Sport Manager, Canoe

Global Sports Jobs Limited; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

LA28 is seeking a Sport Manager for Canoe Sprint/Slalom based in Los Angeles. You will lead operational planning for either Canoe Sprint or Canoe Slalom, reporting to the Canoe Sport Manager and collaborating with the International Canoe Federation.

You will coordinate with LA28 functions such as Venues, Ticketing, Transportation, and Accommodation, while building relationships with external stakeholders and leading recruitment for the Competition Management team.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in leading Canoe Sprint/Slalom events at national or international level.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong communication and interpersonal abilities.
• Proven ability to work independently and resolve issues.

Responsibilities

• Liaise with International Canoe Federation to design venues for competition and training.
• Coordinate with LA28 Venues/Infrastructure and Event Management input for venues.
• Serve as subject matter expert for Canoe Sprint/Slalom in operations plans.
• Collaborate on competition and training schedules with ICF input.
• Validate equipment requirements per ICF standards.
• Support sport testing, readiness events, and Games-time planning.
• Ensure ICF requirements are integrated into timing and results systems.
• Contribute to Sport Workforce strategy and local engagement with volunteers.
• Lead recruitment and onboard all Competition Management staff for Canoe Sprint/Slalom.
• Coordinate multi-discipline communication with IFs and other Sport Managers.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Organizational skills

Problem solving

Interpersonal skills

Team building

Diplomacy

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience

Tools

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Office suite

Job description

About the Role

The Sport Manager – Canoe Sprint/Slalom will lead all aspects of operational planning for specific Canoe disciplines within the LA28 Sport team, reporting directly to the general Canoe Sport Manager. The role will ultimately manage either Canoe Sprint or Canoe Slalom and will liaise directly with the International Canoe Federation. The position will also collaborate with the centralised Sport Planning team and other LA28 functions such as Venues and Infrastructure, Venue Management, Ticketing and Hospitality, Games Services, Transport, Accommodation, Food and Beverage, Accreditation, and more.

Key Responsibilities

• Liaise with International Canoe Federation for the development and design of competition and training venues
• Coordinate with LA28 Venues and Infrastructure and Event Management and other sport/discipline specific input into the development and design of competition and training venues
• Act as the subject matter expert for Canoe Sprint/Slalom within the organisation and especially in the development and refinement of Event Operating Plans
• Collaborate with International Canoe Federation on the development of the competition schedule and training schedules for Canoe Sprint/Slalom
• Validate sport equipment requirements for Canoe Sprint/Slalom ensuring that all International Canoe Federation requirements have been scoped
• Provide sport specific feedback as required for all pre-Games, testing and Games-time planning across the organisation via centralized planning activities lead by Sport Planning including relevant Sport Delivery Plans as well as venue specific planning activities with other functions
• Provide input to Sport Planning on the development of sport testing and readiness events
• Coordinate with Timing, Scoring & Results to ensure all International Canoe Federation requirements are integrated into planning for both systems and infrastructure related to managing the competition
• Collaborate on the Sport Workforce strategy and planning for Canoe Sprint/Slalom, liaising American Canoe Association and the local sport community where relevant to identify paid staff, National Technical Officials and Sport Skilled Volunteers currently engaged in local and regional events
• Lead the recruitment process for roles within Competition Management for Canoe Sprint/Slalom
• On-boarding and day-to-day leadership of all Competition Management workforce within Canoe Sprint/Slalom
• Support the development of Canoe Sprint/Slalom specific testing and Games-time training workforce
• Act as the point of entry to LA28 and the stakeholder manager for International Canoe Federations for specific Canoe Discipline
• Liaise with International Canoe Federations and coordinate with other Sport Managers to ensure clear and coordinated communication when managing a multi-discipline sport
• Manage and track all International Canoe Federations Sprint/Slalom discipline specific communication and brief Head of Competition Management and VP of Sport on the status of relations and Games-time planning

Required Experience & Qualifications

• Minimum 5+ years’ experience delivering national and international level Canoe Sprint/Slalom events in a leadership role
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience
• Extremely detail-oriented with excellent organizational skills
• Strong communication, team building, and interpersonal skill
• Well-developed problem-solving skills and ability to work independently to resolve issues
• Fluent working with Office suite products including Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint
• Self-starter with experience in defining tasks, seeking feedback, and evolving work
• Required proven ability of building good interpersonal relationships with people across the organisation and with external stakeholders, while balancing assertiveness with diplomacy
• A collaborative mindset; someone who prioritises the team and fosters a culture of high performance without ego
• An innovative viewpoint, willing to challenge the status quo and thinking ahead to the future possibilities within the Movement
• Ability to implement and manage change effectively
• Extensive knowledge of Canoe Sprint/Slalom and event operations experience and exposure at multiple levels, including professional leagues or teams, federations, universities, and grassroots
• Understanding and expertise within Canoe Sprint/Slalom at the international and national level as well as coordination with international and US Sport governing bodies
• Experience collaborating with colleagues on venue design, event planning, management and delivery across multiple functional areas
• Ability to work in an office environment, based in Los Angeles, CA

Preferred Skills

• Direct Olympic and Paralympic sport experience at a previous OCOG, multi-sport Games or experience delivering IF level events is a significant asset

Workplace

• Office environment based in Los Angeles, CA
• International, domestic, and local travel required (see requirements for details)

Salary

• The pay scale provided is the range LA28 reasonably expects to pay as starting base compensation for this role
• LA28 does not provide relocation assistance

About the Company

LA28 is the independent, non-profit, privately funded organising committee for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The 2028 Games mark the return of the Summer Games to the U.S. for the first time in 32 years and Los Angeles’ third time hosting an Olympic Games and first time welcoming the Paralympic Games. LA28 is guided by values including optimism, integrity, excellence, inclusion, co-creation and boldness.