Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority

Chief Sports Officer
Las Vegas, NV

Chief Executive Officer/President

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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, CFP Championship, NCAA Men’s Final Four, and WrestleMania. By collaborating with event organizers, teams, and leagues, the LVCVA helps ensure seamless execution and high visibility for each event, reinforcing Las Vegas’ reputation as a global sports and entertainment capital. Their efforts enhance the city’s brand and 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 2.5 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 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 the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority will only delay consideration of your qualifications. 

 

Position Summary: 

The Chief Sports Officer will lead the strategic direction and execution of all Sports and Special Events initiatives. This executive role is critical in securing and delivering high-profile professional, collegiate, youth, and amateur sporting events that drive significant economic impact across the Las Vegas Valley. Through visionary leadership and deep industry expertise, the Chief Sports Officer is key in strengthening Las Vegas’ global reputation as the premier sports destination. This position demands exceptional strategic insight, executive-level decision-making, and subject matter authority.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Keep in mind that this list is not all-inclusive.

• Strategic Leadership:
  • Develop and execute an ambitious sports tourism and event acquisition strategy informed by emerging sports trends, aligned with LVCVA’s goals.
• Event Acquisition & Partnerships:
  • Recruit major sports events, coordinate with governing bodies and leagues, and serve as the primary liaison to sports franchises and venue operators (e.g., Allegiant Stadium, T-Mobile Arena).
• Event Execution:
  • Oversee planning and execution of sports programs to deliver exceptional quality, using data-driven evaluation to maximize impact and improve future events. 
• Stakeholders Engagement:
  • Build strong relationships with local government, resorts, venues, and community groups to drive collaboration and maximize event success.
• Team & Operations Leadership:
  • Recruit and mentor a high-performing team, foster a culture of accountability and innovation, set clear goals, manage budgets, and align the department to ensure strategy execution.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Sports Management, Business Administration, Operations Management, or a related field
• Proven experience in sports, hospitality, or event sales, along with hands-on experience operating events as a promoter or venue manager
• 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
• Extensive 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 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.