Director, Special Events & Activities - LA28 Olympic & Paralympic Games

Who We Are:

On Location is a global leader in premium experiential hospitality, offering ticketing, curated guest experiences, live event production and travel management across sports, entertainment, fashion and culture. On Location provides unrivaled access for corporate clients and fans looking for official, immersive experiences at marquee events, including the Olympic and Paralympic Games, FIFA World Cup 2026, Super Bowl, NCAA Final Four, and more. An official partner and/or service provider to over 150 iconic rights holders, such as the IOC (the Milano Cortina 2026 and Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games), FIFA, NFL, NCAA, UFC, WWE, and PGA of America, the company also owns and operates a number of its own unique experiences. On Location is a subsidiary of TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: TKO), a premium sports and entertainment company. TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: TKO) is a premium sports and entertainment company. TKO owns iconic properties including UFC, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization; WWE, the global leader in sports entertainment; and PBR, the world’s premier bull riding organization. Together, these properties reach 1 billion households across 210 countries and territories and organize more than 500 live events year-round, attracting more than three million fans. TKO also services and partners with major sports rights holders through IMG, an industry-leading global sports marketing agency; and On Location, a global leader in premium experiential hospitality.

On Location

On Location is a global leader in premium experiential hospitality, offering ticketing, curated guest experiences, live event production and travel management across sports, entertainment, fashion and culture. On Location provides unrivalled access for corporate clients and fans looking for official, immersive experiences at marquee events, including the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Super Bowl, NCAA Final Four, New York Fashion Week and more. An official partner and/or service provider to over 150 iconic rights holders, such as the IOC (Paris 2024, Milano Cortina 2026, LA 2028), NFL, NCAA, UFC and PGA of America, and numerous musical artists and festivals, the company also owns and operates several of its own unique experiences. On Location is a subsidiary of TKO, a global entertainment, sports, and content company.

The Role

The Director, Special Events is responsible for leading the relationship, strategy, planning, and operational delivery of On Location's Special Events & Experiences, together with local expert supplier(s) for the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Acting as the Functional Area lead, this role partners closely with Platinum and Stakeholder teams, as well as the Business Development and wider Global Operations team to develop, implement, and deliver premium hospitality solutions across all client programs. The role is responsible for establishing the local operating model, managing appointed agency partners, and ensuring consistent, high-quality delivery of services throughout the planning and Games-time phases.

Key Responsibilities

Special Events

• Lead the RFP process for the selection of local agency partners in collaboration with the Procurement team.
• Lead agency onboarding and establish governance, communication flows, operational processes, reporting structures, and ways of working between On Location and appointed partners.
• Act as the primary relationship owner for appointed agencies, driving performance, innovation, continuous improvement, and service excellence.
• Oversee the delivery of premium activities, experiences, dining programs, hotel concierge services, and remote concierge operations across all client programs.
• Serve as the Functional Area lead, liaising with local experts for Special Events, cultural or entertainment experiences, unique dining requests, and concierge service delivery (where and if required) across all LA28 programs.
• Partner with PLAT Program Management teams to understand program objectives and develop bespoke hospitality solutions supporting individual client requirements.
• Support Business Development during the sales phase by working with the local agency in developing hospitality concepts, operational solutions, budgets, and client presentations.
• Coordinate external agencies, suppliers, and operational partners to ensure consistent quality, operational readiness, and exceptional guest experience.
• Work in close partnership with the Stakeholder Services Production team (Ben Rodber) to ensure seamless integration of Functional Area services into the overall program delivery.
• Coordinate cross-functionally with Transportation, Accommodations, Staffing, Technology, and other Functional Areas to ensure successful execution of Special Event program elements.
• Maintain financial oversight, supplier performance, operational readiness, risk management, and continuous improvement across the Functional Area.

Local Resource

• Support Program Management teams with destination expertise, local market intelligence, and operational recommendations throughout the planning lifecycle.
• Coordinate venue familiarization visits, supplier meetings and site visits to support program planning and operational readiness.
• Provide recommendations on experiences, restaurants, entertainment, concierge solutions, and local partners aligned with program objectives and client expectations.
• Act as the liaison between Program Management, appointed agencies, suppliers, and operational partners to ensure timely communication, efficient coordination, and seamless delivery across all Special Events services.

Location

This role is ideally Los Angeles based; remote candidates will be considered based upon industry knowledge and expertise. Travel to host city will be required. Working schedules may include extended hours during nights, weekends, and holidays.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Olympic Games or related global sports event experience preferred.
• Minimum 5+ years' experience in luxury hospitality, special events, event production, destination management, or premium travel experiences.
• Proven experience delivering high-end events and bespoke experiences for VIP and premium clients.
• Experience managing complex supplier relationships, contract negotiations, budgets, and operational delivery.
• Fluency in English (written and spoken) is required; additional languages are a plus.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (particularly Excel, Outlook, Teams, and PowerPoint), with willingness to utilize additional operational platforms including SharePoint, Slack, Salesforce, and other event management systems.
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Highly organized with excellent project management, problem-solving, and multitasking abilities in a fast-paced environment.
• Creative, solution-oriented, and capable of balancing innovation with operational excellence.

TKO EEO Statement:

TKO is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws regarding non-discrimination in employment. TKO makes employment decisions based on merit and qualifications, without considering an employee’s or applicant’s race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other basis prohibited under federal, state or local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the Company has facilities. TKO also provides reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and applicable state or local laws. For information about Privacy and Information Security for TKO employment candidates, please review our Privacy Policy. For information regarding Terms of Use for this and other TKO websites, please review our Terms of Use.