Senior Director, Tour Operations

World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.; Fort Worth (TX); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Professional Bull Riders (PBR) seeks a Senior Director of Tour Operations to lead strategy, execution, and continuous improvement of all operational aspects of PBR events across US tours.

Reporting to the Chief Production Officer, you will oversee event logistics, livestock coordination, arena builds, backstage operations, and multi‑market touring, ensuring safety, efficiency, and a best‑in‑class fan experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required or equivalent professional experience.
• Proven track record in live event operations and touring.
• Experience leading multi-market teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement the overarching operational strategy for all PBR events.
• Lead on-site operations and run-of-show planning across tours.
• Oversee livestock, arena builds, and back-of-house logistics.
• Manage budgets, vendors, and safety/compliance programs.
• Build scalable staffing models and mentor operations teams.

Skills

Live event operations

Team leadership

Budget management

Safety compliance

Vendor management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Event Management, Operations, Sports Management, Business, or related field

Job description

Who We Are: PBR is the world’s premier bull riding organization. More than 1,000 bull riders compete in more than 200 events annually across the televised PBR Unleash The Beast tour (UTB), which features the top bull riders in the world; the PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour (PWVT); the PBR Touring Pro Division (TPD); and the PBR’s international circuits in Australia, Brazil, and Canada. In 2022, PBR launched the nationally televised PBR Teams league—eight teams of the world’s best bull riders competing for a new championship expanding to 10 teams in 2024—as well as the PBR Challenger Series with more than 60 annual events nationwide. The organization’s digital assets include PBR RidePass on Pluto TV, which is home to Western sports. PBR is a subsidiary of TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: TKO), a premium sports and entertainment company. For more information, visit PBR.com, or follow on Facebook at Facebook.com/PBR, X at X.com/PBR, and YouTube at YouTube.com/PBR. TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: TKO) is a premium sports and entertainment company. TKO owns iconic properties including UFC, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization; WWE, the global leader in sports entertainment; and PBR, the world’s premier bull riding organization. Together, these properties reach 1 billion households across 210 countries and territories and organize more than 500 live events year-round, attracting more than three million fans. TKO also services and partners with major sports rights holders through IMG, an industry-leading global sports marketing agency; and On Location, a global leader in premium experiential hospitality.

Position Summary/Objective:

The Senior Director of Tour Operations is responsible for leading the strategy, execution, and continuous improvement of all operational aspects of Professional Bull Riders (PBR) events across all US national tours. This role repots to the Chief Production Officer, and provides senior-level oversight of event logistics, arena transformation, livestock coordination, and back-of-house operations — ensuring every event is delivered safely, efficiently, and at a best-in-class standard. As a key leader within the organization, the Director sets operational frameworks, manages high-performing teams, and oversees complex touring logistics across multiple markets. This role partners closely with executive leadership and cross-functional departments to align operational execution with organizational goals, fan experience standards, and business performance.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

Vision & Strategy

Develop and implement the overarching operational strategy for all PBR events. Establish standardized processes, playbooks, and best practices to ensure consistency across all tour stops. Lead long-term planning for tour scalability, infrastructure improvements, and operational innovation. Serve as the senior on-site operations leader for marquee events and high-profile weekends.

Event Execution Oversight

Provide executive oversight of all event operations including load-in, event days, and load-out. Ensure all tour stops meet PBR standards for safety, efficiency, and quality. Guide teams in developing detailed run-of-show logistics, production schedules, and contingency plans. Act as the primary escalation point for operational challenges and critical decision‑making.

Livestock & Arena Operations

Oversee all livestock-related logistics in partnership with Competition and Livestock leadership, ensuring safety, welfare, and operational flow. Direct strategy and execution for temporary arena builds, including structural elements, back‑of‑house layouts, and venue integration. Oversee dirt installation and removal operations, including vendor strategy, cost control, and environmental/venue compliance.

Back‑of‑House Operations

Provide oversight of backstage catering, ensuring consistent quality and operational execution across markets within budget constraints. Assist with security strategy in partnership with PBR Director of Security, venues, and local agencies, including staffing plans and risk mitigation. Oversee credentialing systems and access control policies for all PBR events.

Team Leadership & Development

Lead, mentor, and develop a team of managers, coordinators, and operational staff. Build scalable staffing models, including full‑time, part‑time, and freelance resources. Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and operational excellence across all tours.

Vendor & Partner Strategy

Develop and manage relationships with key national and local vendors (dirt providers, trucking, staging, audio, video, lighting, catering, security, etc.) In collaboration with TKO Procurement resources, negotiate contracts and pricing structures to optimize cost and performance. Evaluate vendor performance and implement continuous improvement strategies.

Budget & Financial Management

Own and manage tour operations budgets, including forecasting, cost control, and post‑event reconciliation. Identify efficiencies and cost‑saving opportunities without compromising event quality. Support capital planning for long‑term operational investments.

Risk Management & Compliance

Establish and enforce safety protocols, operational standards, and compliance requirements across all events. Lead contingency planning for weather, transportation disruptions, and other operational risks. Ensure adherence to federal and local regulations, insurance requirements, and venue policies. Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

Strong understanding of live event production, including show flow, timing, and in‑venue execution within sports or entertainment. Ability to lead teams and deliver high‑quality live events in fast‑paced, high‑pressure environments. Strong organizational skills, with the ability to oversee multiple events and priorities while maintaining consistency. Sound judgment and decision‑making, especially when navigating real‑time challenges during live events. Clear and effective communication, with the ability to collaborate across production, operations, broadcast, and leadership teams. Detail‑oriented with a focus on accuracy and execution quality. Collaborative approach, with the ability to work effectively across teams and functions. Comfortable adapting to change and prioritizing in a dynamic, live‑event environment.

Education & Formal Training:

Bachelor’s degree in Event Management, Operations, Sports Management, Business, or a related field or equivalent professional experience. Relevant certifications or specialized training in event operations, safety, or logistics are a plus.

Experience:

8+ years of experience in live event operations, touring productions, sports operations, or large‑scale logistics. Proven experience leading complex, multi‑market event operations. Strong understanding of venue operations, temporary builds, and large‑scale logistics. Experience leading teams and managing vendors in fast‑paced environments. Ability to travel extensively and work non‑traditional hours aligned with event schedules.

Working Conditions:

Position located in Fort Worth, TX Minimum four days in office required, when not traveling to events. Travel required 50%-75% of live events. Extended hours, weekends, and holidays will be necessary.

TKO EEO Statement:

TKO is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws regarding non-discrimination in employment. TKO makes employment decisions based on merit and qualifications, without considering an employee’s or applicant’s race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other basis prohibited under federal, state or local laws governing non‑discrimination in employment in every location in which the Company has facilities. TKO also provides reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and applicable state or local laws. For information about Privacy and Information Security for TKO employment candidates, please review our Privacy Policy. For information regarding Terms of Use for this and other TKO websites, please review our Terms of Use. TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: TKO) is a premium sports and entertainment company. TKO owns iconic properties including UFC, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization; WWE, the global leader in sports entertainment; and PBR, the world’s premier bull riding organization. Together, these properties reach 1 billion households across 210 countries and territories and organize more than 500 live events year‑round, attracting more than three million fans. TKO also services and partners with major sports rights holders through IMG, an industry‑leading global sports marketing agency; and On Location, a global leader in premium experiential hospitality.

About WWE

WWE® is an integrated media organization and the recognized global leader in sports entertainment. The company consists of a portfolio of businesses that create and deliver original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE is committed to family‑friendly entertainment on its television programming, premium live events, digital media, and publishing platforms. WWE’s TV‑PG programming can be seen in more than 1 billion households worldwide in more than 20 languages through world‑class distribution partners including NBCUniversal, The CW and Netflix. Netflix is the exclusive home for WWE programming around the world, other than select international markets. WWE is part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO). Additional information on WWE can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com.

About UFC

UFC® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and approximately 290 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world while broadcasting to over 975 million households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 80 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC and @UFC on X, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok: @UFC.

About IMG

IMG is a leading global sports marketing agency, specializing in media rights management and sales, multi‑channel content production and distribution, brand partnerships, strategic consulting, digital services, and events management. It powers growth of revenues, fanbases and IP for more than 200 federations, associations, events, and teams, including the National Football League, English Premier League, International Olympic Committee, National Hockey League, Major League Soccer, ATP and WTA Tours, the AELTC (Wimbledon), Euroleague Basketball,