POSITION OVERVIEW
The Director of Event Management will lead strategy, planning, budgeting, and execution of the BNP Paribas Open and other events located at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. They will oversee event staff and work closely with executive leadership, internal departments, event partners, vendors, and resources to deliver exceptional events, guest experiences, and operational results.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following:
- Lead the strategy, planning, and execution of the BNP Paribas Open and other site events.
- Lead and manage the event team, including staffing, workloads, performance, and development.
- Maintain the master event calendar and provide visibility into project plans, timelines, staffing needs, budgets, scheduling, and property capacity.
- Develop, implement, and maintain consistent planning processes, standard operating procedures, templates, and tools that strengthen communication, efficiency, and accountability.
- Lead project updates, readiness reviews, executive presentation, and other key planning milestones.
- Foster a positive, team-oriented culture focused on service excellence and operational integrity.
- Select and manage partners, vendors, contractors, and event technologies, to ensure alignment with scope, budget, schedule, and corporate standards.
- Direct event operations, including venue logistics, transportation, parking, security, access control, city/state permitting, safety, and on-site execution.
- Manage event budgets, forecasts, contracts, purchase orders, invoice reconciliation, cost controls, and financial reporting.
- Serve as the senior on-site leader for events, providing clear direction, decision-making, and escalation support.
- Support event forecasting, staffing cost controls, and post- event financial reviews.
- Lead post-event evaluations and apply key findings to strengthen future events *
- Partner with senior leadership on long term strategies, venue enhancements, new event opportunities, and revenue generating initiatives.
- Maintain strong relationships across operations, marketing, finance, HR, security, sponsors, community partners, vendors, guests, and other stakeholders.
- Contribute to annual business planning and budgeting.
- Foster a collaborative, accountable, and service focused team culture.
- Leadership - Maintain a positive, upbeat role, promote and exemplify Company values and represents departmental objectives and interests to internal and external customers
- Customer Service - Follow up on complaints, questions, and concerns; respond to internal/external customer needs in a friendly, timely and efficient manner
- Teamwork - Develop and promote teamwork and cooperation among co-workers
- Safety - Comply with established safe work practices and attend to all safety-related training provided or made available by the Company.
- Other duties as assigned
The essential duties and responsibilities listed above are a general outline of the typical functions of the job, not an exhaustive list of all possible tasks and duties as assigned by management.
QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
- Bachelor's degree in business, event management, hospitality, sports management, or related field preferred.
- 7+ years of relevant experience in events, sports, entertainment, live event production, or hospitality industry experience.
- Proven ability to lead and develop teams, manage vendors, and establish effective event planning and project-management processes.
- Strong business and financial acumen, including experience developing, forecasting, managing, and reconciling event budgets.
- Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities, assess risk, solve complex problems, and adjust quickly in a fast-paced environment.
- Proficiency in applying advanced mathematical concepts to solve complex problems and support decision-making.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, and OTHER ABILITIES
- Leadership & Collaboration: Ability to lead cross-functional teams and build strong relationships with executives, employees, vendors, partners, and stakeholders.
- Strategic & Operational Thinking: Ability to balance immediate operational needs with long-term business and event objectives.
- Organizational & Operational Excellence - Ability to establish efficient processes, coordinate complex timelines, multiple priorities, and maintain high standards of quality, consistency, and professionalism throughout high-profile events.
- Problem-Solving & Judgment: Strong ability to assess challenges, anticipate risks, develop effective solutions, and make timely, informed decisions in support of successful event outcomes.
- Communication: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with executives, partners, vendors, VIPs, and employees.
- Business Acumen: Ability to understand and interpret contracts, budgets, proposals, reports, and other business documents.
- Technology: Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365, particularly Word, Excel, and Outlook, and the ability to quickly learn event management and other business technology platforms.
- Adaptability: Ability to remain flexible, composed, and solution-oriented in a dynamic event environment.
- Bilingual or multilingual skills are highly desirable.
WORK ENVIRONMENT & EQUIPMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Ability to work flexible and extended schedules based on events and will include nights, weekends, and major holidays
- Regularly exposed to indoor and outdoor weather including cold, hot, wet, or humid conditions
- Ability to walk and stand for extended periods throughout event facility.
- Ability to lift and move materials as required for event operations.
- Noise level in the work environment is usually moderate
- Forklift, pallet jack, golf cart, light truck or other certifications preferred.
- Personal computer/laptop
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described on the attached "Physical Demands of Position" chart are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. See attached "Physical Demands of the Position".
CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION
This position has to confidential information - (seasonal and year-round staff personal information, vendor tax information, Player information)
COMPANY FUNDS
This position has no access to company funds:
PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF POSITION
Job Title: Event Management Director
How many hours are worked per day? Year-round, nonevent, 5 days per week. Events 7days per week
When completing this form, look at the job from a typical/average workday perspective.
Percentage Time Designation
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Rarely
<1%
Occasionally 1-33%
Frequently 34-66%
Continuously 67-100%
Stand
X
Walk
X
Sit
X
Use hands to finger, handle or feel
X
Reach with hands and arms over shoulder
X
Reach with hand and arms over head
X
Climb or balance
X
Stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl
X
Talk or hear
X
Taste or smell
X
i.e., Position requires standing 1/3 of the time.
Does this job require that weight be lifted or force be exerted? If so, how much and how often?
Percentage Time Designation
WEIGHT
Rarely
<1%
Occasionally 1-33%
Frequently 34%-66%
Continuously 67%-100%
Up to 10 pounds
X
Up to 25 pounds
X
Up to 50 pounds
X
Up to 100 pounds
X
More than 100 pounds
X
i.e., Position requires lifting 1/3 of the time up to 10 pounds.
Does this job have any special vision requirements? Check all that apply.
X
Close Vision (clear vision at 20 inches or less)
X
Distance vision (clear vision at 20 feet or more)
X
Color vision (ability to identify and distinguish colors)
X
Peripheral vision (ability to observe an area that can be seen up and down or to the left and right while eyes are fixed on a given point)
X
Depth perception (three-dimensional vision, ability to judge distances and spatial relationships)
X
Ability to adjust focus (ability to adjust the eye to bring an object into sharp focus)
No special vision requirements