Event Operations, Venues Jobs

The NBA is committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace. To safeguard our employees and their families, our visitors, and the broader community from COVID-19, and in consideration of recommendations from health authorities and the NBA’s own advisors, any individual working onsite in our New York and New Jersey offices must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The NBA will discuss accommodations for individuals who cannot be vaccinated due to a medical reason or sincerely held religious belief, practice, or observance.

Position Summary

Key member of the NBA Event Operations team responsible for developing plans for and producing best-in-class venues for NBA, WNBA, G League, USAB, and 2KL events around the world. Work with internal partners, Teams, Promoters, Vendors/Agencies and Partners on consistently elevating our center of excellence in venue operations for League-wide games and signature events in both traditional and non-traditional venues.

Responsibilities

• Prepare budgets in conjunction with finance, operations, and executive leadership.
• Initiate and facilitate productive and concise meetings (e.g., with venue/promoter, cross-functional teams, staff meetings) ensuring positive interaction among all participants; share useful information with other venue ops teammates and Event Managers.
• Work with Event Managers, Teams, and cross-functional teammates to reach decisions including but not limited to space, resources, budget, production; provide direction and management of various needs/ requests; analyze and communicate the results of different decisions; resolve conflicts best interests of overall event.
• Portray an energetic and positive image on behalf of NBA Properties to all internal and external constituents; listen compassionately to all requests or concerns and resolve all topics in a prompt, professional, and accommodating manner.
• Keep up to date and apply knowledge of Technology, Engineering, Health & Safety, and other relevant topics that support successful events.
• Engage with executive leadership to keep them apprised of current event status as well as presenting data-driven results and recaps.
• Identify and maximize expense saving, profitability enhancing and revenue driving opportunities while optimizing the overall team, fan, and partner experience.
• Contribute to post-event recaps of what worked and what didn’t work identifying indicated actions, so we can continue to improve processes.
• Drive strong communication across all departments and third-party contractors to achieve goals and objectives.
• Work before, during, and after events to ensure the venue is "show ready" back of house for teams, media, referees, etc. and front of house for fans.
• Support the group to improve operational efficiencies, processes and systems, standardization of best practices, tools and templates.
• Develop and implement standard operating procedures for event programming in venues. Ensure event requirements are consistently up to date and readily available for new programming around the world.
• Extensive international travel and in-office work is required.
• Lead working group meetings – creating structure, timely reports, consistent communication tools.
• Partner with key partners to identify resource needs, source, onboard and lead ad-hoc or dedicated outsourced support and provide regular reporting on spend.
• Work closely with partners (e.g., NBA Facilities, Promoters and Venue Managers) to communicate direction on NBA standards and compliance.
• Coordinate with Finance, Production Management and Venues to successfully project budget frequently and settle events within 60 days of event completion.
• All other duties as assigned by manager.
• Lead, and maintain relationships with key vendors related to outsourced solutions (e.g., venue sourcing, onsite staffing, branding/graphics installation, third party events including inventory management etc.) including quarterly business reviews, RFI/RFPs.
• Develop and maintain relationships with Arena GMs and management companies in traditional and non-traditional basketball venues.
• Observe and analyze site and surroundings to proactively address any arising issues.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with NBA Broadcast and Media partners.

Required experience

Industry Background

• Significant and applicable experience in sports and/or entertainment venue space.
• Understanding of ticketing operations, building engineering, basketball layouts
• Minimum of 5 years of a consistent record managing and leading large-scale facility operations
• Direct management of cross functional, sourced, or matrixed teams specially working with outsourced suppliers
• Ability to lead effectively in a fast-paced environment, a crisis, or situation requiring prompt action and resolution to minimize disruption in venues/during events.

Team Leadership and Stakeholder Management Skills

• Proven commitment to DE&I and track record of cultural agility.
• Highly adaptable and able to lead competing demands, frequent changes, delays, and unexpected events.
• Sets goals that are high-reaching but realistic for self-geared to the Dept and League’s OKRs.
• Track-record building and leading impactful teams at scale.

Qualifications

• Phenomenal initiative, leadership qualities and the ability to work well within a group.
• 10+ years of proven track record with large-scale complex events
• Willingness to travel extensively and work weekends + nights.
• Proficiency in creating, managing, tracking and reconciling budgets.
• Experience with labor relations and union contracts is a plus.
• Strong attention to detail, exceedingly well-organized, and technologically savvy.
• Exceptional leadership and management skills
• Previous international experience; additional language skills a plus

Salary Range: $120,000 - $135,000

We Consider Applicants For All Positions On The Basis Of Merit, Qualifications And Business Needs, And Without Regard To Race, Color, National Origin, Religion, Sex, Gender Identity, Age, Disability, Alienage Or Citizenship Status, Ancestry, Marital Status, Creed, Genetic Predisposition Or Carrier Status, Sexual Orientation, Veteran Status, Familial Status, Status As A Victim Of Domestic Violence Or Any Other Status Or Characteristic Protected By Applicable Federal, State, Or Local Law.