Senior Project Manager, Arena Operations

WE TAKE YOU ABOVE BEYOND

Take your passion to the next level and work alongside other masters of their craft to build a fulfilling and rewarding career at Marina Bay Sands.

Job Summary

The Senior Project Manager will lead the planning and coordination of arena operational-readiness workstreams from development through pre-opening, commissioning, test events, handover and early operations. The role will bring venue-operator and event-delivery expertise into design reviews; develop operating plans, SOPs, procurement and licensing requirements; coordinate stakeholder and authority interfaces; and ensure guest, artist, workforce, crowd-safety and back-of-house considerations are integrated into project decisions. Provide clear plans, reporting, risk escalation and practical delivery support to the Vice President, Arena.

Job Responsibilities

Venue Development and Operator Input

• Provide structured operator input into arena design, development and technical coordination, with emphasis on event operations, guest journeys, front-of-house, back-of-house, artist operations, crowd flow and precinct interfaces.

• Review drawings, plans, specifications, operational narratives, mock-ups and submissions, identifying operational risks, constraints and opportunities early.

• Coordinate Arena Operations feedback, document decisions and track agreed requirements through response and close-out.

• Work with project teams and advisers to balance operational outcomes with safety, licensing, programme, budget and project constraints.

Pre-Opening Mobilisation and Operational Readiness

• Develop and maintain the integrated operational-readiness plan, milestones, dependencies, risks, actions and readiness reporting.

• Coordinate the development of operating models, Concepts of Operations, SOPs, venue handbooks, event-day plans and departmental readiness requirements.

• Plan operational participation in commissioning, inspections, integrated systems testing, familiarisation, simulations, mock events and opening-readiness exercises.

• Track handover documentation, training, defects, outstanding works, licences, permits and acceptance evidence affecting operational readiness.

Event Operations, Guest Experience and Crowd Management

• Develop practical operating frameworks for concerts, entertainment, corporate events and other arena uses, covering ingress, egress, crowd management, patron flow, event logistics and venue changeovers.

• Champion a guest-first operating approach across premium, VIP, artist, public and accessible guest journeys while maintaining safe and efficient operations.

• Coordinate operational interfaces across security, fire safety, facilities, cleaning, catering, ticketing, technology, production, hospitality, transport and precinct stakeholders.

• Support event-readiness reviews and early-event delivery, capturing lessons learned and implementing improvements.

Licensing, Safety, Risk and Compliance

• Coordinate operational licensing, authority engagement and compliance planning with the responsible MBS functions and external agencies.

• Maintain operational risk, issue and action registers and ensure material concerns are documented, assigned and escalated.

• Integrate crowd safety, patron welfare, emergency planning and safe operating requirements into venue plans and procedures.

• Support audit-ready documentation and evidence for operating approvals, readiness gates and management assurance.

Procurement, Budget and Vendor Readiness

• Define operational equipment, service, supply and mobilisation requirements and support scopes, specifications, procurement planning and evaluations.

• Coordinate vendor mobilisation, service-readiness plans, training, testing and operational integration.

• Support budget development, cost tracking and prioritisation of operational-readiness expenditure.

• Identify practical efficiencies while protecting safety, guest experience, operational capability and opening readiness.

Stakeholder Leadership and Team Development

• Lead cross-functional workshops and working groups with clear agendas, decisions, owners, deadlines and follow-through.

• Build effective relationships with project, operational, commercial and corporate stakeholders, consultants, contractors, promoters, hirers, authorities and vendors.

• Support recruitment, onboarding, training and mentoring of Arena Operations team members as the organisation grows.

• Prepare concise executive dashboards, papers, recommendations and escalations for the Vice President, Arena.

Job Requirements

Education & Certification

• Degree or diploma in venue management, event management, hospitality, business, operations, project management or a related field.
• Relevant safety, crowd-management or project-management qualifications are advantageous.

Experience

• At least 12 years of progressively responsible experience in venue operations, live entertainment, stadium or arena operations, venue development or pre-opening mobilisation, including substantial responsibility for complex stakeholder and operational-readiness workstreams.

Other Prerequisites

• Sector Background: Demonstrated experience across major venues, live events, hospitality, integrated resorts, public assembly buildings or comparable event-led environments. Experience taking a new or substantially redeveloped venue from development into operations is highly preferred.
• Operational Capability: Strong working knowledge of event operations, front-of-house and back-of-house planning, crowd and precinct operations, guest experience, licensing, safety, SOP development, procurement, budgeting, commissioning and handover.
• Leadership & Stakeholder Skills: Able to lead multidisciplinary stakeholders, influence without relying on formal authority, resolve competing priorities and convert complex operational needs into clear plans and project requirements. Strong written communication, judgement, negotiation and follow-through are required.
• Operational Requirements: Willingness to attend site and support testing, mobilisation, rehearsals and critical event or commissioning activity outside standard office hours where required.

Marina Bay Sands is committed to building a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce, providing equal opportunities as we grow our talent base to match our growth ambitions in Singapore. Our employees are committed to adhere to and abide by all rules, regulations, policies and procedures, including the rules of conduct and business ethics of the Company.