Senior Event Manager

Senior Operational Leadership in Global Event Delivery

Join the ISU Events team as a senior operational leader responsible for leading the delivery of ISU events worldwide. This position acts as the primary operational authority for designated events, translating ISU’s event strategy into world-class execution across the full lifecycle—from planning through delivery and post-event evaluation.

Serving as the principal day-to-day counterpart to Local Organizing Committees (LOCs), this role ensures alignment with ISU delivery models, standards, and timelines while coordinating closely across Sport, Commercial, Marketing, Broadcast, and ISU Business functions. The position contributes to the ongoing evolution of ISU’s global event model through operational insight, structured evaluation, and continuous improvement, while representing ISU as the senior operational lead for assigned events.

This role plays a critical part in continuously improving ISU’s global event model, strengthening governance frameworks, and enhancing athlete, partner, and fan experiences worldwide. It represents the ISU Chief of Events in a professional and appropriate manner at all times.

Key Responsibilities

• Event Leadership & Delivery: Lead the end-to-end operational delivery of assigned pinnacle ISU events within ISU’s standardized event framework. Serve as the primary ISU operational counterpart to Local Organizing Committees, ensuring delivery aligns with ISU standards, timelines, and governance structures. Coordinate integrated execution across competition operations, sport presentation/show elements, broadcast integration, and stakeholder services. Translate strategic direction from the Chief of Events into actionable delivery plans.
• Operational Management: Oversee detailed planning milestones including venue readiness, overlay, logistics coordination, workforce planning, and technical delivery. Partner closely with the Senior Manager, Event Services to ensure seamless integration of accommodation, transport, accreditation, safety, and guest services. Proactively identify operational risks and escalate strategic decisions to the Chief of Events with recommended solutions. Support consistent implementation of ISU planning tools, templates, and delivery standards.
• LOC & Stakeholder Partnership: Maintain strong working relationships with LOC leadership, suppliers, and delivery partners. Act as ISU’s senior operational representative in planning meetings, site visits, and delivery milestones. Facilitate collaboration between internal ISU teams and local stakeholders to ensure aligned execution.
• Cross-Functional Coordination: Ensure alignment across Sport, Commercial, Marketing, Broadcasting, and ISU Business operations throughout the event lifecycle. Chair operational planning meetings and milestone reviews to maintain delivery momentum. Support implementation of broadcast and event presentation requirements in collaboration with internal and external partners.
• Financial Stewardship: Manage operational event budgets in coordination with ISU leadership and finance teams. Monitor delivery against financial plans, timelines, and resource allocation. Identify opportunities for cost efficiency and operational effectiveness while supporting ISU’s broader commercial and brand objectives.
• On-Site Event Leadership: Act as ISU’s senior on-site operational authority during assigned events. Oversee operational readiness, issue resolution, and delivery escalation processes. Ensure high-quality execution across competition operations, sport presentation, stakeholder services, and fan experience.
• Evaluation & Continuous Improvement: Lead structured post-event evaluations, identifying operational insights and opportunities for improvement. Provide recommendations to the Chief of Events to support evolution of ISU’s event model and delivery practices.

About You

We are seeking a senior event professional with strong operational leadership capability and executive presence, capable of managing complex international sporting events at the highest level. You combine strategic awareness with delivery excellence and thrive in a multicultural, high-performance environment.

Essential Requirements

• Minimum 10+ years’ experience in international event management.
• Demonstrated experience leading large-scale, multi-stakeholder sporting competitions.
• Strong end-to-end event delivery along with strategic planning and governance expertise.
• Advanced financial management and budget oversight capability.
• Excellent executive-level stakeholder management and negotiation skills.
• Proven team leadership and mentoring experience.
• Fluent in English; additional languages are an asset.

Desirable Qualifications

• Experience within international sports federations or major event organizations.
• Familiarity with global rights-holder and commercial environments.
• Knowledge of winter sports and the international sports ecosystem.
• Experience contributing to event model transformation or organizational strategy.
• Experience operating in multicultural and politically complex environments.
• Additional language skills beyond English are considered an asset.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package aligned with senior-level responsibilities.
• The opportunity to lead and shape world-class international sporting events at the highest level.
• A dynamic, multicultural, and collaborative working environment at the heart of a global federation.
• Opportunities for international travel, executive exposure, and professional growth.
• A strategic leadership role contributing to the enhancement of athlete, stakeholder, and fan experiences worldwide.
• A workplace that values diversity, inclusion, innovation, and high performance.

If you are passionate about international sport and have the operational leadership experience to deliver complex, world-class events, we would love to hear from you. At ISU, we are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and supportive environment where everyone is valued and empowered to succeed. Skate on, together.