Event Director (Contract), XGL Calgary

As Event Director, you will take full operational and financial ownership of a major multi-day sport and music festival in Calgary.
You will serve as the senior on-the-ground leader, coordinating production, broadcast, sponsorship, community, venue, and sport stakeholders.
The role spans event planning, safety, permitting, procurement, infrastructure, transportation, ticketing, and financial management.
You’ll work closely with national and international sport organizations to ensure competition and athlete services meet global standards.
You will also oversee sponsor activations, VIP experiences, fan engagement, and commercial requirements.
This is a high-visibility opportunity requiring strong leadership, precision, and the ability to deliver under demanding timelines.
The engagement runs from October 2026 through May 2027, with the possibility of renewal.

• Develop and execute the master event timeline in collaboration with internal leadership, the Operations Director, and sport and event partners.
• Serve as the primary liaison for funding partners, sport organizations, venue partners, and other key stakeholders.
• Lead event security, medical services, emergency preparedness, and contingency planning.
• Oversee regional RFPs, supplier selection, procurement, and contracting for event delivery services.
• Partner with the Community Advisory Lead to develop and execute volunteer programs and promotional opportunities.
• Coordinate event and broadcast production readiness with operational and venue teams.
• Develop transportation plans covering spectators, athletes, cross-country teams, VIPs, staff, contractors, and other stakeholders.
• Manage relationships with international sport governing bodies in coordination with senior event and sport leadership.
• Establish financial reporting processes and provide required updates to event stakeholders and funding partners.
• Oversee venue design, temporary infrastructure, course construction, and related site requirements.
• Secure municipal, health, safety, and road-closure permits in coordination with relevant stakeholders.
• Ensure appropriate event spaces are secured for teams, athletes, broadcast crews, contractors, media, and fans.
• Coordinate competition schedules, field-of-play requirements, and athlete and team services.
• Determine broadcast venue requirements and lead regional RFP processes for broadcast production services.
• Ensure sponsor activations, signage, VIP hospitality, and other contractual rights are delivered as agreed.
• Oversee ticketing operations, fan zones, merchandising, and crowd-flow management.
• Procure music staging and production requirements in coordination with artist booking activities.
• Define the overall venue look and feel and ensure the event brand presence is effectively executed.
• Manage the event operating budget and provide regular financial reporting and updates.
• Recruit, lead, and mentor contract coordinators supporting event delivery.

• 10+ years of experience managing sport and/or music multi-day festival events.
• Proven experience working directly with international or national sports federations, music stakeholders, and broadcast production teams.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex event budgets exceeding $1 million.
• Expert proficiency with event management software; strong Excel skills are an asset.
• Strong ability to lead cross-functional teams while working under tight deadlines and maintaining exceptional attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate numerous stakeholders and workstreams within a complex live-event environment.
• Comfortable serving as the senior on-the-ground leader for a high-profile, multi-stakeholder event.
• Strong operational, financial, organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to make effective decisions in fast-paced environments where safety, timing, quality, and stakeholder expectations are critical.