Director, Enterprise Project Management & Event Execution

Overview

The Events & Hospitality Department leads the strategic planning and execution of Major League Soccer and Soccer United Marketing’s event portfolio, delivering hundreds of enterprise-wide events annually. The portfolio includes marquee tentpole moments such as MLS All-Star Week, MLS Cup, MLS NEXT tournaments, Leagues Cup, the Mexican National Team U.S. Tour, Concacaf competitions, MLS Rivalry Week, Michelob Ultra Campeones Cup, and additional SUM/international properties. Beyond event execution, the department drives cross-functional initiatives including B2B and hospitality programming, executive meetings, press announcements, competition events, and enterprise-level strategic projects that advance league growth, commercial performance, and brand positioning. 

Responsibilities

Project Management & Operational Excellence

• Lead enterprise-level initiatives from planning through execution, ensuring alignment across MLS, SUM, and external stakeholders.
• Build and manage integrated project plans that include timelines, milestones, dependencies, resource allocation, budgets, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Establish governance structures for cross-functional initiatives, ensuring clarity ownership, deliverables, and decision-making pathways.
• Develop and maintain standardized project management processes, tools, templates, and governance models that improve consistency, visibility, and execution across the organization.
• Create integrated project plans that proactively manage timelines, milestones, dependencies, resources, and project risks.
• Build executive dashboards and reporting frameworks that provide leadership with visibility into project status, budget performance, resource allocation, and organizational priorities.
• Develop and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure project success, operational efficiency, and overall organizational effectiveness.
• Lead recurring project reviews, status meetings, and executive updates, ensuring stakeholders remain informed and aligned.
• Drive continuous process improvement by identifying operational gaps and implementing best practices that enhance collaboration, accountability, and execution.

Event Strategy

• Lead the planning of MLS/SUM marquee events (MLS All Star, MLS Cup) and strategic marketing activations from concept through post-event evaluation.
• Develop comprehensive event plans including timelines, budgets, production schedules, staffing plans, vendor management, logistics, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Serve as the primary project lead for assigned events, ensuring seamless cross-functional coordination and exceptional attendee experiences.
• Manage event budgets, contract negotiations, vendor relationships, and procurement processes while maintaining fiscal responsibility.
• Establish event success metrics and develop post-event reporting that measures operational performance, attendee engagement, ROI, and key business outcomes.
• Identify opportunities to enhance event operations, improve efficiencies, and elevate the overall event experience.

Cross-Functional Enterprise Leadership

• Lead complex cross-functional initiatives beyond project management and event execution, ensuring alignment, accountability, and milestone delivery.
• Ensure commercial partner activations and league initiatives are operationally integrated across all major events.

Financial & Operational Oversight

• Oversee portfolio-level budget strategy, including forecasting, financial tracking, reconciliation and cost-efficiency planning.
• Review and approve major vendor engagements, contracts, and agency scopes of work.
• Ensure financial accountability across managed events.
• Drive operational consistency in vendor selection, contracting processes, and payment

Onsite Executive Leadership

• Provide onsite oversight at marquee events, serving as strategic lead and escalation point for critical operational decisions.
• Support Event Managers in maintaining cross-functional alignment during live event execution.

Additional Responsibilities

• Build executive dashboards and reporting frameworks that provide leadership with visibility into project status, budget performance, resource allocation, and organizational priorities.
• Develop and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure project success, operational efficiency, and overall organizational effectiveness.
• Lead recurring project reviews, status meetings, and executive updates, ensuring stakeholders remain informed and aligned.
• Drive continuous process improvement by identifying operational gaps and implementing best practices that enhance collaboration, accountability, and execution.
• Lead special enterprise initiatives as assigned by the Vice President, Events.
• Contribute to long-term departmental strategy and organizational design.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree required
• 8+ years of progressive project management or event operations
• Minimum 5+ years of experience managing complex projects from planning through execution, coordinating cross-functional teams, and overseeing agency and partner relationships to ensure successful delivery.
• Demonstrated experience leading leaders and overseeing complex, cross-functional initiatives
• Proven track record building operational systems, governance models, or scalable planning processes

Required Skills

• Advanced project management expertise with demonstrated success building scalable systems
• Experience overseeing large-scale, high-visibility project management portfolios
• Exceptional organizational and operational planning skills
• Strong financial acumen with experience managing multimillion-dollar budgets
• Ability to operate at both strategic and tactical levels
• Excellent executive communication and presentation skills
• Proven ability to drive cross-functional alignment in complex organizational environments
• Strong decision-making capabilities in high-pressure, high-visibility settings
• Willingness to travel (6–10 days for marquee events) and work long hours, including weekends, during events and peak periods.
• Proficiency in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.

Desired Skills

• Experience overseeing high profile recognized programs or events
• Experience building or scaling event operations within a growing organization
• Expert ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously with competing priorities and deadlines.
• Strong knowledge of project management methodologies, governance, and workflow optimization.
• Ability to develop comprehensive project plans, timelines, resource plans, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Knowledge of Soccer or sports

Total Rewards

Major League Soccer offers a competitive starting base salary of $115,000 – 140,000, based on individual qualifications, market financials, and operational business needs. We are committed to providing a Total Rewards package that attracts, supports, engages, and retains talent. Our benefits package includes comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, a $500 wellness reimbursement, and generous Holiday and PTO schedule to promote work-life balance. We also prioritize career and professional development, offering on-the-job training, feedback, and ongoing educational opportunities. We believe in the power of in-person collaboration to fuel creativity, strengthen connections, and cultivate a vibrant workplace. As a result, employees are required to work from an MLS office at least four days a week. We understand the value of balance, so employees also have the flexibility of working remotely on Fridays, along with the option to take up to two additional remote flex days each month. At Major League Soccer, we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and inclusion and believe that a diverse workforce enhances our ability to compete in the marketplace. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We are dedicated to ensuring that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation throughout the job application or interview process, essential job functions, and other benefits and privileges of employment. If you require accommodation, please contact us to request it. Join our team and be part of the Major League Soccer family, where we elevate the game and inspire greatness!