from outside the U.S., get a credential evaluation from a NACES-approved evaluator before you apply. Employers need this to file a defensible LCA and I-129, and delays here stall the whole petition.
Clarify contract versus full-time sponsorship upfront
Many Head of Events positions are structured as project-based contracts. H-1B sponsorship requires a bona fide employer-employee relationship, so confirm the role is a direct hire, not a staffing agency placement, before you invest time in the application process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Head of Events role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
It can, but it's not automatic. USCIS evaluates whether the specific position normally requires a bachelor's degree in a directly related field such as marketing, communications, event management, or hospitality. Roles that mix general management with events production can face scrutiny, so the job description needs to reflect degree-specific duties rather than broad operational oversight.
Which visa types are realistic for a Head of Events seeking U.S. sponsorship?
The H-1B is the most common path for salaried, full-time events leadership roles. Australian nationals can pursue the E-3 visa, which has no lottery and renews indefinitely every two years. Canadian and Mexican nationals may qualify under TN visa if the role maps to a listed USMCA profession. Green card sponsorship through EB-2 or EB-3 is also possible for candidates with long-term employer support.
How do I find U.S. employers who sponsor Head of Events roles?
Migrate Mate lists employers with verified sponsorship history for events and marketing leadership positions, searchable by city and role type. That's the fastest way to identify companies already comfortable with the LCA and I-129 filing process rather than approaching employers who've never sponsored before.
What degree does a Head of Events need to support an H-1B petition?
USCIS looks for a bachelor's degree or higher in a field directly related to the role's core duties. Marketing, communications, hospitality management, public relations, and business administration with a relevant concentration are all defensible. A general business degree with no events or communications coursework is weaker and may require additional evidence tying your education to the specific position.
Can a Head of Events role be sponsored if it's project-based or seasonal?
H-1B sponsorship requires a continuous employer-employee relationship, which makes short-term or seasonal engagements difficult to structure correctly. Staffing agency placements add another layer of complexity because USCIS scrutinizes whether the sponsoring employer actually controls the work. Permanent, direct-hire roles with a single employer are significantly easier to sponsor and far less likely to draw a Request for Evidence.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Head of Events jobs?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.