POSITION SUMMARY: The Country Music Association (CMA) produces some of the most iconic live events in the music industry, including CMA Fest, the world's largest and longest-running country music festival, and the CMA Awards, globally recognized as "Country Music's Biggest Night." As leader of the Events and Production team, this role provides strategic direction and operational oversight for the planning, production, and execution of CMA's diverse portfolio of events, broadcasts, festivals, and industry programs.

Leading the Events and Production team, the position is responsible for developing and executing event strategies that deliver exceptional experiences for fans, artists, partners, and industry stakeholders. The role oversees all aspects of event operations, including production, logistics, budgeting, staffing, vendor management, and safety planning, while driving operational excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement. Working closely with senior leadership, cross-functional teams, and at times the CMA Board of Directors, this leader translates organizational priorities into world-class event experiences while ensuring responsible stewardship of financial, operational, and human resources.

This position is based in Nashville, TN and requires in-person work.

CMA believes in and expects all staff to act in alignment with its core values of collaboration: exhibiting a team-oriented focus, practicing active listening, demonstrating empathy; being solution-minded: proactively identifying problems and potential solutions; and commitment: exhibiting tenacity, engagement, and passion.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Provide strategic leadership for the planning, production, and execution of CMA's portfolio of events, broadcasts, festivals, industry programs, and special initiatives.
• Develop and implement event strategies that align with organizational priorities, audience experience goals, operational excellence standards, and financial objectives.
• Partner with senior leadership and cross-functional stakeholders to drive organizational initiatives, operational effectiveness, and exceptional event outcomes.
• Lead, develop, and mentor the Events and Production team, fostering a high-performance culture centered on accountability, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Oversee all aspects of event operations, including project planning, production management, logistics, staffing, scheduling, and execution, ensuring events are delivered safely, on time, and within budget.
• Establish scalable processes, systems, and technologies that improve efficiency, cross-departmental coordination, documentation, and workflow management.
• Provide executive leadership during live events, serving as the primary operational decision-maker and escalation point for critical issues.
• Oversee departmental and event budget planning, forecasting, reporting, and resource allocation, ensuring responsible stewardship of financial and operational resources.
• Develop and manage strategic vendor and production partner relationships, including procurement, contract negotiations, and competitive bidding processes to maximize quality, innovation, and cost effectiveness.
• Oversee the management of event assets, equipment inventories, warehouse operations, and related operational resources.
• Lead comprehensive event safety, security, and risk management planning in partnership with internal stakeholders, venues, law enforcement, and external experts, ensuring effective preparedness, compliance, and incident response capabilities.
• Identify operational risks and implement mitigation strategies to protect guests, artists, staff, partners, and organizational interests across all events.
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible experience in event management, production, or operations, including significant leadership experience.
• Demonstrated success leading major festivals, televised productions, live entertainment events, conventions, or similarly complex programs.
• Proven ability to lead, develop, and inspire high-performing teams in a fast-paced, high-profile environment.
• Experience overseeing significant operating and event budgets, including forecasting, resource allocation, financial reporting, and cost management.
• Strong expertise in large-scale event production, logistics, operations, safety, security planning, and risk management.
• Demonstrated success managing vendors, venues, production partners, contract negotiations, and procurement processes.
• Exceptional leadership, organizational planning, project management, and decision-making capabilities.
• Proven ability to build collaborative relationships and influence outcomes across departments, senior leadership teams, external stakeholders, and governing bodies.
• Strong analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and make sound decisions under pressure.
• Track record of driving operational excellence, process improvement, innovation, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• High degree of professionalism, integrity, accountability, sound judgment, and executive presence.
• Ability to remain calm and effective in dynamic, high-pressure live event environments while ensuring exceptional stewardship of organizational resources.
• Bachelor's degree in Event Management, Hospitality, Business Administration, Communications, Production Management, or a related field preferred; equivalent combination of education and relevant experience will be considered.

COMMITMENT TO INCLUSIVITY: CMA is committed to creating lasting change by nurturing an inclusive and equitable culture. By fostering these practices in all areas of our business, we will ensure the future of our industry. We celebrate the dedication of our staff, our membership and the industry in moving Country Music forward and are committed to offering education and resources to help ensure an equitable pipeline of opportunity that continues for years to come.

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, age, genetic trait, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law.