Head of Event (Speculative)

DFL; London; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading sports organization is seeking a Head of Events to lead the planning and execution of SailGP events. This role requires proven experience in event planning and operations, strong leadership skills, and the ability to manage multiple stakeholders effectively. The successful candidate will oversee all aspects of event delivery, ensuring a high-quality experience for fans and partners. Travel to event locations will be required.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in large-scale event planning and operations, preferably in a high-performance sporting environment.
• Strong leadership capabilities and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience in budget and procurement management.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end project management of events.
• Manage local stakeholder relationships and obligations.
• Oversee venue design and operation.
• Ensure compliance with safety and legal standards.
• Manage the fan experience program.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Project coordination

Budget management

Job description

The Rolex SailGP Championship is the most exciting racing on water, where anything can happen in short, adrenaline-fueled battles between national teams at iconic stadium destinations worldwide. Top athletes fly in identical high-tech F50 catamarans faster than the wind, at speeds approaching 60 mph. Founded in 2018, SailGP is one of the world’s fastest-growing sports and entertainment properties, now in its fifth season.

SailGP also races for a better future, championing a world powered by nature. In 2020, SailGP set a new standard as the first climate positive sports and entertainment property and began delivering actions and innovations that advance the global adoption of clean energy. Underpinning the organisation’s purpose-driven agenda is a diversification of the league, with the goal of immediately progressing gender equity and inclusivity.

SailGP is a global organisation with defined values that shape the culture of its team – deliver quality, break boundaries, make an impact, stand together and strike a balance.

Summary:

We are seeking experienced, driven and collaborative Head of Event's to lead the planning, execution and delivery of up to two SailGP events across our host cities. You will own the full event lifecycle, working closely with our Global and Local teams and managing a wide range of operational, commercial and stakeholder functions to deliver a world class sporting spectacle.

We are inviting expressions of interest for this role in anticipation of future needs as we prepare for upcoming events in future seasons.

Key responsibilities:

Project Management & Event Delivery

• Lead the end-to-end project management of the event, maintaining a robust project plan aligned with SailGP processes and timelines.
• Drive effective communication across teams and stakeholders to ensure smooth coordination and successful delivery.
• Monitor progress, adjust plans proactively, and ensure accountability and transparency throughout.

Stakeholder & Host Venue Management

• Act as SailGP’s in-market representative, managing all local stakeholder relationships and obligations within the Host Venue Agreement.
• Organise and report on key stakeholder meetings and maintain strong local engagement.

Operations & Infrastructure

• Oversee all venue design, infrastructure planning, build, operation, and dismantle activities, ensuring high standards across land and water-based elements.
• Lead site operations and services, including health & safety, crowd management, catering, ticketing, branding, accreditation and more.
• Lead on the recruitment and management of the local event team.

Finance, Legal & Procurement

• Lead on the budget development and financial oversight, ensuring adherence to procurement, finance and legal policies.

Risk, Safety & Compliance

• Oversee the development and execution of key safety and emergency management plans.
• Ensure compliance across local regulations, ISO20121 standards and internal risk and safety protocols.

Permits & Licensing

• Lead local team on all permitting and licensing processes, acting as liaison with authorities to ensure legal deadlines are met.
• Manage documentation, tracking systems and briefings related to all required permissions.

Fan Experience & Engagement

• Oversee the delivery of a compelling and inclusive fan experience program, including ticketing, activations and content creation tailored to the local market.

Marketing, PR & Communications

• Coordinate the event announcement and ticket sales campaigns with regional and global marketing leads.
• Monitor and adapt ticketing and promotional strategies as needed.

Commercial & Partnerships

• Support partnership activation and fulfilment in line with commercial objectives and contractual obligations.

About You:

• Proven experience in large-scale event planning and operations, preferably in an international or high performance sporting environment.
• Strong leadership, stakeholder management and cross-functional project coordination skills.
• Budget and procurement management experience.
• Ability to thrive under pressure and navigate complex, fast-paced environments.

Location:

This role will be regionally based in one of our host cities and will serve as the Head of Event for a minimum of two SailGP events. Some travel to event locations will be required.

SailGP is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace committed to building a team culture that celebrates diversity, equity and inclusion.