Senior Manager, Stadium Entertainment

FIFA has established a Local FIFA Subsidiary in Brazil to work together with FIFA Zurich to deliver the biggest women’s sporting event in the world, the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027™ (“FWWC2027”) that for the first time ever, is hosted in South America in Brazil. Now is your time to be part of the workforce that is creating this unique and unforgettable experience.

Please submit your CV in English, as it will be reviewed by an international team.

The Stadium Entertainment Senior Manager is responsible for leading the planning, development, and delivery of all Stadium Entertainment operations across the FIFA Women's World Cup 2027™.

Reporting to the Head of Entertainment, this role will oversee the full lifecycle of stadium entertainment activations across all tournament venues and IBCC, ensuring a consistent, high-quality and globally resonant fan experience.

This role ensures the successful implementation of the FIFA‑developed Stadium Entertainment Concept, overseeing creative, technical, and operational workstreams to deliver world‑class matchday entertainment experiences.

The position provides senior leadership, cross‑functional coordination, and operational oversight to ensure consistency, quality, and readiness.

The Stadium Entertainment Senior Manager will act as the primary point of contact for stadium entertainment matters across the tournament footprint, including the IBCC, working closely with venue teams, broadcast, and the FIFA Special Events & Entertainment (SPE) team to guarantee world-class entertainment delivery at every match.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Stadium Entertainment Project Leadership

· Lead the operational delivery and implementation of the Stadium Entertainment Concept across all tournament venues in alignment with FIFA Entertainment (EET) in Zurich.

· Oversee stadiumspecific preproduction workflows including creative approvals, technical scoping, resource planning, and risk assessments.

· Main point of contact with stadiums for LED screen specs and content delivery formats

· Ensure alignment of objectives, timelines, scopes, and approvals for all Stadium Entertainment activities.

· Provide support on creative direction, technical feasibility, and operational prioritisation for Stadium Entertainment.

· Lead the operational planning and delivery of all stadium entertainment workstreams across all FWWC27 venues and IBCC.

· Provide senior‑level oversight and escalation management for all Stadium Entertainment operational issues.

· Lead the development of stadium entertainment operational plans, rundowns, and show formats for all venues.

· Oversee implementation of the FIFA‑approved Entertainment Concept across all stadium entertainment touchpoints.

· Coordinate with Venue Management, Broadcast, FTI, and other Functional Areas to integrate entertainment seamlessly into match‑day operations.

· Ensure consistency of fan experience and entertainment standards across the full tournament venue footprint.
IBCC Stadium Entertainment Project Leadership· Lead the Stadium Entertainment operation at the IBCC, overseeing all entertainment areas, operational structures, and functional setup within that environment.

· Ensure the IBCC stadium entertainment programme is fully aligned with the broader tournament entertainment concept and operational standards.

· Coordinate IBCC-specific entertainment requirements with broadcast partners, venue management, and relevant Functional Areas.

· Act as the primary point of contact for all stadium entertainment matters within the IBCC, managing suppliers and technical crews on site

Team Leadership

· Manage the Stadium Entertainment Team, providing clear direction, performance oversight, and accountability structures.

· Mentor and support all Stadium Entertainment personnel, including full‑time staff, freelancers, and event‑time workforce, ensuring consistent standards, development pathways, and operational readiness across all staffing groups.

· Support internal talent development through coaching and guidance.

· Build team structures and optimize collaboration across creative, technical, and operational units.

· Provide leadership and operational oversight to all Stadium Entertainment personnel working within the IBCC environment, ensuring clarity of roles, responsibilities, and communication flows.

· Foster strong coordination between venue‑based teams and IBCC‑based teams to maintain consistency in delivery standards and operational execution.

· Foster strong teamwork, knowledge exchange, and operational alignment with the Ceremonies Team to ensure unified delivery across all entertainment and ceremonial workstreams.

Venue Readiness & Execution

· Lead preparation of Site Operational Plans (SOPs), stadium production schedules, and PMC rundowns for Stadium Entertainment.

· Oversee pre‑production processes including technical surveys, AV infrastructure assessments, and supplier installation planning.

· Ensure readiness standards are met and oversee execution during live operations.

· Act as the key problem‑solver to maintain seamless delivery during matchday entertainment.

· Oversee rehearsal planning, scheduling, approvals, and stakeholder coordination.

· Ensure all entertainment elements are validated during pre‑event testing and rehearsal phases.

· Direct venue‑level pre‑production processes including technical surveys, infrastructure assessments, and installation planning.

Content Production & Management

· Coordinate delivery, approval, and archival of all entertainment content including music, graphics, video, and scripts.

· Oversee creative brief development, content commissioning, and preproduction workflows with internal teams and external agencies.

· Manage stakeholder approval pathways to ensure content is locked in accordance with operational timelines.

· Work with the Head of Entertainment and FIFA SPE team to align creative execution with brand and communications guidelines.

· Manage IP and copyright compliance for all entertainment content deployed at venues.

Planning Scheduling & Documentation

· Oversee development of pre‑production timelines, milestone structures, and cross‑venue coordination processes for Stadium Entertainment.

· Track and report delivery progress through detailed WIP reports and Project plan. Ensure all operational and creative decisions are documented and version-controlled.

· Prepare written and oral presentations, high-level briefings and reports for Head of Entertainment, Senior leadership and FIFA counterparts.

· Organize and participate in regular Review, Project Team, and Status Update meetings.

· Report on project progress and stakeholder alignment to the Head of Entertainment.

· Lead the creation, management, and archiving of project plans, workflows, venue documentation, and readiness tools across all Stadium Entertainment workstreams.

Supplier & Budget Management

· Lead early‑stage budget modelling, scenario planning, and resourcing strategies to support creative and operational planning.

· Develop and manage Scopes of Work, Procurement activities, supplier evaluations, contract negotiations, in line with FWWC27 management and procurement policies.

· Maintain full budget oversight including forecasting, cost control, variations, and invoicing. Ensure contractual deliverables and timelines are aligned with pre‑production schedules and operational readiness requirements.

· Conduct regular supplier update meetings and coordinate implementation processes.

Stakeholder & Functional Area Liaison

· Act as the senior liaison between the Entertainment Team and all relevant Functional Areas, including Venue Operations, Broadcast, Safety & Security, Marketing, and FIFA SPE.

· Deliver concise briefings, alignment updates, and escalation management across all internal and external stakeholders.

· Build and maintain relationships with Host Country national bodies, cultural organizations, and local partners contributing to ceremonies.

· Ensure early‑phase cross‑functional integration to support seamless operational delivery.

Venue Readiness & Execution

· Lead preparation of Site Operational Plans (SOPs), stadium production schedules, and PMC rundowns for Stadium Entertainment.

· Oversee pre‑production processes including technical surveys, AV infrastructure assessments, and supplier installation planning.

· Ensure readiness standards are met and oversee execution during live operations.

· Act as the key problem‑solver to maintain seamless delivery during matchday entertainment.

· Oversee rehearsal planning, scheduling, approvals, and stakeholder coordination.

· Ensure all entertainment elements are validated during pre‑event testing and rehearsal phases.

· Direct venue‑level pre‑production processes including technical surveys, infrastructure assessments, and installation planning.

Other Duties

· Perform additional responsibilities as required by Senior Management aligned with project delivery.

· Represent the Ceremonies function in cross-functional planning forums and Senior Management briefings.

· Support the Head of Entertainment in strategic planning, operational readiness, and tournament‑wide entertainment integration.

Education:

· Bachelor's degree or similar level of higher education or equivalent in industry experience.

Experience

· 7+ years' experience in live event production and ceremonies management, ideally within major international sporting events or large-scale public events.

· Prior experience in a FIFA tournament or comparable major international sports event is highly desirable.

· Demonstrated experience managing complex, large-scale ceremonies including opening/closing ceremonies and awards presentations.

· Proven track record in team management, creative development, supplier management, and cross-functional coordination.

· Significant experience managing RFP/procurement processes and overseeing multi-supplier contracts and budgets.

· Experience integrating cultural programming and working with national cultural bodies and creative agencies.

Skills & Competencies

· ADMINISTRATIVE SKILLS: Ability to manage office and production documentation including RFPs, presentations, show rundowns, rehearsal schedules, scripts, and permits accurately.

· ADAPTABILITY: Ability to adapt to evolving creative direction and operational challenges in high-pressure environments.

· FLEXIBILITY: Willingness to work irregular hours, including evenings and weekends, across the full tournament period.

· COMMUNICATION SKILLS: Outstanding written and verbal communication skills; able to manage complex stakeholder relationships at a senior level.

· ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS: Exceptional project management skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent ceremony workstreams to tight deadlines.

· PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS: Strategic and creative approach to problem-solving; ability to make clear decisions under pressure.

· CROSS-FUNCTIONAL COLABORATION: Proven ability to work collaboratively across internal teams and diverse functional areas, ensuring alignment and contributing to the successful achievement of delivery goals.

· INTERPERSONAL SKILLS: Builds effective working relationships across internal and cross-functional teams, applying strong interpersonal skills to support smooth coordination and operational alignment.

· CULTURAL SENSITIVITY: Deep awareness and respect for diverse cultures; committed to ensuring ceremonies are inclusive, authentic, and globally resonant.

· PASSION FOR ENTERTAINMENT: Genuine passion for live performance, ceremony production, and the power of sport to inspire.

Certifications & Requirements

· Fluent in English and Brazilian Portuguese.
· Proficient in MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio & Project) and planning/collaboration tools.
· Experience of Monday.com an advantage.
· Knowledge of and previous event / tournament experience across the stadiums in Brazil a plus
· The right to work in Brazil.
· Ability to re-locate to Rio de Janeiro.