Head of Event, Americas

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 approaching 60 mph. Founded in 2018, SailGP is one of the world’s fastest-growing sports and entertainment properties, now in its fifth season.

SailGP also races for a better future, championing a world powered by nature. In 2020, SailGP set a new standard as the first climate positive sports and entertainment property and began delivering actions and innovations that advance the global adoption of clean energy. Underpinning the organisation’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, break boundaries, make an impact, 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. 

Key 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.

About You: 

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.

Location:

SailGP Office in New York, America. Hybrid working model with a minimum of 3 days per week in the New York Office. This role will have event travel. 

SailGP is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace committed to building a team culture that celebrates diversity, equity and inclusion.