Head of Event, Americas

SailGP • New York, NY

4d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Rolex SailGP Championship is the most exciting racing on water, where anything can happen in short, adrenaline-fueled battles between national teams at iconic stadium destinations worldwide. Top athletes fly in identical high-tech F50 catamarans faster than the wind, at speeds in excess of 100km/h (60mph). Founded in 2018, SailGP is one of the world’s fastest-growing sports and entertainment properties, now in its sixth season. SailGP also races for a better future, championing a world powered by nature. Underpinning the organization’s purpose-driven agenda is a diversification of the league, with the goal of immediately progressing gender equity and inclusivity. SailGP is a global organisation with defined values that shape the culture of its team – Deliver Quality and Consistency; Evolve with Focus; Make it Count; Stand Together and Strike a Balance. Summary: We are seeking experienced, driven and collaborative Head of Event's to lead the planning, execution and delivery of up to two SailGP events across our host cities. You will own the full event lifecycle, working closely with our Global and Local teams and managing a wide range of operational, commercial and stakeholder functions to deliver a world class sporting spectacle.

Requirements

• Proven experience in large-scale event planning and operations, preferably in an international or high performance sporting environment.
• Strong leadership, stakeholder management and cross-functional project coordination skills.
• Budget and procurement management experience.
• Ability to thrive under pressure and navigate complex, fast-paced environments.

Responsibilities

• Project Management & Event Delivery Lead the end-to-end project management of the event, maintaining a robust project plan aligned with SailGP processes and timelines. Drive effective communication across teams and stakeholders to ensure smooth coordination and successful delivery. Monitor progress, adjust plans proactively, and ensure accountability and transparency throughout.
• Stakeholder & Host Venue Management Act as SailGP’s in-market representative, managing all local stakeholder relationships and obligations within the Host Venue Agreement. Organise and report on key stakeholder meetings and maintain strong local engagement.
• Operations & Infrastructure Oversee all venue design, infrastructure planning, build, operation, and dismantle activities, ensuring high standards across land and water-based elements. Lead site operations and services, including health & safety, crowd management, catering, ticketing, branding, accreditation and more. Lead on the recruitment and management of the local event team.
• Finance, Legal & Procurement Lead on the budget development and financial oversight, ensuring adherence to procurement, finance and legal policies.
• Risk, Safety & Compliance Oversee the development and execution of key safety and emergency management plans. Ensure compliance across local regulations, ISO20121 standards and internal risk and safety protocols.
• Permits & Licensing Lead local team on all permitting and licensing processes, acting as liaison with authorities to ensure legal deadlines are met. Manage documentation, tracking systems and briefings related to all required permissions.
• Fan Experience & Engagement Oversee the delivery of a compelling and inclusive fan experience program, including ticketing, activations and content creation tailored to the local market.
• Marketing, PR & Communications Coordinate the event announcement and ticket sales campaigns with regional and global marketing leads. Monitor and adapt ticketing and promotional strategies as needed.
• Commercial & Partnerships Support partnership activation and fulfilment in line with commercial objectives and contractual obligations.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees