Sr. Manager Strategic Partnerships at Abbott Laboratories

Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 114,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.

Working at Abbott

At Abbott, you can do work that matters, grow, and learn, care for yourself and family, be your true self and live a full life. You’ll also have access to:

• Career development with an international company where you can grow the career you dream of
• Free medical coverage for employees* via the Health Investment Plan (HIP) PPO
• An excellent retirement savings plan with high employer contribution
• Tuition reimbursement, the Freedom 2 Save student debt program and FreeU education benefit - an affordable and convenient path to getting a bachelor’s degree.
• A company recognized as a great place to work in dozens of countries around the world and named one of the most admired companies in the world by Fortune.
• A company that is recognized as one of the best big companies to work for as well as a best place to work for diversity, working mothers, female executives, and scientists.

The Opportunity

This position is based out of our Headquarters location in Abbott Park, IL, within the PA Public Affairs Division.

We are currently seeking a Senior Manager, Strategic Partnerships, reporting into Abbott’s Global Marketing and External Affairs (GMEA) organization, to support our expanding partnerships across the organization. This will include leadership of our newest partnership; The Big Ten and the 18 universities/teams that make up the Big Ten. This partnership also includes developing new partnerships with NIL athletes, and Influencers (alumni athletes and individuals) Additionally the role will be involved in our other sports partnerships like Abbott World Marathon Majors, and the associated races, NN Running Team, and Real Madrid.

In 2014 Abbott announced its title sponsorship of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, comprising the six largest and most influential marathons: Berlin, Boston, Chicago, London, New York City, and Tokyo. This partnership also included local sponsorship at each of these races. In 2021, Abbott announced a partnership with Real Madrid and the Real Madrid Foundation, as part of our goal to address malnutrition around the world in both children and adults. And in the late September 2024, Abbott announced a new multi-year partnership with the Big Ten and through the MultiMedia Rights holders (MMR), direct sponsorship of the 18 athletic departments that make up the Big Ten.

Initially focused on driving blood donation among our relevant audience; the program will extend to other (non-nutritional) diagnostic and medical device areas of Abbott through other marketing and activations. The partnership with the Big Ten also extends into a close working relationship with the Big Ten sponsorship, medical, and leadership staff. And across many areas of Abbott to bring various product teams into the mix. The person in this role must be comfortable with being a part of and leading a matrixed organization.

The Senior Manager, Strategic Partnerships will have key responsibilities for leading the global strategy of Abbott’s Big Ten partnership which also includes the Marketing and Activation of Abbott’s rights and benefits. The role will work closely with Abbott’s Global Marketing Team and business public affairs; and partner to enhance and protect the reputation of the company and the division's products among employees, health care professionals and consumers. This role will be a key member of the overall Big Ten project management leadership team.

For all partnership work, this role will lead from concept to execution and activation. In addition, this role will be active in communication support and may be forward facing in public events to communicate Abbott’s role to the media and at associated events.

Leadership is beyond GMEA and encompasses Business commercial integration and the ability to bring the different businesses and product support together to support and grow the partnerships.

Primary Job Function

The Senior Manager, Strategic Partnerships will be responsible for identifying opportunities for and leading all aspects of company-wide sponsorship activations with businesses around the world. They will be responsible for developing the global strategy as part of the project leadership team and supporting execution across numerous functions and in accordance with objectives and KPIs. They will be responsible for managing and continual development and evolvement of Abbott’s Big Ten strategy as part of the project leadership team and supporting execution across numerous functions and in accordance with objectives and KPIs.

The incumbent must be able to think strategically and provide thoughtful counsel to a broad range of internal and external contacts across all levels of management. Will supervise a variety of related agencies (sponsorship activation, branding) and management of internal client relationships to help execute communications programming.

What You’ll Work On

• Creates, develops and manages the corporate sponsorship marketing plan (short and long term)
• Owns the strategy and execution of sport-specific marketing plans to generate awareness and advocacy from influencers and demand from consumers
• Budget and financial management and oversight of programs
• Ensures 360 Partnership management and the maximizing of contractual assets while reinforcing usage and compliance with brand standards.
• Drive leadership for Abbott’s partnership with the Big Ten and the 18 Athletic Departments and teams , in support of Abbott’s leadership in Health Science and diagnostics.
  • Work closely with workstream leads across Abbott brand marketing and commercial, to drive partnership activations with corporate and Abbott business teams
  • Liaise with teams in execution of local activations
  • Partner with business and GMEA Brand Expression to approve asset use for marketing and commercial materials according to the new sports partnership and sports properties, and Abbott brand standards
  • Liaise with property and rights holders, partnership and activation teams as appropriate
  • Track results of activations according to KPIs set out in the global strategy

• Identifies other sponsorship opportunities that support and build understanding of Abbott across target audiences
• Develops sponsorship criteria and identifies overarching brand positioning by audience and across the organization
• Directs customer research to identify and define relevant and meaningful messages and positioning globally
• Manage the negotiation and partner with legal and procurement for the contract development of influencers and celebrity partnerships. Lead these relationships and work most contract execution
• Develops strategic and tactical marketing recommendations for enterprise use
• Identifies, assesses and implements programs, sponsorships and partnerships
• Identifies and activates sponsorships, forums, or partnerships that help to build our corporate identity
• Provides guidance on development of metrics to determine value and ROI
• Manages relationships, builds support and drives the short and long-term implementation plan and approach for programs funded
• Works with all Abbott divisions and other functions to identify cross divisional sponsorship marketing opportunities to build the brand internally and externally
• Partner with Abbott’s content and marketing teams to infuse corporate owned and social channels with content.

Required Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in public relations, sports marketing, communications, business, marketing or related field is required.
• More than 12 years of experience in marketing, with at least 6 years in a high-level communications environment within a corporate / team environment or sports marketing agency preferred
• Experience in both sports management and health care environment is preferred, but not required
• Ability to travel, primarily domestic and some international - 50% or more annually, most events take place on the weekend necessitating travel over weekends.
• Able to achieve results within a rapidly changing, fluid and highly matrixed environment
• Deep understanding of the current consumer and sports media landscape globally, including social influencers/advocates and working with high-profile/celebrity spokespeople   
• Candidates must have a track record of excellent professional writing, communication, and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple projects
• Ability to and experience in thinking ‘outside the box’ when it comes to strategic product communications, creative, and execution of the work.
• Experience working with and counseling senior management required

Preferred Qualifications

• Positive, can-do attitude; ability and willingness to do what is needed to get a job done. Lead from the front while also growing and motivating team members.
• Great sense of humor and ability to smile in the face of adversity

* Participants who complete a short wellness assessment qualify for FREE coverage in our HIP PPO medical plan. Free coverage applies in the next calendar year.

Learn more about our health and wellness benefits, which provide the security to help you and your family live full lives:  www.abbottbenefits.com

Follow your career aspirations to Abbott for diverse opportunities with a company that can help you build your future and live your best life. Abbott is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to employee diversity.

Connect with us at www.abbott.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Abbott and on Twitter @AbbottNews and @AbbottGlobal.

The base pay for this position is $125,300.00 – $250,700.00. In specific locations, the pay range may vary from the range posted.