THE JOB / Senior Hospitality Manager (Staffing Manager)

EXPERIENCES / Responsible for planning, budgeting, scheduling, and managing local staff leading up to and during the event.

WHERE YOU’LL WORK

One of the following FIFA Host Cities:  

• New York, NY

If not currently in one of those cities, Octagon will provide travel and accommodations support.

WHEN YOU’LL WORK

Contract Dates: Immediate to July 31, 2026

Contract Type: W-2 Employment

THE WORK YOU’LL DO

We are seeking a highly organized, proactive, and solutions-oriented Newsroom Liaison to support internal staff hospitality and operational logistics covering the FIFA World Cup 26™. This role will focus on ensuring a seamless experience for approximately 50–100 newsroom staff, content creators, PR, and digital personnel attending major events and platform activations.

This position functions similarly to managing an internal company meeting or traveling staff operations program, rather than traditional guest-facing hospitality. The ideal candidate thrives in fast-paced, evolving environments and is comfortable managing multiple operational workstreams with shifting inputs and timelines.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Lead planning and execution of internal staff hospitality and operational support programs for newsroom and content teams attending major events
• Quickly secure, manage, and finalize staff hotel accommodations and rooming allocations based on operational needs, schedules, and preferences
• Build and manage staff registration and tracking systems to capture travel details, dietary restrictions, arrival/departure schedules, emergency contacts, transportation requirements, and related operational data
• Develop and distribute clear, concise Know Before You Go (KBYG) materials, operational briefings, and logistical communications
• Serve as the primary point of contact for staff logistics and operational inquiries before and during events
• Coordinate day-to-day staff support including meals, transportation, hotel operations, ad hoc requests, and onsite troubleshooting
• Research, contract, and manage vendors including hotels, meeting spaces, transportation providers, laundry services, catering, and operational support partners
• Coordinate transportation schedules and support contingency planning for missed flights, delays, and last-minute schedule changes
• Partner with hotel teams to manage room inventory, arrivals/departures, room setup needs, housekeeping schedules, and operational requests
• Maintain and update centralized operational trackers, rooming lists, staffing documents, and logistics reports to ensure accuracy and accessibility
• Collaborate closely with hospitality, partnership, production, and agency teams to align operational plans and identify efficiencies across programs
• Support accreditation and credentialing processes, ensuring adherence to deadlines, submission requirements, and event protocols
• Act as an onsite operational lead and “office manager” to ensure staff workspaces, refreshments, supplies, and general team operations run smoothly during events
• Estimate and manage operational budgets related to hotels, transportation, staffing logistics, food & beverage, and onsite operational expenses
• Lead post-event budget reconciliation, operational wrap-up, recaps, and process improvement recommendations
• Develop standardized operational processes, toolkits, templates, and best practices for future newsroom and staff hospitality programs

THE BIGGER TEAM YOU’LL JOIN

Recognized as one of the “Best Places to Work in Sports”, Octagon is the global sports, entertainment, and experiential marketing arm of the Interpublic Group.

We take pride in being Playmakers – finding insightful, bold ways to create play in our work, our lives, and in the world. We believe in the power of play to create big ideas and unlock potential for our clients and talent.

We can put ourselves in the shoes of fans because we ARE fans – of sports, entertainment, and culture at large. This expertise allows us to continually evolve the fan experience across sports and entertainment alongside some of the biggest brands and talent in the world.

The world needs play more than ever. Are you a Playmaker?

WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR

• 5+ years of experience in hospitality operations, event logistics, experiential marketing, corporate meetings, production operations, or related fields
• Experience supporting large-scale internal staff operations, newsroom teams, or high-volume event logistics preferred
• Exceptional organizational skills with strong attention to detail and follow-through
• Ability to manage ambiguity, shifting priorities, and evolving event requirements with professionalism and composure
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to deliver clear, actionable information quickly
• Experience managing hotels, rooming lists, transportation logistics, staffing operations, and vendor coordination
• Comfortable working independently while coordinating across multiple internal and external stakeholders
• Strong operational problem-solving skills and ability to troubleshoot in real time
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel and PowerPoint
• Experience managing budgets, reconciliations, and procurement-related processes preferred
• Willingness to travel and work extended or non-traditional hours during live event periods as needed
• A focused and performance driven individual, who can think on their feet, use initiative and be comfortable working in a global environment, under pressure, and to tight deadlines but within a team environment
• Enjoys working and being part of a big team
• Must be able to remain in a stationary position at least 50% of the time
• Flexibility and willingness to travel domestically, and work weekends or holidays as needed. Anticipated travel level: Moderate (20-45%)

This position pays an annualized rate of $82,000, and is not overtime-eligible. Contract positions are not benefit eligible.

Octagon is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, disability, protected veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by law.