Project Lead Sydney

Role Overview: 

SailGP is seeking an experienced Event and Project Management Specialist to lead the planning and execution of the Sydney Sail Grand Prix. Reporting to the Regional Event Director, APAC the Project Lead role is a cross-functional senior managerial position that combines tactical project management with operational execution to oversee the lifecycle of the event.

Responsible for delivery and execution of our host venue agreement with the city, the role has a broad range of responsibilities and requires the individual to have extensive experience in delivering large-scale live spectator events, preferably in sports or entertainment, with strong stakeholder management, relationship and communication skills.

The Project Lead is responsible for ensuring seamless collaboration between SailGP’s Departments, ensuring alignment with SailGP’s systems, processes, and standards. The role is responsible for maintaining the event budget and managing procurement, permitting, compliance, risk and safety management, whilst being accountable for the delivery of technical and event operations (on water, in air, on land), ticketing, hospitality, marcomms, purpose. The Project Lead will be aware of and support the fulfillment of SailGP’s event specific commitments to partners, sponsors, race teams, local authorities, and agencies.

This role may require flexibility with travel and on-site presence during the build, live, and dismantle phases of the event.

Key Responsibilities:

Project Management & Execution

• Spearhead comprehensive event planning and execution to ensure a safe and successful outcome by strictly adhering to SailGP’s policies, processes, and standards, complying with all local regulations, and meeting the objectives, KPIs, and targets of both Global and Local stakeholders.


• Develop and maintain a comprehensive One Event Plan, ensuring clear timelines, workflows, and resource allocations across Global and Local teams.


• Continuously monitor progress, adjust plans, and ensure timely milestone delivery while staying within budget and resource constraints.


• Oversee the communication model and ways of working between Global and Local teams to foster collaboration and standardised ways of working.

Host Venue & Stakeholder Management

• Ensure all Host Venue Agreement obligations and commitments are met under the direction of the Regional Event Director.


• Work closely with the Regional Event Director to manage relationships with local stakeholders, authorities, sponsors, race teams, agencies, and community organisations.


• Organise and lead stakeholder meetings, providing regular updates.

Team Management

• Lead and manage the Local Team, ensuring appropriate task and time allocation to achieve efficient and high-quality service delivery, aligned with SailGP’s standards and company values.


• Oversee day-to-day management of local team staff to champion and ensure alignment with SailGP tools and systems for event planning and delivery.


• Act a primary welfare manager for all Local Team.


• Manage the purchase orders, invoicing and contract closing for all Local Team resources.

Finance & Procurement

• Maintain oversight of the event budget, tracking financial performance and ensuring adherence to cost allocations. Work with the Regional Event Director to find cost efficiencies and manage funds allocation for any budget challenges. Ensure the Regional Event Director is aware of any variances to budget through regular meetings and reporting.


• Work with the Procurement and Finance Manager, APAC to manage procurement processes, including selection, contracting, and supplier/vendor oversight, ensuring compliance with SailGP’s procurement policies.


• Ensure the Local Team is adequately trained in the SailGP procurement process with regular reporting via regular meeting and live tracking tools.


• Ensure timely raising of purchase orders to facilitate timely payments to suppliers.


• Support the Regional Event Director and Ticketing Manager, APAC with the development and management of the Ticketing P&L. The Regional Event Director will be accountable for the wider event P&L and strategic financial decision making.

Risk Management & Compliance

• Work with the Safety & Event Services Manager, APAC to maintain oversight of all applicable legal and regulatory compliance for the event, whilst supporting SailGP Global with any due diligence required for an international organisation operating such an event in a local market.


• Serve as the primary person responsible for securing all event permits, licenses, and event-specific land-use agreements. Leverage your expertise to effectively represent SailGP during negotiations and processes, ensuring all actions align with assigned responsibilities and liabilities while consistently consulting the designated SailGP subject matter expert


• Review and contribute to safety and risk management plans for the event developed under the approval of Regional Event Director, including crowd control, medical response, and crisis management.

Event Operations - Overlay, On Water, Hospitality, Race Stadium & Tech Site

• Work closely with SailGP Departments to oversee the timely completion of all tasks, meetings, milestones and major milestones in the One Event Plan. This includes venue drawing publication milestones whereby the Head of Event must lead on approval from external parties.


• Ensure all event operations plans are compliant with local regulations and give the appropriate consideration to local guidelines as well as political, social and economic factors.


• Ensure Global & Local teams are developing a comprehensive build and dismantle plan that is in compliance with all venue occupancy conditions and local regulations requirements.


• Lead on the development and management of the Event Run of Show to capture the intricate details of the live event days and ensure a clear, deconflicted schedule across on land, on water and in air that supports the Event Control function and C3 framework.

Fan Experience & Engagement

• Oversee alignment between the global standards for event content, activations, branding, and signage, with local market preferences and considerations.


• Support the delivery of merchandising, hospitality, and special activations (e.g., Sixth Sailor Program, VIP activations, press conferences).

Marketing, Partnerships & Communications

• Support Partnerships Manager, APAC with fulfilling sponsorship commitments and by being an active contributor to the local market activations and support with local event partner relationship management.


• Be informed of any local media and broadcast activities to support integration in planning and delivery.

Purpose & Sustainability

• Work with Purpose to ensure SailGP’s sustainability initiatives are embedded into all event planning and delivery.


• Support Purpose to deliver event specific projects


• Support Purpose with achieving compliance with ISO 20121 sustainability certification and drive climate action initiatives

Essential Skills & Experience

• Extensive experience in managing large-scale live events, preferably in sports or entertainment.


• Proven leadership skills, with experience managing cross-functional teams in high-pressure environments.


• Strong project management expertise, with the ability to develop, execute, and monitor complex event plans.


• Ability to build and manage relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including sponsors, local authorities, and community groups.


• Strong knowledge of event infrastructure, permitting, procurement, and operational safety protocols.


• Commitment to sustainability initiatives and familiarity with ISO 20121 standards.


• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to adapt to changing requirements and work across different time zones.


• While sailing knowledge is beneficial, it is not essential.


• Flexibility with working hours, including weekends and travel as required.