Event Operations Director

We Are 54; City Of London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading sports and entertainment agency is seeking an experienced Event Operations Director to manage their event operations. This role involves overseeing a team, managing budgets, and developing operational procedures for multiple international events. Ideal candidates will have extensive event experience, strong communication skills, and proficiency in team leadership. Competitive salary with additional benefits including a bonus and annual leave.

Benefits

Competitive Salary

Annual Discretionary Bonus (up to 8%)

Pension scheme

Life Assurance

Income Protection

25 days annual leave plus public holidays

Employee Assistance Program

Private Healthcare

Enhanced Parental Leave

Staff clothing

Qualifications

• Dynamic and experienced in event operations.
• Extensive international event experience required.
• Ability to manage multiple relationships and diverse environments.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and lead the Event Operations team regionally.
• Manage budgets and project delivery for multiple events.
• Design, implement, and evaluate SOPs for continuous improvement.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Problem-solving ability

Budget management

Proficient in Excel, Word, and PowerPoint

Team leadership

Tools

AutoCAD

Job description

Event Operations Director

Application Deadline: 24 November 2025

Department: Event Operations

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: London

Reporting To: Tom Warneke

Description

ABOUT 54GROUP: 54 is a sports and entertainment agency operating across five regions and nine offices: United Kingdom (London), Europe (Sotogrande, Spain), MENA (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia & Dubai and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates), APAC (Singapore, Vietnam & Adelaide, Australia) and USA (West Palm Beach, Florida). It works with rights holders, governing bodies, developers, household brands and major investors who share its belief in the power of sport. 54 comprises three service areas each consisting of two divisions: Strategic Advisory (Consultancy and Data & Insights), Asset Optimisation (Operations and Commercial) and Activation & Engagement (Events and Marketing). At its core, the company has an unwavering belief in embracing the opportunities offered by pushing at the edges of conventional wisdom.

Since its inception, 54 has gained significant recognition for its rapid growth and innovation in the golf industry. The company was named the 4th and 12th fastest‑growing company in the United Kingdom by the Sunday Times Virgin Atlantic Fast Track 100 in 2019 and 2020, respectively. Additionally, 54 was ranked 171st in the Financial Times’ FT1000 list of the fastest‑growing companies in Europe in 2021 and has been honoured five times consecutively as ‘Golf Business of the Year’ at the World Golf Awards, most recently in November 2024.

ROLE OVERVIEW

The opportunity exists for a dynamic, motivated and experienced Event Operations Director to join the 54 team, to oversee, lead and grow the Event Operations team regionally and to support the company’s growing international portfolio of professional events. The candidate will be responsible for all aspects of the operational delivery, including rightsholder, partner and client liaison, budget and project management, operations, production and logistics. An understanding of the professional sports event ecosystem, its stakeholders, rightsholders and suppliers is an advantage but an ability to navigate and learn about the global events environment is also sufficient for the role. The events portfolio is expanding into new sports and territories and therefore, experience in producing a wide range of major sports events is an advantage. The desired candidate must boast extensive international event experience, strong personal motivation, demonstrate innovative and forward‑thinking practices, and be comfortable working remotely as well as at the Company’s Offices. As a senior role in the 54 events division, the candidate must have extensive project management experience, with a track record of delivering multiple events successfully within tight and competitive deadlines. The candidate must be comfortable managing a variety of relationships and have the ability to travel and work in a variety of different environments and cultures.

KEY ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategy & Planning

• Create and review key operational planning documents to ensure smooth and successful implementation and delivery across multiple projects
• Design, implement and evaluate standard operating procedures (SOPs) relating to operational event delivery for continuous improvement
• Future planning and manage human resource within Operations across all events regionally
• Liaise with Event Directors and other key internal stakeholders to ensure SOPs are fit for purpose
• Management and review of the event delivery budgets across the event portfolio
• Liaise with internal legal and HR teams, and external H&S consultants to maintain best practice in insurance, legal and health and safety across international event portfolio
• Collaborate effectively with Procurement Manager and international Operations Directors to deliver cost efficiencies and high quality of product or service across events
• Support across supplier negotiations, requirements, and services
• Keep up to date with the latest innovations in event operations

Leadership & Co‑ordination

• Be an excellent communicator and team player
• Liaise regularly with other departments to ensure alignment
• Contribute regularly, provide good insights and support in event planning meetings
• Encourage and develop best‑practice across the business
• Always create a positive team culture, providing support where required and creating clear development pathways for team members
• Lead a team of skilled professionals to deliver a wide range of activities ensuring high standards
• Act as a mentor, coach and support network for immediate and extended teams
• Must be willing to travel to oversee and/or support on international events – circa 16 weeks
• Operational Delivery – create and review key operational planning documents to ensure smooth and successful implementation and delivery across multiple projects
• Implement standard operating procedures (SOPs) relating to operational event delivery as required to ensure the event operates within 54’s Global Event framework

Operations Framework

• Own and lead on event operations delivery and execution of specific allocated events
• Oversee the build, design and usage of key operational documents including CAD Plans, Operational Schedules, Budgets and Logistics plans in line with 54 Event Operational standards
• Implement, oversee and operate at all times according to the Event Operations Safety & Risk Management System and within 54’s Event Operations Risk framework

Management Standards

• Conduct regular meetings within the operations team on the event ensuring all key areas and specialties are aligned and delivering as required
• Act as a subject‑matter expert or key expert across the range of event operations services including site and infrastructure, site services, technical production, safety and risk, branding and signage and/or general support services
• Oversee and lead safe operations onsite, ensure the highest safety & security standards are adhered to at all times and that work is always conducted in a safe manner
• Drive world‑class, event operations standards in all aspects of delivery
• Proactively monitor, prosecute and report on event delivery, working with the Head of Event Operations to remedy issues before they occur
• Monitoring & Evaluation – concise updates to the Head of Event Operations, the leadership team and stakeholders in a timely manner about event delivery and status
• Ensure project management tools are used consistently and effectively at all times
• Produce clear and concise reports for senior management and client review in a timely manner, including but not limited to budget reports, resourcing and post‑event reporting

SPECIAL SKILLS/EXPERIENCE/APTITUDES NEEDED

• Be an excellent communicator and team player, comfortable talking to stakeholders at all levels
• Have a passion for sport
• Accountable and a problem solver
• Promotes trust and respect within the team
• Leads by example
• Flexible and adaptable
• Collaborative and a good contributor in a team setting
• Innovative thinker
• Proficient in Excel, Word and PowerPoint
• Strong understanding of managing budgets and conducting RFPs & RFQs
• Valid driver’s licence
• Proficiency of AutoCAD would be an advantage

SALARY AND BENEFITS

• Competitive Salary
• Annual Discretionary Company Bonus – up to 8% (3% Company & 5% Individual)
• Pension scheme
• Life Assurance
• Income Protection
• 25 days annual leave (+ public holidays), pro‑rated & Birthday off
• Increased annual leave with years of service
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)Private Healthcare
• Enhanced Parental Leave
• Staff clothing
• Working hours will be from 09.00 to 17.30 with an hour taken for lunch between 12.00 and 14.00