THE JOB / Hospitality Director (Staffing Lead) (Global Soccer) (Contract)

EXPERIENCES / Responsible for overseeing the planning and execution of the staffing plan for the client’s hospitality activations for the FIFA World Cup 26™.

WHERE YOU’LL WORK

Our headquarters are in Stamford, CT, but the location of this position can be flexible with priority given to candidates open to hybrid work in one of our office locations - - Stamford, CT, New York, NY, Charlotte, NC, Atlanta, GA, Chicago, IL, Los Angeles, CA, and Miami, FL. We will also consider a remote-based working arrangement for qualified candidates with East Coast working hours as a prerequisite.

WHEN YOU’LL WORK

Contract Dates: February 15 to August 15, 2026

Contract Type: W-2 Employment

THE WORK YOU’LL DO

We are thrilled to be looking for a dynamic Staff and Accreditation Lead to work on the exciting FIFA World Cup 26™ for one of our key clients and Worldwide Partner of FIFA. This could be the perfect role for you if you have exceptional project management skills, are a real team player and have an interest in working with a global hospitality team in the host market of this event. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Day to day coordination of the FWC related hospitality projects with a global team
• Coordination with client and team to determine the staffing needs to facilitate a large-scale hospitality program
• Leading staffing brief and screening / casting process to recruit temporary personnels to run hospitality and activation programs during the event
• Day to day communication with staffing vendor(s) to ensure recruited staff fits needs and to work on staff shifts according to the hospitality program itinerary
• Development of training/ operational manuals to ensure team has thorough knowledge of all procedures
• Effectively manage changes to the project throughout planning and on-site phases
• Stakeholder management both internally and with third party suppliers
• Assistance with post event reconciliation and reporting documentation
• Support internal & external project teams with accreditations for global soccer event 
• Act as primary contact for client lead and internal team to assemble all documentation in accordance with FIFA guidelines
• Collect, validate, and submit all required personal and role data for staff, ensuring compliance with document validity, background checks, and mandatory fields
• Assess and submit staffing plans, ensuring all roles, headcounts and venue access needs are accurately reflected for approval
• Ensure requests for accreditations are submitted properly and in a timely manner 
• Manage both invitation-based and bulk registration processes for all accredited staff
• Communicate accreditation procedures and information clearly and accurately to external region captions
• Assign and manage access zones and stadium codes according to approved working functions and FIFA’s zoning protocols
• Support onsite within client operations HQ during tournament window (June-July) to resolve real time issues during badge collection and event operations windows
• Report and coordinate the cancellation and potential reissue of lost or stolen accreditation passes, following FIFA’s security procedures
• Support pre-planning project coordination
• Onsite delivery of the event

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

• 5–7 years of experience in event staffing, workforce management, or large-scale operations — preferably in sports, live events, or experiential marketing. 
• Proven success managing large, diverse teams and coordinating multiple staffing vendors. 
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, and multitasking abilities with an eye for detail. 
• Experience developing and maintaining schedules, shift plans, and credentialing systems. 
• Skilled in vendor relations, budgeting, and operational reporting. 
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with a hands-on, people-first leadership style. 
• High level PowerPoint Skills, Excel and Outlook and a confidence to present internally and externally
• An ability to connect with people from various backgrounds, cultures and an ability to handle high end B2B clients and B2C guests equally
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and workforce management or project tracking platforms. 
• Ability to thrive in fast-paced, high-pressure environments while maintaining a calm and solutions-oriented mindset. 
• Endurance, stamina and physical ability to work long hours for extended days during activations.  
• Persistent enthusiasm, energy and drive through the project both in the office and importantly, on the road.  
• Valid driver’s license and clean driving record required.  
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs. and stand for up to or more than eight hours at a time.  
• Flexibility and willingness to travel domestically and work weekends or holidays as needed. Anticipated travel level: High (40-60%). 

This position pays an annualized rate of $100,000 and is not overtime-eligible. Contract positions with Octagon are not benefits-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.