Sports & Special Events Program Coordinator

Overview

Join the team as a Sports & Special Events Program Coordinator supporting the Tourism Assistant Director. This role acts as a key liaison between the Destination Marketing Organization (DMO), local community stakeholders, and organizers of sports and special events. The position entails coordinating and hosting site visits for sports events, overseeing digital sports tourism platforms, facilitating accommodation logistics, attending industry conferences, and delivering event services to organizers.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate and lead inspections and site visits for representatives of regional, national, and international sports and special event organizations, including amateur, collegiate, professional, and festival event planners.
• Promote Pasco County venues, hotels, and attractions to influential sports and event decision-makers.
• Administer sports tourism digital platforms such as PlayEasy and Sports Tourism Index to generate and convert sports event leads into confirmed bookings.
• Collaborate with the Tourism Assistant Director on recruiting new events, managing sports event contracts, and executing funding and sponsorship programs.
• Prepare and submit grant proposals and reimbursement reports to government agencies including the Florida Sports Foundation.
• Represent the destination at local, regional, and national sports industry trade shows and conferences.
• Compile monthly reports on sports and special events for presentation to the Tourist Development Council and produce update communications for local hotels.
• Provide accommodation coordination support for events without housing company partnerships.
• Carry out occasional tasks involving heavy lifting up to 50 pounds.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support organizational goals.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong analytical and logical reasoning skills to tackle complex issues.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment with minimal oversight.
• Proficient in analyzing trends and providing clear assessments aligned with organizational objectives.
• Experience engaging with high-level private sector executives, government officials, and public representatives.
• Skilled in managing sensitive information and multitasking across various responsibilities.
• Excellent written, verbal, and graphic communication abilities to clearly convey ideas and findings.
• Familiarity with interpreting legislation, rules, and codes relevant to the role.
• Computer proficiency including industry-related software.
• Effective prioritization of concurrent assignments.
• Mature judgment and tactfulness in professional interactions.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in marketing, communications, or a related discipline.
• At least two years of experience in project coordination.
• Experience with Content Management Systems (CMS) and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software preferred.
• Valid Florida driver's license is required and must be maintained.
• Capability to occasionally lift heavy items up to 50 pounds.

Additional Information

• This position requires participation in emergency response and recovery activities before, during, or after emergencies, including possible temporary reassignment of duties and schedules.
• The employer is committed to providing reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
• The workplace maintains a drug-free policy in accordance with federal and Florida laws.
• Preference in hiring is given to eligible veterans under applicable Florida statutes.
• Pasco County was recognized as one of the nation’s top workplaces in 2021.