Head of Venue Operations - Live Racing & Events

Churchill Downs; Louisville (KY); Presencial; USD 120.000 - 180.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

Churchill Downs Racetrack, located in Louisville, KY, seeks a Director of Venue Operations to lead cross-functional live racing and venue operations. You will supervise the Facility Operations Center, coordinate with departments and partners, and ensure safety, hospitality, efficiency, and cost controls across 83-85 race days per year.

The role requires 7+ years in venue operations, knowledge of crowd management and safety regulations, and availability during Derby Week and major events.

Formación

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in a related field.
• 7+ years in venue operations, event operations, sports, hospitality or related field.
• Knowledge of crowd management, fire and safety regulations (NIMS/IC).
• Available during Derby Week and live racing days; weekends/holidays may be required.
• CPR/AED certification preferred or ability to obtain within 6 months.

Responsabilidades

• Provide leadership to cross-functional teams supporting live racing and venue operations.
• Drive cost control and value through vendor, contractor, and service provider management.
• Assist in budgeting, P&L analysis, and cost reduction while maintaining guest experience.
• Oversee Facility Operations Center and ensure incident management and reporting.
• Lead Derby Week credentialing strategy and access control for guests and staff.
• Manage vendor relationships, including golf cart rentals and on-site setups.
• Plan and oversee parking, traffic management, and security screening as needed.
• Support senior leadership in Derby Week and special events planning.

Conocimientos

Cross-functional leadership

Budgeting

Project management

Decision making

Executive communication

Process improvement

Calm under pressure

MS Office

Educación

Bachelor's degree in Business, Hospitality, Sports Management, Event Management or related field

7+ years of venue/operations leadership experience

Herramientas

PowerPoint

Smartsheet

Descripción del empleo

Churchill Downs Racetrack, located in Louisville, KY, seeks a Director of Venue Operations to lead cross-functional live racing and venue operations. You will supervise the Facility Operations Center, coordinate with departments and partners, and ensure safety, hospitality, efficiency, and cost controls across 83-85 race days per year.

The role requires 7+ years in venue operations, knowledge of crowd management and safety regulations, and availability during Derby Week and major events.