Sport Manager, Water Polo

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LA28 is seeking a Sport Manager for Water Polo to lead all operational planning for water polo in the 2028 Games, onsite in Los Angeles. The role reports to the Sport Manager Aquatics and collaborates with World Aquatics, the centralized Sport Planning team, and multiple LA28 functions such as Venues, Ticketing, Transport, and Athlete Relations, with Open Water Swim coverage in the interim. Key duties include competition and training venue design, development of Event Operating Plans, scheduling, equipment validation, and building a high performing workforce, plus strong IF and sport community relations. Requirements include 5+ years delivering national and international water polo events in a leadership role, outstanding organization and communication skills, and willingness to travel. Base salary is 88k to 115k; relocation is not provided. To apply, tailor your resume to highlight water polo leadership, international event delivery, and cross team collaboration, quantify outcomes with concrete examples, and demonstrate alignment with LA28 values of optimism, integrity, excellence, inclusion, co-creation and boldness.

LA28 does not provide relocation assistance.

LA28 is the independent, non-profit, privately funded organizing committee for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. We are on a singular mission to create an Olympic and Paralympic Games that celebrate all that this city and country have to offer, delivering an unparalleled experience for athletes, fans, partners and our community.  

The 2028 Games mark the return of the Summer Games to the U.S. for the first time in 32 years and Los Angeles’ third time hosting an Olympic Games and first time welcoming the Paralympic Games. This presents the unique and exciting opportunity to celebrate our legacy with the Games and push the Olympic and Paralympic Movements forward, writing a new chapter of Games history in Los Angeles.  

Putting on an Olympic and Paralympic Games is a team sport. To build a Games unlike any the world has seen before, we need the best team in place–a team full of diverse perspectives, experiences and expertise. We are guided by the following set of values and behaviors–optimism, integrity, excellence, inclusion, co-creation and boldness–and look forward to hearing about how your past experiences align with them.

Sport Manager, Water Polo

LA28 is looking to identify a Sport Manager for Water Polo for the 2028 program. Please make sure you highlight your water polo specific experience, including the level of events you have managed and delivered (e.g. club, collegiate, national, international), in your resume.

The Sport Manager – Water Polo will play a critical role within the LA28 Sport team, reporting to Sport Manager – Aquatics, while leading all aspects of operational planning for Water Polo. This role will liaise directly with World Aquatics for water polo. As well, the position will also be expected to collaborate with the centralized Sport Planning team as well as other LA28 functions (i.e. Venues and Infrastructure, Venue Management, Ticketing and Hospitality, Games services, Transport, Accommodation, Food and Beverage, Accreditation, etc.), and across the organization (including but not limited to Athlete Relations, Strategy, Marketing, Commercial, Technology, HR, and Finance). 

In the interim, this sport manager will also cover Open Water Swim until a suitable candidate for this discipline is identified.

Key Responsibilities:

Competition and Training Venue(s) Design 

• Liaise with World Aquatics for the development and design of competition and training venues
• Coordinate with LA28 Venues and Infrastructure and Event Management and other sport/discipline specific input into the development and design of competition and training venues  

Competition Management & Planning 

• Act as the subject matter expert for water polo within the organization and especially in the development and refinement of Event Operating Plans 
• Collaborate with World Aquatics on the development of the competition schedule and training schedules for water polo
• Validate sport equipment requirements for water polo ensuring that all World Aquatics requirements have been scoped 
• Provide sport specific feedback as required for all pre-Games, testing and Games-time planning across the organization via centralized planning activities lead by Sport Planning including relevant Sport Delivery Plans as well as venue specific planning activities with other functions 
• Provide input to Sport Planning on the development of sport testing and readiness events
• Coordinate with Timing, Scoring & Results to ensure all World Aquatics requirements are integrated into planning for both systems and infrastructure related to managing the competition 

Competition Management Workforce 

• Collaborate on the Sport Workforce strategy and planning for water polo, liaising USA Water Polo and the local sport community where relevant to identify paid staff, National Technical Officials and Sport Skilled Volunteers currently engaged in local and regional events
• Lead the recruitment process for roles within Competition Management for water polo 
• On-boarding and day-to-day leadership of all Competition Management workforce within water polo
• Support the development of water polo specific testing and Games-time training workforce 

IF, NGB & Sport Community Relations 

• Act as the point of entry to LA28 and the stakeholder manager for World Aquatics
• Liaise with World Aquatics and coordinate with other Sport Managers to ensure clear and coordinated communication when managing a multi-discipline sport
• Manage and track all World Aquatics communication and brief Head of Competition Management and VP of Sport on the status of relations and Games-time planning 
• Manage Pre-Games IF Site visits for water polo, developing an effective agenda, liaising with FAs and Stakeholders on their participation and producing site visit reports and presentations 
• Manage the completion and tracking of all inputs to each Sport Delivery Plan (SDP) for water polo 

Administration & Program Management 

• Provide reports and updates on the status of deliverables and tasks to communicate overall progress in the planning for water polo
• Support the development of budgets and projects plans with well researched and validated sport and discipline specific information and planning assumptions 

Competition Management – Testing & Games-Time 

• Lead all competition management workforce for water polo to ensure a seamless and world class delivery of operations to support the competition, athlete and IF spaces within the competition and training venues
• Act as the integration point within the organization for all IF related requirements for delivery of the competition and training for water polo

Background & Requirements:

• Minimum 5+ years’ experience delivering national and international level water polo events in a leadership role 

• Extremely detail-oriented with excellent organizational skills 

• Strong communication, team building, and interpersonal skill 

• Well-developed problem-solving skills and ability to work independently to resolve issues 

• Fluent working with Office suite products including Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint 

• Self-starter with experience in defining tasks, seeking feedback, and evolving work 

• Required proven ability of building good interpersonal relationships with people across the organization and with external stakeholders, while balancing assertiveness with diplomacy 

• A collaborative mindset; someone who prioritizes the team and fosters a culture of high performance without ego 

• An innovative viewpoint, willing to challenge the status quo and thinking ahead to the future possibilities within the Movement 

• Ability to implement and manage change effectively 

• Extensive knowledge of water poloi and event operations experience and exposure at multiple levels, including professional leagues or teams, federations, universities, and grassroots 

• Direct Olympic and Paralympic sport experience at a previous OCOG, multi-sport Games or experience delivering IF level events is a significant asset 

• Understanding and expertise within water polo at the international and national level as well as coordination with international and US Sport governing bodies 

• Experience collaborating with colleagues on venue design, event planning, management and delivery across multiple functional areas 

Expectations:

• Included above under background and requirements.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience 

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

• Ability to work in an office environment, based in Los Angeles, CA.  
• The majority of work may be conducted in an office setting, requiring extended periods of time using computers, phones, and other office equipment.  
• This position will require international, domestic, and local trips for IF and NGB events/congresses, as well as venue tours in the Los Angeles area during official IF site visits.
• International travel may involve travelling to different countries to observe global sporting events and will require a valid Passport. International travel may be up to 1 - 2 times per year for 1 - 2 week intervals. Approximately 20% or less of working hours.  
• Domestic travel may involve traveling within the United States to observe global sporting events. Anticipated travel can be 0-3 times per year.  
• Local travel will consist of visiting local venues that LA28 is considering using as a competition and training venue as well as competition and training venues in Co-host Cities. Attendance and meetings with local sport clubs, colleges and related organizations may also require local travel as well as observing local sport events. Anticipated travel can be 0-2 times per month and can increase as 2028 approaches.  
• All of the travel will require the candidate to bring their own luggage.    
• When not travelling, this role is based at the LA28 office.

The annual base salary range for this position is $88,000.00 - $115,000.00. The pay scale provided is the range that LA28 reasonably expects to pay as starting base compensation for this role. All LA28 compensation remains subject to final determination based on individual candidate qualifications, experience, or other reasonable criteria consistent with LA28’s operational business needs and applicable law.

LA28 does not provide relocation assistance.

LA28 is committed to operating fair and unbiased recruitment procedures allowing all applicants an equal opportunity for employment, free from discrimination on the basis of religion, race, sex, age, sexual orientation, disability, color, ethnic or national origin, or any other classification as may be protected by applicable law. We strive to build a team that is diverse, inclusive and encourages qualified candidates of all backgrounds, perspectives, and identities to apply. We will consider all qualified candidates with criminal histories in a manner consistent with local law. We assess applications based on relevant skills, education, and experience a candidate can add to our team.