Tournament Operations Lead – Senior Director

Tournament Operations Lead – Senior Director

Fixed Term Contract (start ASAP Jan 2026 – end Aug 2026). Central Team

Location:

UK based pre‑tournament; US based during tournament. Wasserman is seeking an experienced Senior Director for Tournament Operations for FIFA Men’s World Cup 2026. This role will lead end‑to‑end stadium operations across multiple US venues; working as a conduit on T&H communications, on‑site troubleshooting, incident response, stadium manager oversight and stakeholder coordination.

What You Will Be Doing

• Lead operational delivery at stadiums, including ticket troubleshooting, liaison with T&H on VIP/guest services, fan experience, tournaments rights delivery and on‑site logistics.
• Manage and support stadium managers across all venues, providing clear direction, decision‑making and escalation pathways.
• Establish and enforce operational protocols to ensure issues are resolved quickly and safely.

• Serve as the primary escalation point for stadium‑related issues – including security incidents, access challenges, logistical disruptions (e.g., transport) or stakeholder concerns.
• Coordinate with stadium operations teams, security, FIFA staff and internal partners to deliver confident, timely decisions.
• Monitor emerging risks and ensure contingency plans are understood and activated when required.

• Deliver clear, concise updates to the end client, Wasserman leadership, stadium teams and cluster managers.
• Provide daily operational reporting, incident logs and status updates to support transparent decision‑making.
• Ensure all tournament communications, toolkits and operational guidance are fully understood and implemented.

• Partner closely with the FIFA Account Lead to align on approvals, workflows and communication requirements.
• Work with Wasserman cluster managers to ensure each region is equipped with accurate information, documentation and escalation paths.
• Liaise with brand teams to provide assurance, clarity and support around all on‑the‑ground operations.

• Proven track record delivering major global sporting events in stadium or venue environments (e.g., Olympics, FIFA tournaments, UEFA competitions, Premier League, NFL, Copa Libertadores, CONCACAF, etc.).
• Experience leading complex, fast‑moving operational environments under pressure and at scale.
• Strong background in rights delivery, ticketing operations, stadium logistics, crowd/guest management or similar.
• Exceptional ability to make rapid decisions, communicate clearly, and coordinate cross‑functional teams.
• Skilled in managing senior stakeholders, crisis scenarios and ambiguous or evolving information.
• Demonstrated leadership of dispersed teams or venue managers.
• Ability to work intense hours during tournament windows, including evenings and weekend.

Wasserman does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, religion, age, national origin, marital status, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other reason prohibited by law in provision of employment opportunities and benefits.