Manager, VIP & Special Events

Player 15 Group • Phoenix, AZ

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Player 15 Group, the sports and entertainment company behind the Phoenix Suns, Phoenix Mercury, Valley Suns, and Mortgage Matchup Center, is seeking an experienced, creative, and highly organized Manager, VIP & Special Events for its Premium Events & Experiences team. This role leads the end-to-end planning and execution of premium events for the teams’ season ticket holders, developing memorable experiences that strengthen relationships, enhance member satisfaction, and support retention and renewals.

The manager also oversees game-day VIP experiences for Suns and Mercury games. They coordinate personalized hospitality for ownership, celebrities, professional athletes, business leaders, and other high-profile guests, working across departments to ensure seamless visits and maintaining discretion and confidentiality.

The position supports broader Premium Events & Experiences initiatives and organizational events. It is based in an in-person, collaborative, people-first environment at Player 15 Group’s downtown Phoenix headquarters. The role requires a flexible schedule that may include evenings, weekends, holidays, and home games.

Requirements

• At least 5 years of experience in event management, premium hospitality, sports and entertainment, VIP services, or a related field.
• Proven experience independently managing events from concept through completion, including creative development, budgeting, logistics, vendor management, and on-site execution.
• Experience delivering high-touch hospitality experiences for VIPs, executives, celebrities, professional athletes, or other high-profile guests.
• Strong creative vision and exceptional attention to detail and operational excellence.
• Excellent project management and organizational skills, including the ability to manage multiple events, competing priorities, and tight deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the professionalism to work directly with senior executives, ownership representatives, and high-profile guests.
• Ability to anticipate needs, solve problems quickly, exercise sound judgment, and remain composed under pressure.
• Proactive, collaborative, service-oriented mindset and passion for creating exceptional guest experiences.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and event management, ticketing, CRM, or project management systems.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and home games, as required.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with Cvent.
• Bachelor's degree in event management, hospitality, business, sports management, marketing, or a related field.

Responsibilities

• Lead premium season ticket holder events for the Phoenix Suns, Phoenix Mercury, and Valley Suns from concept and strategy through on-site execution and post-event evaluation.
• Develop innovative event concepts that elevate the member experience, strengthen relationships, and support retention and renewal objectives.
• Manage event planning, including venue selection, design, entertainment, food and beverage, vendor sourcing, production, gifting, staffing, and guest experience.
• Develop and manage event budgets, timelines, production schedules, run-of-show documents, staffing plans, and logistics.
• Collaborate with Ticket Sales, Membership Services, Marketing, Building Operations, and other internal stakeholders to align event programming with member needs and business objectives.
• Oversee invitations, RSVP management, guest communications, and attendance tracking.
• Serve as the primary on-site event lead, managing vendors, internal teams, guest experience, and real-time problem-solving.
• Evaluate event performance using attendance, member feedback, budget management, and other key performance indicators; prepare post-event recaps and recommendations.
• Oversee the end-to-end VIP guest experience for Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury home games.
• Serve as a primary contact for VIP requests involving ownership, celebrities, professional athletes, business leaders, and other high-profile guests.
• Coordinate VIP game-day logistics, including ticketing, premium seating, parking, credentials, arrival and entry, hospitality, and special accommodations.
• Partner with Security, Ticket Operations, Basketball Operations, Premium Hospitality, and other departments to coordinate VIP visits.
• Develop and maintain standardized VIP processes, communication protocols, and guest-tracking procedures.
• Anticipate guest needs, resolve challenges proactively, and identify opportunities for personalized experiences.
• Maintain professionalism, discretion, and confidentiality when working with high-profile individuals.
• Support broader Premium Events & Experiences initiatives and organizational tentpole events as needed.
• Identify opportunities to improve event quality and operational efficiency and introduce innovative experiences.
• Build relationships with internal stakeholders, external vendors, and hospitality partners.
• Maintain accurate event documentation, budgets, guest information, and post-event reporting.

Benefits

• Competitive medical, dental, vision, life, and disability coverage options.
• Paid vacation, sick time, volunteer time, and company holidays.
• 401(k) plan with Player 15 Group match.
• Team member experiences throughout the year, including team offsites, catered lunches, coffee stands, and ice cream trucks.
• Team swag throughout the year and employee discounts at the Team Shop and online store.
• Complimentary tickets to Phoenix Suns, Phoenix Mercury, and Valley Suns games, plus other local sporting events and concerts, as available.
• Access to a full fitness center with locker rooms and showers, indoor/outdoor basketball courts, a pickleball court, a golf simulator and putting green, an on-site cafeteria, and collaborative gathering spaces.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: No Education Listed