Guest Engagement Director (Global Sporting Event)

Deel; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

The iLUKA Collective is seeking a proactive Guest Engagement Director for global sporting events. This client-facing role maximises guest participation in hospitality programmes, oversees end-to-end guest communication and ticketing, and delivers ROI across the programme spend.

Contract role from October 2026 to October 2028, requiring leadership of global teams, hands-on management of Pulse and iSAT platforms, and close collaboration with Event Activation teams to ensure exceptional guest

Qualifications

• Experience in sponsorship and event management.
• Excellent client relationship management skills.
• Preferably experience in the global events industry.

Responsibilities

• Build strong relationships with client project teams and global Coordinators.
• Lead agency-client relationships across markets to stimulate hospitality participation.
• Understand hospitality programme architecture and ticketing systems and manage communications.

Skills

Sponsorship & events

Client relationship mgmt

Global events experience

Project coordination

Job description

Guest Engagement Director (Global Sporting Event)The iLUKA Collective is a specialised agency developing and delivering coordinated strategic activations for sponsors and other stakeholders at global sports events. We are experts in executing cutting edge event hospitality experiences born from intelligent strategic direction. Our heritage is big events for big companies looking for strategic and measured solutions which focus on creating unforgettable experiences for stakeholder's integral to sponsors success.Our experience working with Sponsors, Organising Committees, International Sporting Federations, Governing Bodies and City stakeholders enables us to develop our client's sponsorship story to ensure that activations maximise the communication of their messages as well as guide global teams and their local markets through the unique complexities of delivering effectively at global sports events.Working at The iLUKA Collective is a unique experience. We take people seriously, hospitality is about people, It is our people that drive the difference. We work with talented people from around the world who are renowned for their hard work and industry expertise. We are defined by our passion for sport, hospitality and creativityGuest Engagement Director is a client facing role, responsible for maximising the client's guest participation in the hospitality programme, managing the end-to-end guest communication and Ticketing process and delivering against ROI for the programme spend.This is a Contract role starting in October 2026, until October 2028.**Key Responsibilities**· Build excellent working relationships with client project management team and individual Coordinators globally· Lead agency-client relationships within markets and user groups across the client's key stakeholder groups to generate and stimulate participation for the hospitality programmes and other activities· Develop a thorough knowledge of the hospitality programmes architecture, structure and strategy· Setting up Pulse (iLUKA's bespoke system) to manage the associated packages from initial allocation and movements through to full reporting and reconciliation· Lead in the development and creation of all centralised market communications including sales kits, process documents, presentations, websites, invitations and surveys· Understand iSAT (iLUKA's bespoke ticketing system)· Working closely with the ticketing team for programme ticket requirements.· Working closely with the Head of Systems and Guest Communications on all things digital, from package request website through to data management.· Also working closely with the Event activations team, on any other digital elements that are no Pulse related.· Being the first point of contact for all Coordinators queries and request for package information, Ticketing and bespoke requests· Having a thorough understanding of the hospitality programmes to be able to make recommendations around specific requests· Working with the core account team to ensure all Pulse modules are set-up as required for core hospitality programme deliverables (dedicated functional leads will manage their own operations within Pulse)· Overseeing the ongoing management of guest communication tools such as guest websites and event apps· Working with the Event Activations team to make sure all communications deliver against the core guest experience· Managing the Guest Communication Team (when onboard) who will be responsible for the processing of all guest data· Responsible for the distribution of all guest communication materials pre-event and on-site with the Guest Communication Team· Ongoing support for Coordinators pre-event and their main point of contacts at event time to ensure all requests are implemented· Ensure the client project management team has access to all relevant data in the form of regular status reports pre-event and on-site· Understand procedures and effects for all possible circumstances, including package movements, cancellations, bespoke requests etc· Financial tracking and reconciliation of all package allocations and additional requests· Develop systems to track ROI for use of hospitality· Develop systems to track collateral and promotions· Adhere to General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and other event location Data RegulationsThis is not an exhaustive list and all team members will be expected to contribute to any other aspects of the business, as necessary.**Skills, Knowledge, Expertise**· Experience within sponsorship and event management· Excellence in client relationship management· Ideally experience within the global events industry· Professional and commercial, with an eye for numbers but also creative solutions· Excellent organisational skills· Strong time management skills with ability to meet strict deadlines· Advanced computer skills· Natural ability to learn new systems and processes· Proactive, positive approach to all tasks and a high degree of reliability**Attributes**· High energy, comfortable working potentially long hours in a demanding but rewarding and friendly environment· Flexible, enthusiastic, confident, outgoing· Willing to roll sleeves up and get involved· Passionate about sport, hospitality and delivery· Able to work in a calm, kind and professional manner in a pressured environment· Ability to prioritise a demanding workloadAI disclaimerThis application process may use AI-enabled systems to support candidate evaluation based on factors such as experience, technical skills, and qualifications. All processing is carried out in accordance with applicable data protection, AI governance, and labour laws. Human oversight is maintained at all stages, and final hiring decisions are made by people. Personal data submitted as part of this application is not used to train AI models.