Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority

Vice President of Sports Development
Las Vegas, NV

Reports to Chief Operating Officer

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Background: 

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) is the official destination marketing organization for Southern Nevada, charged with promoting Las Vegas as the world’s premier sporting, tourism, conventions, meetings, and special events destination.

Through strategic partnerships, marketing efforts, and investments in infrastructure, the LVCVA actively attracts and supports major events, including Formula 1, the NFL Draft, Super Bowl LVIII, and the NCAA Men’s Final Four, WrestleMania. By collaborating with event organizers, teams, and leagues, the LVCVA helps ensure seamless execution and high visibility for each event, reinforcing Las Vegas’s reputation as a global sports and entertainment capital. Their efforts not only enhance the city’s brand but also generate significant economic impact by driving tourism, media coverage, and fan engagement.

In addition to its role in sports and events the LVCVA owns and operates the 4.6 million-square-foot Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), one of the largest and most modern convention centers in the world, and works collaboratively with hospitality partners, government entities, and global travel trade organizations to drive visitation and economic impact. Well known for its versatility with approximately 2.9 million square feet of exhibit space, 225 meeting rooms (more than 390,000 square feet) and seating capacities ranging from 20 to 2,500. Two grand lobby and registration areas, one located in the West Hall, and the other in Central Hall (more than 260,000 square feet) efficiently link existing exhibit halls with new exhibit and meeting rooms, and allow simultaneous set-up, break-down and exhibiting of multiple events.

Tourism is the essence of Southern Nevada’s economy, and the LVCVA plays a vital role in supporting more than 230,000 jobs and generating billions in annual economic activity. With a mission to attract visitors through innovative marketing, advertising, and convention sales efforts, the LVCVA ensures Las Vegas remains a top global destination for both leisure travelers and business professionals.

As an employer of choice for Southern Nevada, they’re proud to be part of an organization as dynamic, innovative and diverse as Las Vegas itself. If you share a passion for Las Vegas, they’d love for you to consider joining the Team.

 

Any interested candidates should contact ZRG directly. 

Contacting Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority will only delay consideration of your qualifications. 

 

Position Summary: 

The Vice President of Sports Business Development will lead the acquisition of high-profile international and domestic professional, collegiate, youth, and amateur sporting events that drive significant economic impact across the Las Vegas Valley. Through strategic leadership and deep industry expertise, the Vice President of Sports Business Development is key to strengthening Las Vegas’ global reputation as the premier sports destination. This position demands strategic insight, executive-level decision-making, and subject matter authority.

Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Provide Strategic Leadership:
  • Develop and execute a multi-year strategic plan to position Las Vegas as a premier destination for high-profile and emerging sporting events.
  • Identify, assess, and recruit new sports-related event and convention business opportunities, including bids for major events (e.g., Super Bowl, Final Four, international competitions).
• Close Sales on Sporting Events:
  • Lead negotiations with sports properties, governing bodies, and event organizers to secure contracts and partnerships.
  • Develop qualified sales leads to pursue sports and events business. Coordinate and conduct site inspections of the destination with event holders who represent definite potential for sports and events business.
  • Prepare and deliver effective sales presentations to site selection committees.
  • Manage a robust pipeline of potential events through relationship-building, sales outreach, and collaborative ideation.
  • Collaborate with LVCVA’s marketing, finance, legal, and research teams to support and align efforts.
  • Stay abreast of trends in sports tourism, media rights, fan engagement, and event innovation.
  • Deliver regular reports, forecasts, and ROI analyses to the Chief Sports Officer and LVCVA executive leadership.
• Engage Community and Stakeholders:
  • Develop a sports network in the Las Vegas community, including sports media, event organizers, hotel partners, and sponsors.
  • Serve as a liaison between LVCVA and venue operators, resorts, sponsors, city/county agencies, and other community stakeholders.
  • Network with peers at other destinations’ sports commissions to gain an understanding of industry trends.
  • Provide strategic input during the planning and operations of secured events.

• Develop an Extraordinary Team:
  • Recruit, direct, mentor, and develop a high-performing team. Cultivate a culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation, and continuous growth, aligning with LVCVA values.
  • Set clear performance expectations and measurable goals for direct reports to drive organizational excellence.
  • Manage departmental budgets, procurement processes, and compliance in coordination with legal and finance teams.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Sports Management, Business Administration, Operations Management, or a related field preferred.
• Proven experience in sports and special events sales and acquisition.
• Demonstrated leadership skills with a track record of inspiring, motivating, and developing high-performing teams.
• Exceptional strategic thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a talent for building strong relationships across diverse stakeholders.
• Proven experience in budgeting, financial oversight, and managing performance metrics to drive results.
• Strong understanding of industry-specific regulations and compliance standards.
• Well-developed skills in critical thinking, analysis, risk assessment, and proactive problem-solving.
• Demonstrates:
  • High integrity and ethical conduct
  • Professional credibility and personal accountability
  • Sharp business acumen
  • A commitment to being an inclusive leader
• Ability to travel when necessary.
• A current U.S. Passport for international travel is required and must be obtained within 90 days of hire.

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) provides equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. In addition, the LVCVA will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. If you are unable to apply because of incompatible assistive technology or a disability, please contact us at peopleconnect@lvcva.com.

ZRG’S Commitment:

At ZRG, we do not just accept differences—we celebrate and support it. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, genetic information, marital or partnership status, military or veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. ZRG is an equal opportunity employer and workplace, and we encourage applicants of all backgrounds & communities to apply.