Director, Central Planning, Event & Venue Management

LA28 is the independent, non-profit, privately funded organizing committee for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. We are on a singular mission to create an Olympic and Paralympic Games that celebrate all that this city and country have to offer, delivering an unparalleled experience for athletes, fans, partners and our community. 

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. This presents the unique and exciting opportunity to celebrate our legacy with the Games and push the Olympic and Paralympic Movements forward, writing a new chapter of Games history in Los Angeles. 

Putting on an Olympic and Paralympic Games is a team sport. To build a Games unlike any the world has seen before, we need the best team in place–a team full of perspectives, experiences and expertise. We are guided by the following set of values and behaviors–optimism, integrity, excellence, inclusion, co-creation and boldness–and look forward to hearing about how your past experiences align with them. 

Director, Central Planning, Event & Venue Management:

The Event Management team is responsible for leading the integrated event operational planning at the venue level for all competition and some major non-competition venues.  The group is also responsible for managing and coordinating the negotiation of venue agreements, the collation and organization of venue-related documentation and data, and the maintenance of strong working relationships with all venue partners.  At Games Time, the Event Management team leads and manages the event teams at venues, event delivery, venue communication, and venue issue resolution.  

The Head of Central Planning, Event & Venue Management will be responsible for overseeing centralized operational planning processes, venue agreement tracking, cross-functional integration, testing activity readiness, tool maintenance, and project management across 50+ venues. They will translate organizational objectives into actionable plans for venue teams and act as a trusted partner to functional areas across the organization to drive collaboration, mitigate risks, and deliver on key milestones. The ideal candidate will provide strategic leadership to the Event & Venue Management Central Planning team and work alongside Event & Venue Management leadership to drive team effectiveness.    

This position will report to the Vice President, Event & Venue Management. 

Key Responsibilities:

Event Operational Planning & Delivery 

• Lead the development of templates, toolkits and other planning assets that support venue teams with executing operational planning and LA28’s testing activities plan across 30+ functional areas 

• Synthesize, and disseminate key information and requirements through centralized structures to relevant venue teams, ensuring alignment and consistent application across venues 

• Coordinate Event & Venue Management input into cross-functional operational planning processes ensuring alignment on goals, deliverables, timelines, and execution plans 

• Oversee central processes for communication, issue tracking, and resolution across venue teams at Games time 

 Venue Use Agreement Execution 

• Oversee venue contract management, and create and coordinate processes that support steady progress toward finalized, signed venue use agreements 

• Maintain accuracy of venue access dates, venue use areas and space ownership that is relied upon across the organization 

• Act as a liaison between the Legal team and operational functions through reviewing agreements, overseeing venue agreement workflows, and routing agreements internally for resolution 

  Data Management & Analysis 

• Oversee the collection, organization and distribution of pertinent venue and venue partner-related documents, information and data ensuring up-to-date information is accessible to internal stakeholders 

• Maintain accuracy and integrity of internal venue-related data in Games planning data management systems 

 Systems & Tools Development 

• Manage the maintenance and ongoing development of Event & Venue Management platforms for integrated operational planning, venue communication, and information/documentation distribution 

• Serve as a liaison between operational functions and the technology team to support the development of cross-functional systems and tools  

 Project Coordination & Team Support 

• Support workforce planning for Event & Venue Management including resource scoping and onboarding 

• Assist with functional area budget development, tracking and analysis in line with financial objectives 

• Build and maintain strong relationships with cross-functional teams to drive effective collaboration on centralized operational planning. 

• Collate and prepare presentation materials for varied audiences, including colleagues, business partners, and senior leaders 

Background & Qualifications:

• 8+ years leading large-scale, complex event operations across all project phases—planning, readiness, and execution  
• Proven ability to manage and develop teams of 5+ direct reports, fostering collaboration and accountability to deliver complex, large-scale event operations 
• Experience providing project coordination, data management, and operational support within fast-paced environments across cross-functional teams 
• Working knowledge of project management software (i.e. Smartsheet, Asana, etc.) and experience building out software to meet team needs 
• Prior experience in the Olympic and Paralympic Games or other multi-sport Games  

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

• The position is in Los Angeles with in-person attendance required. 
• The majority of work will be conducted in an office setting, requiring extended periods of time using computers, phones, and other office equipment  
• Ability to travel occasionally to different venues across the Los Angeles region and possibly outside the Greater Los Angeles region   

Education:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience 

Expectations:

• Skill communicating with executives, building cross-functional partnerships and influencing stakeholders across multiple functional areas  
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize and contribute under pressure, lead projects through to completion, and meet tight deadlines  
• Ability to identify issues, analyze problems, and think creatively and innovatively to develop solutions-based approaches  
• Ability to address and resolve conflicts effectively, especially when coordinating across diverse teams with differing priorities 
• Ability to adapt quickly to new organizational tools, processes, and ways of working as LA28 evolves 
• High EQ and strong interpersonal skills with a proven track record as a relationship builder  
• Extremely detail-oriented with excellent organizational, operational and program execution skills 
• A high energy level, entrepreneurial spirit, and the ability to adapt through different phases of growth and change  
• Proven ability to lead and manage teams by defining clear objectives, delegating tasks effectively, fostering collaboration, and driving progress with accountability and pace 
• Collaborative and flexible approach – Ability to roll with the transitional nature of the organization as it grows, adapting quickly to changing priorities and requirements