Venue Manager - Seattle - The Look Company - North America

Description

Venue Manager (Stadium)

Company Overview:

The Look Company specializes in providing world-class visual engagement solutions for sport, retail, and commercial clients around the globe. We are a high-energy, fast-paced organization that thrives on innovation, collaboration, and results. As we continue to grow, we are looking for a driven individual to help lead our production efforts and support our expanding operations.

At The Look Company, we value creativity, teamwork, and a can-do spirit. With offices in Canada, USA, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, we offer the chance to grow with a global company that rewards initiative, supports professional development, and fosters a culture of belonging and excellence.

Position Overview: Full-time, contract (May-July 2026)

Locations: Toronto, ON | Miami, FL | Seattle, WA | Boston, MA | Los Angeles, CA | San Francisco, CA | Vancouver, BC | Philadelphia, PA | East Rutherford, NJ

Candidates are required to be local to venue; no relocation, transportation or housing allowances are provided. Applicants must have valid working rights in Canada and/or the United States.

We are seeking a highly organized and proactive Venue Manager to support the planning, coordination, and execution of dressing and signage for the FIFA World Cup 2026. This role oversees daily venue operations, manages installation leads, ensures compliance with client requirements, and serves as the primary point of contact for clients, stakeholders, and internal project teams. The Venue Manager ensures that all branding, wayfinding, and signage elements are delivered safely, on schedule, and to the highest standard, while providing exceptional client service.

 Role Responsibilities:

Operational Leadership

• Oversee all dressing and signage operations within the stadium, from installation planning through de‑rig.
• Lead day‑to‑day venue coordination, ensuring smooth execution across all workstreams.
• Maintain a constant on‑site presence during installation, event time, and de‑rig phases.

Project & Schedule Management

• Develop, manage, and maintain detailed venue‑specific schedules, including installation timelines, access plans, and resource allocations.
• Coordinate with installation leads to plan daily work activities, sequencing, and operational readiness.
• Track progress against milestones and proactively adjust plans to maintain schedule integrity.

Client & Stakeholder Management

• Act as the primary venue‑level liaison for FIFA, stadium management, and other partner and subcontractors
• Facilitate regular coordination meetings, providing clear updates, decisions, and action tracking.
• Ensure all client requirements, approvals, and change requests are captured, validated, and implemented.

Risk, Issue & Change Management

• Maintain a venue‑specific risk and issue register, ensuring timely escalation and mitigation.
• Identify operational challenges early and implement corrective actions to protect schedule and quality.
• Manage change requests, assessing impacts on scope, cost, and timelines, and communicating implications to project leadership.

Installation, Planning & Execution

• Collaborate with installation leads to develop detailed installation methodologies, access strategies, and safety plans.
• Ensure all materials, equipment, and resources are available on time and in the correct locations.
• Monitor installation quality and compliance with technical specifications, brand guidelines, and venue regulations.

Reporting & Documentation

• Produce daily reports, progress updates, and incident logs for internal and client distribution.
• Maintain accurate records of installation progress, changes, and approvals.
• Support the preparation of post‑event reporting, lessons learned, and close‑out documentation.

Operational Readiness

• Ensure all dressing and signage elements are fully installed, tested, and event‑ready ahead of key operational deadlines.
• Coordinate with other functional areas (broadcast, security, ceremonies, transport, etc.) to ensure seamless integration.
• Support venue operations during event time, managing dressing change out scope, responding quickly to issues, damage, or last‑minute requests.

 Team & Culture

• Support a collaborative, solutions oriented environment across the project team.
• Uphold The Look Company's values and contribute to a positive team culture.
• Represent the company professionally with clients, partners, and vendors.
• Model exemplary behavior and lead by example
• Perform other duties as assigned.

 Qualifications & Experience

•  Proven experience managing large‑scale event operations, preferably in sports, major events, or complex multi‑venue programs.
• Strong project management skills, with experience in scheduling, reporting, and cross‑functional coordination.
• Demonstrated ability to lead on‑site teams in fast‑paced, high‑pressure environments.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder‑management skills.
• Experience with risk, issue, and change management processes.
• Ability to interpret technical drawings, installation plans, and venue layouts.
• Familiarity with FIFA, Olympic, or other global event standards is an asset.
• PMP certification is an asset
• Experienced with MS Office, Google Suite and/ or equivalent Project Management software
• Ability to travel as required.

Key Competencies

• Leadership and team coordination
• Operational problem‑solving
• Client‑focused communication
• Attention to detail and quality assurance
• Adaptability and resilience
• Ability to prioritize and execute
• Strategic planning with hands‑on execution
• Ability to work with all types of different nationalities with varying English comprehension levels without bias or prejudice
• Excellent communication abilities; fluent in English (written & spoken). Other languages desirable (French, Spanish).
• Model exemplary behavior and lead by example.

Working Conditions

• Fast paced, high pressure environment typical of major international events
• Extended hours, including evenings and weekends, during peak periods. Additional hours are considered part of the role's operational responsibilities and are not subject to overtime compensation.
• On site presence required throughout installation, event time, and de rig
• Fixed term role aligned to the tournament delivery schedule
• Requires resilience, adaptability, and a strong commitment to operational excellence
• Must have full working rights within Canada or the USA. 

We believe a diverse workforce makes a different. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. We appreciate the interest of all applicants, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.