Director, Cultural Olympiad

LA28•Los Angeles, CA

12d•Onsite

About The Position

LA28 is seeking a Director, Cultural Olympiad to lead the dedicated team responsible for the operational planning, strategic development, and hands-on execution of LA28’s signature cultural program. The Cultural Olympiad, held in the lead-up and adjacent to the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, is a foundational deliverable mandated by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). It transforms the host city into a living stage for arts, culture, and human creativity. The LA28 Cultural Olympiad will celebrate and uplift the diverse culture of Los Angeles through original programming, partner collaborations, and community-led grassroots events in disciplines including Fashion, Film, Food, Performing Arts, and Visual Arts. The ideal candidate is an established leader within the cultural sector, fluent in public speaking, civic advocacy, and community-centered education, as well as operational mechanics, systems design, and project management for large-scale cultural initiatives. The Director will ensure the program powerfully engages both Southern California’s diverse local communities and international visitors.

Requirements

Minimum 8+ years experience serving in a senior management role (e.g., Executive Director, Artistic Director or similar) within a prominent non-profit cultural organization or multi-disciplinary artistic institution.
A deeply embedded, verified professional network spanning the greater Los Angeles cultural sector, with a proven ability to bridge grassroots initiatives and large-scale institutional partners.
Technical mastery over complex logistical systems, process design, scheduling, and standard operating procedures required for programmatic cultural delivery.
Demonstrated experience working directly within and alongside marginalized communities, establishing peer-level partnerships with community-based organization leaders with humility and cultural responsiveness.
Success managing highly complex, multi-million dollar programmatic budgets, staffing plans, and vendor contracts with transparency, compliance, and fiduciary responsibility.
A track record of actively seeking out, negotiating, and executing high-impact strategic alliances with private, philanthropic, and public entities.
Proven capabilities as an outcome-focused, disciplined leader who excels in highly dynamic, evolving environments while keeping teams grounded in the core mission and organizational values.
Bachelor’s degree in the Arts, Arts Administration, Non-Profit Management, Public Policy, Business Administration, and/or a related field is required. However, a verifiable track record of exceptional, high-profile professional achievements within the cultural sector may be considered in lieu of specific formal degree pathways.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience with institutional fundraising, grant writing, or philanthropic cultivation is desirable.
Must demonstrate creative resourcefulness in optimizing limited budgets and structuring professional volunteerism and philanthropic partnerships, where appropriate.
Experience directing or managing the launch of digital/online cultural platforms, applications, or interactive web spaces to capture broader global audiences is a plus.
Unwavering dedication to building organizational cultures centered on equity, consensus, and multi-perspective collaboration among diverse, sometimes competing stakeholders.
A profound, sophisticated understanding of the structural power of creativity and civic institutions, coupled with an authentic belief in arts-driven societal transformation.
Understanding and frequent use of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint). PowerPoint presentation deck-building and/or design skills a plus.

Responsibilities

Direct, mentor, and oversee a multi-disciplinary team comprising Managers, Associates, Interns, and Fellows, ensuring highly coordinated operational workflows, clear accountability, and professional development.
Translate the Cultural Olympiad’s strategic framework and overarching vision into detailed, actionable, and phased operational and project timelines to ensure flawless execution of all programming.
Formulate and manage the formal guidelines, application process, vetting, and approval protocols of community stakeholder programming required for inclusion in the program.
Work closely with the Vice President/Executive Director to identify, develop, and operationalize innovative programming across the Cultural Olympiad’s core disciplines: Fashion, Film, Food, Performing Arts, and Visual Arts.
Collaborate with Vice President/Executive Director and lead the end-to-end project management for delivery of approved temporary public art installations across the greater Los Angeles area.
Cultivate, formalize, and sustain deep, productive working relationships with grassroots creative initiatives, major cultural institutions, and regional community stakeholders in order to deliver meaningful programming.
Serve alongside the Vice President/Executive Director as an active spokesperson and ambassador for the program, delivering compelling presentations to diverse public, private, and governmental audiences to foster educational outreach, co-creation, and strategic alignment.
Coordinate extensively with internal LA28 Functional Areas (FAs) to ensure Cultural Olympiad activations seamlessly integrate with adjacent Games-time operations, logistics, security, marketing, and venues.