Director of Event Operations & Guest Experience

Azgrounds; Mesa (AZ); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Arizona Athletic Grounds (AAG) seeks a Director of Event Operations in Mesa, AZ to lead planning, coordination, and flawless execution of all events. You will partner across departments to ensure exceptional guest experiences, operational readiness, and continuous improvement.

The role requires 8–10 years of experience in sports or event-driven environments, a Bachelor’s degree in a related field, and strong leadership, budgeting, and analytics skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Sports Management, Event Management or related field.
• 8–10 years of progressive operations leadership experience in sports, entertainment or large-scale events.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage high-volume operations.
• Strong financial, analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and operational management systems.
• Ability to make sound decisions under pressure and manage a diverse team.

Responsibilities

• Lead the operational execution of all AAG events across sports and special events.
• Serve as primary operational contact from planning through post-event review.
• Direct event-day operations, anticipate challenges, and make real-time decisions.
• Ensure facilities are event-ready and meet highest standards.
• Coordinate with internal departments and external partners for cohesive execution.
• Develop staffing plans, SOPs, playbooks, forecasts, and contingency plans.
• Prepare operational reports, budgets, and labor analytics.
• Monitor performance metrics and drive continuous improvement.

Skills

Leadership

Cross-functional leadership

Financial analysis

Operational management

Communication

Strategic planning

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Sports Management, Event Management

Tools

Event management systems

Scheduling software

Job description

Arizona Athletic Grounds (AAG) seeks a Director of Event Operations in Mesa, AZ to lead planning, coordination, and flawless execution of all events. You will partner across departments to ensure exceptional guest experiences, operational readiness, and continuous improvement.

The role requires 8–10 years of experience in sports or event-driven environments, a Bachelor’s degree in a related field, and strong leadership, budgeting, and analytics skills.