Senior Manager, Special Events

NASCAR; Kansas City (KS); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Wellness benefits

Growth opportunities

Job summary

Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, KS, seeks a Senior Manager, Special Events to lead planning and execution of race-weekend and non-race events. You will coordinate event logistics, hospitality, vendor relations, and client services to deliver exceptional guest experiences.

The role requires strong leadership, communication, and budgeting skills, with the ability to work evenings, weekends, and travel occasionally for events.

Qualifications

• Five+ years of experience in event management, operations, or a related field.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for client/vendor engagement.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute race-weekend and non-race events from start to finish.
• Be the main point of contact for clients, vendors, and internal teams.
• Coordinate site visits, requirements, schedules, and event materials.

Skills

Event management

Communication

Budgeting

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

KANSAS SPEEDWAY

Kansas Speedway, which opened in 2001, is in the heart of the Midwest in Kansas City, Kansas. With easy access to major highways, along with the Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway, restaurants, shopping and other entertainment, Kansas Speedway has easily become a destination for fans. Kansas Speedway hosts two NASCAR Cup Series races, the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and the ARCA Menards Series. In addition to two race weekends, Kansas Speedway hosts over 200 event days each year.

Kansas Speedway is seeking a Senior Manager, Special Events to lead the planning and execution of assigned race-weekend and non-race events. This role serves as a key point of contact for clients, vendors, and internal teams, coordinating event details from initial planning through on-site execution.

The Senior Manager, Special Events will oversee event logistics, operational planning, hospitality areas, vendor coordination, and client service while partnering across departments to deliver seamless events and exceptional guest experiences.

What You'll Do

• Lead the planning and execution of assigned non-race and race-weekend events from initial planning through event completion.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for assigned events, maintaining timely communication with clients, vendors, and internal partners and ensuring contractual requirements are fulfilled.
• Respond to event inquiries, conduct site visits, assess event requirements, and determine appropriate facility and operational needs.
• Develop and maintain event schedules, site plans, checklists, and other materials to clearly communicate event requirements across internal teams.
• Manage event invoicing and billbacks, including tracking expenses, preparing final event charges, and ensuring accurate and timely client billing.
• Coordinate pre-event planning, physical setup, on-site execution, and post-event breakdown.
• Partner with vendors and internal departments to coordinate staffing, facility needs, and operational support.
• Identify opportunities to improve event processes, service standards, and the overall client and guest experience.
• Partner with the Marketing team to coordinate logistics for community and track events, including Season Ticket Holder Track Laps, in-market driver appearances, and other special events.
• Oversee operational needs for designated race-weekend hospitality areas, ensuring spaces are prepared and executed according to event requirements.
• Serve as a liaison between the Event Experience and Operations teams to coordinate race-weekend needs and support effective execution.
• Coordinate race-weekend signage needs in partnership with Marketing, including ordering, inventory, placement, and removal.
• Serve as the primary event manager for race-weekend special events, including STEM Day, Camper Welcome Party, internally hosted receptions, and other assigned events.
• Serve as the primary liaison with Levy for race-weekend event menus, setup, and execution.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

What You'll Bring

• Five or more years of experience in event management, event operations, motorsports, project management, marketing, or a related field.
• Bachelor's degree from a four-year college or university preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to manage events and projects from planning through execution while balancing multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to interpret and communicate information contained in contracts, event documents, business correspondence, and operational materials.
• Ability to effectively communicate and build relationships with clients, vendors, internal departments, leadership, customers, and external partners.
• Strong decision-making, organizational, and problem-solving skills in a fast-paced event environment.
• Exceptional attention to detail, time management, follow-through, and accountability.
• Understanding of event marketing and the ability to collaborate with marketing teams to support event objectives.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Self-motivated and collaborative, with a commitment to delivering a high level of client and guest service.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and extended hours during race weekends and special events.
• Ability to travel occasionally as business needs require.

Why This Role?

The Senior Manager, Special Events plays a key role in bringing events at Kansas Speedway to life. This position offers the opportunity to lead a diverse portfolio of race-weekend, community, hospitality, and special events while collaborating across the organization to create memorable experiences for clients, partners, and fans.

Our people are the key to our success. That is why we offer competitive compensation, a comprehensive benefits package focused on wellness, and opportunities to grow and develop both personally and professionally.

NASCAR is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to conducting recruitment and hiring activities in a fair, ethical, and legally compliant manner. In support of this commitment, all employment decisions are based on job-related qualifications, skills, experience, and performance, and are made without discrimination based on any legally protected characteristic, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity, national origin, age, military or veteran status, disability, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law, including socioeconomic, marital, parental, or caregiving status.

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