Director, Event Planning & Operations, Asia

Complex Asia; Hong Kong; On-site; HKD 1,200,000 - 1,650,000; Full time

Job summary

Complex is seeking a Director, Event Planning & Operations, Asia to lead planning, production, and delivery of our largest events across Asia. This role collaborates with artists, government authorities, sponsors, agencies, venues, and partners to ensure on-budget, high-quality experiences that meet Complex standards.

The ideal candidate brings a strategic mindset, proven operational leadership, and a track record of delivering festivals, concerts, pop-ups, and exhibitions at scale.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in large-scale event management, live entertainment, festivals, or exhibitions.
• Experience managing events with multi-million-dollar budgets and large audiences.
• Experience with international brands, agencies, or cultural events.
• Proven track record working with artists, talent, VIP guests, and government agencies.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end planning and execution of flagship events across Asia.
• Lead venue management, production, security, crowd management, hospitality, and on-site execution.
• Manage budgets, vendor sourcing, contracts, and supplier management.
• Oversee permits, licensing, regulatory compliance, and subsidies/grants.

Skills

Project management

Operational leadership

Budget ownership

Stakeholder management

Vendor management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Event Management

Job description

Complex champions the people, brands, and cultural trends shaping what’s next. As a global youth entertainment network, Complex spans streetwear, style, food, music, sneakers, sports, and entertainment. Across Asia, Complex engages millions of trend-conscious consumers through award-winning content, commerce, and world-class experiential events. From ComplexCon, Family Style, celebrity and artist-led pop-ups, concerts, cultural festivals, and immersive brand experiences, we create moments that define youth culture and bring global communities together.

About the Role

We are looking for a highly experienced Director, Event Planning & Operations, Asia to lead the planning, production, and operational delivery of Complex's largest and most high-profile events across the region.

This role will oversee the full event lifecycle, from strategy and budgeting to execution and post-event evaluation. You will work closely with artists, celebrities, government authorities, sponsors, agencies, venues, and production partners to ensure every event is delivered safely, seamlessly, on budget, and to the highest standards.

The successful candidate is a strategic leader, experienced operator, and exceptional problem solver who thrives in fast-paced environments and has a proven track record of delivering large-scale festivals, live entertainment experiences, concerts, pop-ups, exhibitions, and consumer events.

Candidates who are immediately available or able to join on short notice are highly preferred.

What You’ll Do

• Own the end-to-end planning and execution of flagship events across Asia, including:
• ComplexCon
• Family Style
• Celebrity and artist pop-up activations
• Concerts and live entertainment events
• Cultural festivals and exhibitions
• Brand experiential activations
• Develop project plans, timelines, production schedules, and operating frameworks to ensure successful delivery.

Drive Operational Excellence

• Lead all operational aspects including venue management, production, security, crowd management, accreditation, hospitality, artist logistics, transportation, F&B operations, and on-site execution.
• Establish SOPs, contingency plans, and crisis management protocols.
• Serve as the senior operations lead during live events and provide real-time decision-making support.

Own Budget & Vendor Management

• Manage multi-million-dollar event budgets and deliver cost-effective execution.
• Lead RFPs, vendor sourcing, contract negotiations, and supplier management.
• Monitor spending, identify efficiencies, and maximize ROI while maintaining exceptional event quality.

Government Relations & Subsidy Applications

• Partner with government agencies, tourism boards, cultural organizations, and industry stakeholders.
• Lead event subsidy, grant, funding, and sponsorship applications.
• Manage permits, licensing, regulatory compliance, and event-related approvals.
• Build strategic relationships that support the long-term growth of Complex's experiential business in Asia.

Lead Cross-Functional Teams

• Manage internal teams and external partners across production, creative, partnerships, marketing, finance, legal, and operations.
• Drive accountability, collaboration, and high-performance execution across multiple stakeholders and markets.
• Provide regular updates on project status, budgets, risks, and operational performance.
• Conduct post-event evaluations and identify opportunities for future improvement.

What You’ll Bring

Experience

• 8+ years of experience in large-scale event management, live entertainment, festivals, exhibitions, experiential marketing, or production.
• Proven experience managing complex events with significant budgets and large audiences.
• Experience working with international brands, entertainment companies, event agencies, promoters, or large-scale cultural events.
• Strong experience working with artists, celebrity talent, VIP guests, and their representatives.
• Demonstrated success working with government agencies and securing event subsidies, grants, or public‑sector support.
• Bachelor's degree in Event Management, Hospitality, Business, Communications, Marketing, or a related discipline.

Skills

• Exceptional project management and operational leadership capabilities.
• Strong commercial acumen and budget ownership experience.
• Excellent stakeholder management, negotiation, and vendor management skills.
• Deep understanding of event safety, risk management, permits, licensing, and compliance.
• Ability to lead teams and make critical decisions under pressure.