Senior Director, Operations

SPORTFIVE; United States; Remote; USD 125,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Dental/Vision

401(k) with employer match

Paid time off and holidays

Job summary

SPORTFIVE is seeking a Senior Director of Operations in the United States with remote eligibility to oversee the operational strategy and Games-time delivery for Olympic programs. You will coordinate client engagement, vendor networks, budget management, and cross-functional teams from planning through events.

The role requires 10–12+ years in sports marketing or corporate hospitality, with proven Olympic/Paralympic experience and strong leadership, communication, and financial forecasting

Qualifications

• 10–12+ years in sports marketing, experiential event management, or corporate hospitality.
• Proven experience leading high-level corporate hospitality programs including Olympic/Paralympic events.
• Experience managing client relationships, vendors, budgets and cross-functional teams.
• Strong track record of financial forecasting and vendor negotiations.
• Calm, executive presence in high-pressure games-time environments.

Responsibilities

• Oversee operational strategy, client engagement, and Games-time delivery for Olympic programs.
• Lead day-to-day client relationships and oversee on-ground programs (ticketing, accommodations, accreditation).
• Conduct executive briefings and relationship health reviews with clients.
• Direct networks of venues, operators, and vendors to ensure seamless delivery.
• Manage multi-million-dollar budgets and financial reconciliation.
• Mentor cross-functional teams across operations, project management, and finance.
• Ensure compliance and manage contract execution per guidelines.
• Travel for site visits and attend major events as required.

Skills

Sports marketing

Olympics experience

Vendor management

Budget management

Cross-functional leadership

Executive presence

Communication

Growth mindset

Client relationship management

Team leadership

Tools

Guest management systems

Ticketing systems

Job description

SPORTFIVE utilizes the unique emotional power of sports to create and enable pioneering partnerships in sports. By delivering responsible commercialization, full-service solutions and long-term value for all stakeholders in sports, SPORTFIVE strategically and creatively connects brands, rightsholders, media platforms and fans by leveraging a global network paired with decades of experience and entrepreneurial spirit. As a market leader with customer centricity and vast data intelligence at its core, SPORTFIVE leads the sports business into the future through its digital solutions and aims to be the most progressive and respected partner in sports.

SPORTFIVE is one of the largest global sports marketing agencies, with 1,200 local experts based in 15 countries active in football, golf, e-sports, motorsport, handball, tennis, American football, World Cup, Olympics and many more.

Job Title: Senior Director, Operations

Reports To: VP, Olympics & Major Events, Brand Solutions

Primary Work Location: United States | Remote eligible

Team And Job Overview

The Senior Director is responsible for overseeing the operational strategy, client engagement, and Games-time delivery of a partner’s Olympic and Paralympic programs. The Senior Director will connect strategic account leadership with day-to-day execution, ensuring that client objectives, guest experience, vendor coordination, budget management, and cross-functional delivery are aligned from planning through Games-time operations.

• Serve as the day-to-day client lead for Olympic and Paralympic business and operational programs.
• Oversee and manage custom on the ground business programs (including ticketing, accommodations, accreditation, operations) with overarching brand and marketing goals.
• Conduct on-going strategic check-ins, executive briefings, and relationship health reviews with client.
• Oversee agency (and client) networks, venue operators, and third-party logistics vendors to ensure seamless delivery.
• Lead end-to-end operational strategy and implementation for Games-time on the ground programs.
• Oversee and manage a team across integrated operational deliverables across all on the ground programs.
• Manage compliance, contract execution, and approval processes under agency and client guidelines.
• Manage multi-million-dollar program budget(s), forecasting, financial reconciliation, and progress reporting.
• Lead, mentor, and direct cross-functional internal teams spanning operations, creative, project management, client consulting, and finance.

Other Duties & Responsibilities

• Travel for site visits to client headquarters and to Los Angeles.
• Develop executive-ready presentations, reports, and documentation using Microsoft Office applications, including PowerPoint, Word, Excel, Outlook, and Teams.
• Organize, maintain, and manage SharePoint content and team resources.
• Update and maintain templates, tools, and operational documentation as needed.
• Prepare weekly status reports and executive updates for client and agency leadership.
• Attend meetings, capture key discussions, document action items, and track follow-up activities.
• Participate in brainstorming sessions, conducting research and providing creative ideas and solutions.
• Perform additional administrative and operational duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

• 10-12+ years in sports marketing, experiential event management, and/or corporate hospitality.
• Proven experience leading high-level corporate hospitality programs including past Olympic and Paralympic Games.
• Extensive experience in working across various technology platforms i.e. guest management systems, ticketing, etc.
• Experience managing client relationships, vendors, budgets, and cross-functional teams.
• Demonstrated success managing large budgets, financial forecasting, and complex vendor negotiations.
• Exceptional executive presence, calm demeanor under high-pressure Games-time environments, and strong cross-functional leadership.
• Trusted relationship management.
• Growth mindset.
• Strong written and verbal communication.

Job Requirements

• Must be able travel approximately 25% of the time for client and/or property meetings for planning purposes.
• Must be available to work outside of standard business hours during major events and/or priority client projects (i.e. evenings, weekends)
• Must be onsite for the LA28 Olympics and Paralympics Games (min of 30 days)
• Must be able to lift up to 20 lbs and stand for extended periods of time.

Our Hiring Process:

Every application is reviewed by a real person. We do not use AI to screen or make decisions on candidates. Because we give each submission genuine consideration, response times may vary. Because we cannot communicate with each applicant individually on the status of their resumes, we use automated emails to keep applicants updated. Thank you for your interest in joining SPORTFIVE.

Compensation

Salary Range: $125,000 - $140,000

SPORTFIVE is providing the compensation range it might pay for this position. The rate of pay offered will be dependent on the successful applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities in addition to internal equity and geographic location.

• Working at SPORTFIVE provides a comprehensive suite of benefits including medical, dental, vision and retirement savings.
• Affordable employee medical premiums starting at $30.90 per month (highest deductible) to $165.77 per month (lowest deductible).
• Employees start at 10 vacation days per year (increasing with seniority) plus 20 paid holidays.
• 401(k) with matching up to $4,000 per year.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital or veteran status, or any other protected class.