Senior Director, Event Services at Columbus Crew

Overview and Description The Columbus Crew is looking for a Senior Director, Event Services, responsible for the strategic leadership and oversight of all front-of-house and event-facing operations across the organization's venue portfolio. This role ensures the delivery of safe, efficient, and high-quality events through structured, repeatable, and system-driven processes, while maintaining a consistent, secure, and guest-ready environment across all venues on both event and non-event days. This is a front-of-house leadership role, accountable for the guest environment, event execution, and public-facing operational standards. The Senior Director leads  a team of functional leaders and serves as the executive front-of-house event command leader for major events, supporting approximately 300 events annually, including professional soccer, concerts, and large-scale external activations. Essential Duties and Responsibilities • Strategic & Operational Leadership • Lead and develop a team of leaders responsible for core front-of-house functions, including event execution, guest experience, and venue safety operations. • Design and implement scalable, repeatable operational systems and event playbooks. • Serve as the central leader aligning all internal stakeholders-including ticketing, partnerships, booking, and facility operations-within a unified event execution model. • Assist in the continued development of the organization's event technology ecosystem, ensuring platforms support standardized workflows and data-driven decision making. • Front-of-house Operations • Develop and implement systems and standards that ensure a consistent, secure, and guest-ready front-of-house environment across all venues on both event and non-event days. • Establish processes governing access control, credentialing, security presence, and guest-facing readiness, ensuring consistent execution through department leadership and partners. • Create operational frameworks that ensure seamless transition between daily front-of-house operations and event-day execution. • Develop a repeatable and scalable hospitality model that delivers consistent, high-quality experience. • Ensure systems are in place for training, staffing, and performance management across event teams. • Financial and Budget Oversight • Develop and manage departmental operating budgets, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and event demand. • Establish financial frameworks that support efficient staffing models, vendor utilization, and resource allocation. • Monitor event-related expenses and identify opportunities to improve cost efficiency without compromising operational standards or guest experience. • Partner with VP to support forecasting, planning, and long-term operational investment decisions. Minimum Qualifications • 7+ years of leadership experience in stadium, arena, or large venue operations • Proven ability to lead leaders and multi-functional teams • Demonstrated success in building systems and scalable operational processes • Experience overseeing front-of-house operations, event command, and guest environments • Strong background in operational planning and process design • Experience managing large staffing models and vendor ecosystems • Professional sports or major entertainment venue experience preferred Preferred Qualifications • Master's degree • Events-related certifications (CVE, CVP, CSSP, or equivalent)