Sept. 15, 2026

Special Events Manager

IMG Academy Bradenton, Florida

About IMG Academy
IMG Academy is the world’s leading sports education brand, providing a holistic education model that empowers student-athletes to win their future while preparing them for college and for life. IMG Academy has been nationally recognized by organizations including Sports Business Journal, USA Today, and the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For for its workplace culture, innovation, and commitment to developing people both on and off the field.

IMG Academy provides growth opportunities for student-athletes and partners through an innovative suite of on-campus and online experiences:
• Boarding school and camps, delivered on a state-of-the-art campus in Bradenton, Florida
• Online coaching through IMG Academy+, focused on personal development through the lens of sport and performance
• Online college recruiting through NCSA College Recruiting and SportsRecruits, providing industry-leading recruiting education, tools, and access to a network of more than 40,000 college coaches for student-athletes, families, club coaches, and event operators
• Elevate by IMG Academy, a performance and personal development solution that delivers mindset, leadership, and wellbeing programming to schools, colleges, and organizations through a combination of digital content and immersive experiences


The Special Events Manager will serve as lead for planning and executing special events across campus, and occasionally at off-site locations, including, but not limited to, academic events such as Commencement and Student Check-ins, corporate events, executive and employee events, non-sports camps, and other special events as they arise. This role will also assist in the planning and execution of high-profile student engagement events such as Homecoming and Prom. The Campus Special Events Manager will be responsible for leading and supervising other Campus Special Events team members.

Key Responsibilities:

• Work collaboratively with internal departments to plan, execute, and wrap-up each event, with an emphasis on quality, strategic expense management, and continual elevation and improvement
• Execute events with high-level standard of excellence and customization, building out timelines, agendas, and activities for groups that create unrivaled experiences
• Follow standard operating procedures and best practices in project management to clearly delegate tasks, adhere to timelines, and ensure all resources are secured
• Provide leadership, coaching, and management to other department members, such as Coordinators, Assistants, Part Time Crew, and Interns to maximize their effectiveness and help them develop and grow professionally.
• Partner with Academics and Student Engagement to plan IMG Academy Student & Parent related events (ex: Commencement, Commitment Ceremony, Check-in, etc.)
• Craft event orders, itineraries, maps, RACI forms, project trackers and other event paperwork as needed
• Oversee venue setups, including seating, Audiovisual equipment, décor, and rental items
• Support business development team with the execution of corporate sponsorships and IMG Academy business partners’ activations
• Facilitate internal communication between Group & Team Sales, Food & Beverage, Sponsorship, Marketing, Corporate Communications, and Transportation teams to streamline processes and work collectively to execute event experiences
• Work cross departmentally to assist with IMGA owned events, team training and 3rd party as directed
• Work with Accounting department to manage budgeting and finance processes for each event, including performing financial reconciliations, processing invoices, budget reviews, and purchase orders
• Research and secure vendors by event needs, using comparative shopping to maximize ROI and value
• Perform record keeping tasks and create recap documents for each event
• Monitor industry best practices in events and hospitality to understand current trends and elevate experiences
• Perform other duties as assigned


Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Hospitality, or a related field required.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in event planning and management.
• Demonstrated ability to manage budgets and follow financial controls.
• Experience supervising or coordinating staff and vendors.
• Highly motivated self-starter with strong initiative and accountability.
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills with the ability to adapt to changing priorities and meet deadlines.
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively with diverse teams, executives, vendors, and external partners.
• Strategic thinker capable of learning existing processes and identifying opportunities for improvement.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present information to a variety of audiences.
• Comfortable learning and using multiple digital platforms, including hotel management systems, SAP, and venue scheduling tools.

Preferred:


• Experience managing and planning experiences for an array of corporate clients

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

• Ability to lift, move, push, and pull equipment or boxes in excess of 40lbs.
• Ability to perform the physical aspects of event set up, tear down and execution
• Should be able to handle outdoor temperatures for a reasonable period of time
• Must be able to move around campus which includes gym, turf, fields, etc.
• Ability to work flexible hours to include nights, weekends and holidays is required


Background Requirements:
• Requires a background check upon offer
• Requires a drug test upon offer


This position requires a Florida Level 2 Background Screening. Learn more about the screening process and requirements by visiting the Florida Care Provider Background Screening Education & Awareness website: https://info.flclearinghouse.com.


Benefits:
As a full-time member of our team, you will enjoy a comprehensive offering listed below. Connect with your talent acquisition specialist to learn more about benefits for our part-time and seasonal/temporary roles.
• Comprehensive Medical, Dental and Vision
• Flexible Spending Account and Health Savings Account options
• 401k with an Employer Match
• Short Term and Long Term Disability
• Group and Supplemental Life & AD&D
• Gym Discount Program
• Pet Insurance
• Wellbeing Program
• and more!

Don’t meet every single requirement? We are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Get to know us better:
www.imgacademy.com
www.imgacademy.com/careers

IMG Academy provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

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