Director, Venue Development (Renovations)

LA28 • Los Angeles, CA

11d • Onsite

About The Position

LA28 is the independent, non-profit, privately funded organizing committee for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The VNI (Venue Infrastructure) team plays a critical role in delivering competition and non-competition venues that are functional, innovative, and accessible for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. As part of the larger Sport & Games Delivery group, the VNI team ensures that all venues are designed and developed with the highest standards for functionality, sustainability, and inclusion. We are seeking an experienced leader in infrastructure development and delivery to oversee the coordination, planning, design, and delivery of infrastructure projects, including renovations and venue-owner led construction, associated with the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Director, Venue Development (Renovations) will lead the strategic planning and delivery oversight of a portfolio of venue renovation and upgrade projects across the Los Angeles region. This role is accountable for program-level decision-making, governance, and performance across multiple concurrent projects, ensuring alignment with cost, schedule, scope, and regulatory requirements. This position requires a leader with strong local market experience, preferably in Los Angeles or California, including familiarity with permitting processes, building codes, contractor ecosystems, and insurance and bonding requirements associated with major capital works. The Director will provide clarity of direction in complex environments, balancing competing priorities while enabling teams to deliver effectively. The role is not defined by direct technical delivery, but by decision quality, prioritization, and the ability to guide multidisciplinary teams through ambiguity. The successful candidate will demonstrate technical credibility across architecture, engineering, and construction disciplines, while leading through influence, not control.

Requirements

• Minimum 8+ years of relevant industry experience, preferably with 5 years of leadership experience in engineering, architecture, or construction management
• Proven experience leading engineering or architecture and design programs – training as an engineer or architect is preferred but not required but direct experience overseeing and managing complex construction is required
• Experience overseeing multiple concurrent, complex projects spread across the Los Angeles area, varying in scope with multiple stakeholders.
• Experience working with a diverse range of stakeholders and proven success at building excellent working relationships
• Experience working with senior executives across multiple functional areas
• Excellent leadership skills with track record of people development and revenue achievement
• Demonstrated commitment to co-creation and collaborative decision-making
• Extremely detail-oriented with excellent organizational skills
• Strong communication, team building, and interpersonal skills
• Well-developed problem-solving skills and ability to work independently to resolve issues
• Fluent working with Office suite products including Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint
• A collaborative mindset; someone who prioritizes the team and fosters a culture of high performance without ego
• Ability to implement and manage change effectively
• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Engineering, Sports Management, Construction Management, Event Management, related field or equivalent work experience required

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with permitting processes, building codes, contractor ecosystems, and insurance and bonding requirements associated with major capital works.
• Licensure as an architect or engineer in California highly desirable
• Familiarity with AutoCAD or similar tools advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Oversee design, engineering, and construction delivery without micromanagement
• Apply cross-disciplinary expertise to challenge assumptions, identify risks, and validate solutions
• Ensure delivery is technically sound, operationally viable, and aligned with cost and schedule
• Address risks and bias in cost, schedule, and planning assumptions
• Ensure coordination across venue owners, consultants, contractors, and city agencies
• Build and lead relationships with venue owners, local authorities, and delivery partners across Los Angeles
• Align competing stakeholder priorities to drive agreed outcomes
• Resolve scope, budget, and delivery challenges through effective negotiation
• Integrate requirements across internal functional areas
• Lead and develop Senior Managers and project teams, driving accountability and performance
• Provide clear direction and constructive challenge to strengthen decision-making
• Delegate effectively while maintaining oversight of risk and delivery
• Provide clear direction to architecture and engineering consultants; ensure design outputs align with operational, technical, and venue owner requirements.
• Lead through influence, embedding collaboration and accountability
• Support teams in navigating complex stakeholder environments
• Address misalignment early and promote transparent communication
• Maintain clarity and composure in high-pressure environments
• Provide direction through change and evolving priorities
• Balance delivery pace with sustainable team performance
• Encourage early identification and resolution of risks

Benefits

• The annual base salary range for this position is $126,000.00 - $180,000.00.
• LA28 is committed to fair and unbiased recruitment procedures allowing all applicants an equal opportunity for employment, free from discrimination on the basis of religion, race, sex, age, sexual orientation, disability, color, ethnic or national origin, or any other classification as may be protected by applicable law.
• LA28 will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance and all applicable laws.
• We strive to build a team that is inclusive and encourage qualified candidates of all backgrounds, perspectives, and identities to apply.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director