Join the team at Eden Park! 

Eden Park is New Zealand’s national stadium, an iconic venue with over 125 years of history. We host world-class sporting events, concerts, cultural festivals, film and television productions, and corporate functions, welcoming more than half a million fans and visitors annually. With a reputation for excellence, we take pride in creating unforgettable experiences and delivering strong commercial outcomes that support the future of New Zealand’s national stadium. 

About the role 

The Eden Park Trust is seeking an experienced and highly capable General Manager Operations to join our Executive Leadership Team and play a pivotal role in the leadership and success of New Zealand’s national stadium. 

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, this is a senior executive position with responsibility for Eden Park’s operational strategy, major event delivery, venue operations, security, traffic and transport, emergency preparedness and operational performance, together with executive oversight of health and safety. 

You will lead Eden Park’s Operations function, including the Events and Security teams, providing strategic direction, developing operational capability and ensuring the successful delivery of our diverse programme of major sporting events, concerts and other activities. 

A critical part of this role is building and maintaining strong relationships with a complex network of external stakeholders. You will work closely with major sporting organisations, including Auckland Cricket, Auckland Rugby, New Zealand Rugby and the NRL, as well as touring promoters, concert production teams, Auckland Transport, Auckland Council, emergency services and other key partners. You will need the experience, credibility and judgement to navigate competing priorities, negotiate practical solutions and build relationships that support Eden Park’s ongoing success. 

As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, you will contribute to Eden Park’s strategic direction, commercial sustainability and long-term development, while ensuring operational plans, resources and capability support our organisational objectives. 

This is a genuinely hands-on executive role. You will be equally comfortable contributing to strategic decisions, engaging with senior external stakeholders and being on the ground leading major events, resolving complex operational challenges and supporting your team when it matters most. 

What you’ll do 

Strategic & Executive Leadership 

• Contribute to Eden Park’s organisational strategy and executive decision-making, providing sound operational advice, insights and recommendations. 
• Develop and deliver the Operations strategy and annual operational plans, aligning capability, resources and investment with organisational priorities. 
• Provide early operational input into proposed events and initiatives, assessing feasibility, capacity, risk, cost and delivery requirements. 
• Identify opportunities to strengthen operational performance, innovation, resilience and long-term sustainability. 
• Provide clear reporting and recommendations to the CEO, Executive Leadership Team and Board as required. 

Major Event Operations & Delivery 

• Hold overall accountability for the planning and operational delivery of Eden Park’s major sporting events, concerts and other venue activities. 
• Personally lead designated major or complex events, providing visible, decisive operational leadership throughout delivery. 
• Oversee all stages of event operations, including planning, venue readiness, event delivery, pack-out, reinstatement and post-event review. 
• Coordinate internal teams, event organisers, promoters, contractors and service providers to deliver safe, seamless and high-quality events. 
• Ensure event plans identify operational requirements, resources, budgets, responsibilities, risks and appropriate contingency arrangements. 
• Drive continuous improvement through event reviews, operational insights and stakeholder feedback. 

Strategic Stakeholder Relationships & Partnerships 

• Build and maintain trusted relationships with Eden Park’s key sporting partners, including Auckland Cricket, Auckland Rugby, New Zealand Rugby, the NRL and other national and international sporting organisations. 
• Develop strong relationships with touring promoters, concert organisers, tour management and production teams, acting as a senior operational contact throughout planning and delivery. 
• Lead Eden Park’s operational relationships with Auckland Transport, Auckland Council, Police, emergency services and other relevant agencies. 
• Personally progress complex operational arrangements for concerts and major events, balancing production requirements, safety, venue protection, consent conditions and commercial commitments. 
• Navigate complex stakeholder environments, balancing operational, commercial, regulatory and community requirements. 
• Lead senior-level discussions and negotiations, resolving competing priorities and developing practical solutions that deliver positive outcomes. 
• Represent Eden Park professionally in external forums, stakeholder engagements and industry discussions, strengthening relationships that support our reputation and future opportunities. 

Venue Operations, Security & Patron Experience 

• Provide leadership and oversight of Eden Park’s day-to-day operational services, ensuring consistently high standards of venue readiness and service delivery. 
• Lead operational planning and coordination of event traffic, public transport, pedestrian access and departure arrangements. 
• Oversee venue security and outsourced event-day security providers, ensuring effective security, crowd management and operational readiness. 
• Ensure effective emergency and contingency planning, including coordination with emergency services and other relevant agencies. 
• Take an active leadership role in significant operational incidents, making sound decisions and coordinating appropriate responses. 
• Drive improvements to the patron experience, including venue access, entry, movement, accessibility and departure. 
• Lead significant operational projects, ensuring effective planning, stakeholder coordination and delivery against agreed objectives, budgets and timelines. 

Health & Safety Leadership 

• Provide executive oversight of Eden Park’s health and safety programme, working closely with the H&S Consultant to ensure effective delivery and continuous improvement. 
• Oversee the implementation and ongoing improvement of Eden Park’s H&S strategy, ISO 45001 management system and risk management practices. 
• Promote strong health and safety leadership and accountability across Eden Park, working collaboratively with managers, contractors and external stakeholders. 
• Ensure significant operational and event-related risks are appropriately identified, managed and monitored. 
• Monitor health and safety performance, significant incidents, investigations, audits and improvement initiatives, ensuring appropriate reporting, escalation and follow-through. 
• Provide clear health and safety reporting and advice to the CEO, Executive Leadership Team and Board as required. 

People, Financial & Supplier Leadership 

• Lead, coach and develop the Operations leadership team, building capability, accountability and effective collaboration across the wider function. 
• Provide strategic direction and operational oversight of the Events and Security teams, ensuring the people, systems and processes are in place to deliver successful outcomes. 
• Delegate effectively while remaining closely involved in operational delivery, providing practical support and taking direct ownership where required. 
• Plan operational resources and workforce capability to meet the demands of a changing and complex event calendar. 
• Develop and manage Operations budgets, forecasts, supplier contracts and service agreements. 
• Monitor operational costs, supplier performance and opportunities to improve financial and commercial outcomes. 
• Work collaboratively across Eden Park to ensure effective planning, resource allocation and operational delivery. 

What we’re looking for 

We’re looking for an accomplished senior leader with significant stadium operations experience, strong executive judgement and a proven ability to deliver major events in complex, high-profile environments. 

You will bring the strategic perspective expected of an executive leader, together with the practical experience, stakeholder credibility and operational expertise needed to lead one of New Zealand’s most significant sporting and entertainment venues. 

Significant stadium operations experience is essential for this appointment. 

You’ll bring: 

• Significant experience in stadium operations, including at least five years in a senior operational leadership role. 
• A proven track record of successfully planning and delivering major sporting events and concerts within a stadium environment. 
• Demonstrated experience leading complex stadium operations, including direct event-day leadership, operational risk, security and emergency preparedness. 
• Extensive experience building and managing senior stakeholder relationships, including sporting organisations, event promoters, production teams, public agencies and external service providers. 
• Experience working directly with touring promoters, tour management and production teams on major concert planning and delivery. 
• Experience working with transport agencies and coordinating complex event traffic, transport and pedestrian management arrangements. 
• Proven ability to operate effectively at executive level, contributing to organisational strategy while remaining actively involved in operational delivery and problem-solving. 
• Strong people leadership experience, including leading managers, developing team capability and driving operational performance. 
• Demonstrated experience providing senior leadership and oversight of health and safety in a complex operational environment, including an understanding of risk management, regulatory requirements and effective safety management systems. 
• Demonstrated success managing complex operational projects, competing stakeholder requirements and significant operational challenges. 
• Sound commercial and financial capability, including budget management, forecasting, supplier contracts and operational cost management. 
• Excellent communication, negotiation and relationship management skills, with the ability to engage confidently and credibly with senior stakeholders. 
• Strong judgement and decision-making capability, particularly in complex, high-pressure or time-critical situations. 
• Experience preparing executive and Board-level reports, business cases and recommendations. 
• Confidence using Microsoft 365 and relevant event, incident and operational management systems. 
• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends and public holidays as required to support Eden Park’s event programme. 

A relevant tertiary qualification in operations, venue or event management, business or a related discipline would be advantageous, although equivalent practical experience will be considered. 

What we offer 

At The Eden Park Trust, we pride ourselves on our vibrant company culture and commitment to being recognised as New Zealand’s national stadium, delivering world-class live events and experiences. In addition to a competitive salary, we offer a range of benefits including: 

• Ongoing professional development and career progression opportunities 
• Complimentary tickets to most events at Eden Park (subject to availability) 
• Exclusive discounts on Eden Park merchandise and experiences 
• Generous discounts with our valued partners 
• Access to a complimentary on-site gym 
• Free on-site parking 
• A collaborative and supportive team culture 

This is an opportunity to take on one of Eden Park’s most significant leadership roles, contributing to the future of New Zealand’s national stadium while being directly involved in delivering some of the country’s biggest sporting and entertainment events. 

If you are an experienced stadium operations executive who combines strategic leadership with strong stakeholder relationships, sound operational judgement and a hands-on approach to delivery, we would welcome your application.