Job Summary:The Executive Director for the 2028 NCAA Women's Final Four will serve as the senior leader at Indiana Sports Corp responsible for planning, organizing, and delivering all host-city obligations to the NCAA for this marquee event, in addition to the DII, DIII, & WBIT Championships - all taking place the same weekend in Indianapolis. This role oversees all aspects of event operations, community engagement, partner collaboration, and experience design, ensuring Indianapolis sets the national standard for hosting the Women's Final Four and Joint Championships.
The Event Director leads the Local Organizing Committee (LOC), collaborates directly with the NCAA and host venue partners, and coordinates with civic agencies, sponsors, vendors, and community organizations to deliver a world-class championship experience for athletes, fans, media, and the broader community.
This is a high-profile, performance-driven role requiring exceptional leadership, operational expertise, strategic communication skills, and the ability to manage large-scale events in a fast-paced, highly collaborative environment.
Duties/Responsibilities:Leadership & Strategic Oversight- Lead the planning, development, and execution of all LOC responsibilities for the 2028 NCAA Women's Final Four and Joint Championships.
- Develop and oversee the master event plan, timeline, budget, staffing plan, and organizational structure.
- Serve as the primary liaison between the LOC, NCAA Women's Basketball staff, host venue(s), and Indiana Sports Corp leadership.
- Provide strategic updates and reports to senior leadership, board members, city partners, and NCAA representatives.
Event Operations & Delivery- Oversee all operational areas including competition venues, ancillary events, fan fests, convention center activations, hospitality, transportation, accommodations, safety/security, signage, ticketing support, and gameday operations.
- Ensure operational plans meet NCAA requirements, local regulations, accessibility standards, and best-in-class event practices.
- Lead the development of operational readiness exercises, contingency plans, and cross-agency coordination efforts.
- Manage procurement and vendor selection, including staging, production, transportation providers, décor, technology, and event services.
Fan, Athlete, and Stakeholder Experience- Design and execute a seamless, championship-caliber experience for student-athletes, teams, fans, officials, media, and VIPs.
- Oversee community events such as fan fests, open practices, youth clinics, legacy initiatives, and citywide engagement activations.
- Partner with marketing and creative teams to deliver outstanding branding, wayfinding, and event identity throughout the city.
- Support sponsorship activation, hospitality planning, and premium event experiences in partnership with the NCAA and local partners.
Partnership & Community Engagement- Coordinate with city agencies, public safety, tourism partners, hospitality organizations, universities, convention center leadership, and civic groups to ensure seamless event execution.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with local businesses, community organizations, and stakeholders to maximize regional impact.
- Lead volunteer strategy in partnership with Indiana Sports Corp's volunteer department to recruit, train, and deploy volunteers across all venues and events.
Staff Leadership & Team Management- Recruit, hire, and manage event-specific staff, interns, and contractors as needed.
- Lead cross-functional teams with clarity, collaboration, and accountability.
- Foster a positive, inclusive, high-performance culture centered on teamwork, communication, and problem-solving.
Financial & Administrative Management- Develop and manage the event's operational budget, ensuring fiscal responsibility and transparency.
- Track expenses, reconcile costs, and prepare financial reports for Indiana Sports Corp and NCAA review.
- Oversee contractual agreements, insurance requirements, and risk management processes.
Post-Event Legacy & Reporting- Lead post-event evaluation, reporting, and economic impact analysis.
- Capture lessons learned and institutional knowledge to strengthen future bids and event-hosting capabilities.
- Support the development of long-term community and youth-programming legacy initiatives connected to the event.
Required Skills/Abilities: - Bachelor's degree in sports management, event management, business administration, communications, or related field.
- 10+ years of experience leading major sporting events, large-scale public events, or national championships.
- Proven experience managing cross-functional teams and high-profile stakeholders.
- Demonstrated success in event planning, operations, logistics, and budget management.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present to senior executives, partners, and civic leaders.
- Ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines, and solve complex problems in dynamic, fast-paced environments.
- Strong knowledge of large-event safety, accessibility, and operational standards.
Preferred Skills/Abilities:- Previous NCAA championship or multi-sport event experience.
- Experience collaborating with city agencies, public safety, tourism organizations, and venue operators.
- Familiarity with Indianapolis's event infrastructure, sports venues, downtown footprint, and community landscape.
Competencies:- Strategic planning and organizational leadership
- Operational excellence and attention to detail
- Collaborative communication and relationship management
- Crisis management and adaptive problem-solving
- Team development and motivational leadership
- Creativity in fan engagement and event experience design
- Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Ability to represent the LOC and Indianapolis with professionalism and enthusiasm
Effective Date - August 1st, 2026- August 31st, 2028
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital or veteran status, or any other protected class.
Job Questions:- Are you legally authorized to work in the United States?
- Do you have 10+ years of experience in sports management, event management, business administration and/or communications?
- Do you have previous experience working with NCAA championship or multi-sport event experiences?