The posting
LA28 does not provide relocation assistance for any positions. If you are based outside the Oklahoma City area, we still welcome your application — we value talent from all geographic backgrounds and want to hear from you if you are able to work on-site in Oklahoma City.
Role Purpose
As Director, Event and Venue General Manager
The Event and Venue Management (EVM) team is responsible for leading the integrated operational planning and operations at the venue level at the OKC Softball Park and the OKC Whitewater Center. At Games Time, the Event and Venue Management team leads and manages the event teams at venues, event delivery, venue communication, and venue issue resolution.
The Event & Venue General Manager (EGM) will be responsible for leading the operational planning and delivery for the Olympic Games competition venues in OKC including the OKC Softball Park and the OKC Whitewater Center. This role will also drive cross-functional operational integration and lead venue teams at Games-time. The role will require significant stakeholder management and major large-scale venue planning and operational delivery experience.
Key Responsibilities
- Collaborate cross-functionally with Team OKC, leading the development, optimization, and delivery of venue-based Event Operations plans for the venue.
- Lead the Team OKC venue team to achieve objectives, venue readiness, and deliverables to stakeholders, and venue owner / operator.
- Build strong, productive, and respectful relationships with the venue partner and related stakeholders and serve as the day-to-day venue leadership contact.
- Work cross-functionally with Team OKC to ensure an efficient and effective engagement process with venue partners including managing meeting cadence, stakeholder site visits, venue planning, and operational readiness.
- Work closely with the venue infrastructure and other technical teams to track deliverables.
- Manage LA28 venue service levels, identify risks, developing risk mitigation strategies, and leveraging opportunities for creating efficiencies and savings.
- Maintain financial reporting and accountability directly to Team OKC leadership for venue-related budgets, expenditures, and fiscal governance.
- Train, motivate, and lead a diverse, high-performing Team OKC venue team capable of developing and executing venue operations plans efficiently and effectively.
- Coordinate with venue owners and local authorities to manage the Venue Use Agreement (VUA), ensuring compliance with contractual terms and operational requirements.
- Prepare and deliver written and oral reports on venue agreement and operating planning status to senior leaders and other stakeholders as required including tracking, reporting and solving issues at all phases of the project (planning and operational).
- Manage venue operations collaborating with Team OKC and all stakeholders including athletes, workforce, spectators, partners, and media focusing on a comprehensive, inclusive, fully accessible venue.
- Establish working relationships and coordinate activities with local authorities and security representatives specific to the venue and the venue approach.
- Lead Functional Areas to create the Event Operations Plan and other tools for planning and delivery.
- Champion and embed the LA28 values and behaviors into all facets of engagement, planning and delivery.
Required Competencies
- 8+ years of experience leading venue, event, or operations delivery for major, complex, live sporting or entertainment events at scale.
- A demonstrated ability to build, develop, and lead large, cross-functional operational teams to fixed, immovable event deadlines.
- Strong stakeholder and vendor management skills, coordinating many partners and functional areas simultaneously across a live venue environment.
- Hands-on experience owning budgets, master schedules, and comprehensive risk registers across complex, multi-party operational programs.
- Sound judgment and calm, decisive leadership when information is incomplete and the delivery timeline is genuinely fixed and immovable.
- Experience building collaborative and high-performing teams
Valued Experience
- Direct experience delivering venues at an Olympic, Paralympic, or other major international Games.
- Familiarity with temporary overlay, infrastructure, and field-of-play operations at competition venues.
- A background coordinating sport, broadcast, security, accreditation, and commercial venue partners.
- A collaborative, co-creative approach to solving complex operational problems under demanding timelines.
What We Offer
- The opportunity to build and operate competition venues for a once-in-a-generation Games.
- A collaborative, co-creative culture grounded in inclusion, integrity, and accountability.
- High-impact, highly visible delivery work with a lasting community legacy.
- Genuine professional growth alongside a diverse, world-class Games-delivery team.
What This Role Means for the Games
A venue is where the Games come to life, where athletes pursue excellence, fans create unforgettable memories, and the world comes together through sport. In this Oklahoma City-based role, you lead the team responsible for delivering a world-class competition experience day after day, ensuring every moment reflects the ambition, energy, and spirit of the Games.
Physical Requirements & Working Conditions
- This position is based at the Oklahoma City venue, with travel to Los Angeles and other venue sites as required.
- The majority of work will be conducted in an office setting, requiring extended periods of time using computers, phones, and other office equipment.
- The Team OKC Oklahoma City office is an open floorplan working environment; employees must be able to work efficiently in an open cubicle environment.
- Hours of work may vary, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, especially during peak event periods.
- Perform other duties as required; the role will evolve over time and may include operational responsibilities during the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Compensation
This role is located in Oklahoma, with a salary range aligned to the local market. All LA28 compensation remains subject to final determination based on individual candidate qualifications, experience, or other reasonable criteria consistent with LA28's operational business needs and applicable law.
Accommodation
LA28 is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. If you require an accommodation at any stage, please let us know and we will work with you to meet your needs.
Equal Opportunity
LA28 is committed to fair and unbiased recruitment procedures allowing all applicants an equal opportunity for employment, free from discrimination on the basis of religion, race, sex, age, sexual orientation, disability, color, ethnic or national origin, or any other classification as may be protected by applicable law. LA28 will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance and all applicable laws. We strive to build a team that is inclusive and encourage qualified candidates of all backgrounds, perspectives, and identities to apply. We assess applications based on relevant skills, education, and experience a candidate can add to our team.
