Senior Director, Operational Readiness

LA28 does not provide relocation assistance.

The Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games will be hosted in Los Angeles, California in 2028, returning to the United States for the first time in over 30 years. 2028 will be the first time LA hosts the Paralympic Games, creating an opportunity to expand awareness, understanding and inclusion of people with disabilities.

LA28, the organizers for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles, is on a mission to create an unparalleled Games experience for athletes, fans, partners, our community and our people. Our vision is to collectively create what’s next through sport, community and the power of our differences.

The 2028 Olympics and Paralympics will represent LA and leverage the strength of our community’s creativity as we collectively work to design a Games that we all want to be a part of. We do this by focusing on people and by inviting everyone into the story of the LA28 Games.

The LA28 organizing committee is an independent, non-profit organization that is privately funded and governed by a board of directors. 

Values and Behaviors:

• Optimism – Embody a positive, enthusiastic, and solution-oriented attitude in everything we do; challenge the status quo, inspire and support one another to achieve our best; have our eyes on the future and believe we can make a meaningful impact
• Integrity – We communicate openly and honestly, listen, and respectfully value multiple perspectives; we do what we say and are accountable for everything we do; we do the right thing, always. Even when it isn’t easy
• Excellence – We hold ourselves to the highest standard and expectations; we live our values and truths and persevere through challenges; we are continuous learners and adapt and pivot with speed to meet changing needs
• Inclusion – We seek to represent, include, empower and level the playing field; our work reflects the communities we serve and the world in which we live; we leverage our platforms to bring awareness to issues relevant to who we are
• Co-Creation – We are authors of a shared story. Everyone contributes their unique voice to our shared mission; we share pride in our accomplishments and ownership of our shortcomings
• Boldness – We embrace creativity, courage and outside-the-box thinking; we are unafraid to take risks, explore unconventional solutions, and learn from the process; we are innovators, disruptors, and challengers of the status quo

Senior Director, Operational Readiness:

The Senior Director, Readiness, will be responsible for the program to ensure that all operational elements - people, processes, infrastructure, and technology - are ready to deliver the Games.  

Reporting to the Chief – Planning & Programs, the role will sit alongside and integrate with the central planning verticals of the Project Management Office, and the Integrated Operational Planning team. The role will also interface with all key internal stakeholders, and selected external stakeholders closer to Games Time. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop, implement and manage LA28’s Operational Readiness strategy and program plan, the end-to-end set of activities through which LA28 will achieve readiness for the Games 
• Act as the central point of contact and integration for readiness across the Games, including with external partners 
• Establish a central readiness team for LA28, combining internal resource recruitment with use of consultancy, and IOC support 
• Enable delegated delivery of readiness activities at different levels of the organization across all functional areas and venues 
• Drive cross-functional alignment, as well as integrated readiness across partner organizations involved in Games delivery e.g. city, commercial partners 
• Lead the delivery of large-scale, event-wide readiness exercises 
• Drive continuous improvement through testing operational plans and assumptions, identifying and mitigating operational risk, and ensuring robust application of lessons learned
• Drive risk-based prioritization and allocation of resources  
• Map the plan against critical activities and milestones, sequencing all key activities required to achieve readiness, with particular focus on workforce training and operational planning 
• Establish mechanisms for measuring, monitoring and reporting on readiness 
• Operationalize the plan, with clear activity lists, timelines, roles and responsibilities 

Background & Qualifications:

Position Requirements:

• Minimum of 10+ years in major event testing and readiness, or equivalent industry 
• Broad generalist knowledge across Olympic and Paralympic Games Delivery or project/program management experience in large-scale events, logistics, infrastructure, government or technology readiness programs 
• Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional teams in complex, high-pressure environments 
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver results within tight timelines 
• Ability to engage with and influence C-level executives.  
• Leadership: Track record of leading high-performing teams and driving results in complex environments.  
• Problem solving: Strong analytical and critical thinking skills to anticipate challenges and develop proactive solutions.  
• Collaboration: Strong interpersonal and communication skills to guide and mentor project teams and working groups.  
• Coordination: Exceptional organizational skills to manage multiple projects and governance activities.  
• Adaptability: Comfortable working in a fast-moving, evolving environment with flexibility to adapt to changing project requirements and priorities.  
• Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills.  
• Situational awareness: Excellent judgment and ability to escalate issues when necessary.  
• Stakeholder Management: Exceptional approach to a variety of stakeholders, both internal and external 

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions 

• Available to work onsite in our Downtown Los Angeles-based office 
• Majority of the work will be conducted in an office setting, requiring extended periods of time using computers, phones, and other office equipment 
• Ability to travel occasionally to different venues across the Los Angeles region and possibly outside the Greater Los Angeles region when appropriate 
• The LA28 office is an open floorplan working environment; employees must be able to work efficiently in an open cubicle environment 

Education:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Business Administration or a related field.  

Expectations:

• [ENTER TEXT]

Submission Requirements:

• Resume

The annual base salary range for this position is $145,000.00-210,000.00. 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.