Event Programmer

The Athletic

Contract Event Programmer developing compelling programming for live events at The Athletic. Collaborating with teams to secure talent and shape conversations.

Posted 6/12/2026contractRemote • 🇺🇸 United StatesSeniorLead💰 $90,000 - $110,000 per yearWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Partner with The Athletic newsroom and editorial leads to develop event concepts and programming that reflect our journalism and audience interests
Research, identify, and secure talent - including athletes, coaches, executives, and cultural figures – working through outreach, negotiations, and contracting
Build and shape run of show, including conversation arcs, formats and session structure
Collaborate with moderators, journalists, and hosts to prepare for on-stage conversations, including briefing materials and prep calls
Work cross-functionally with internal teams (editorial, marketing, commercial, creative development, production) to ensure seamless execution
Stay ahead of trends across sports, media, and culture to inform timely and relevant programming
Contribute to extending the life of event content across platforms (editorial, video, audio, social)

Requirements

What you’ll need

Minimum of 8+ years of experience programming live events, ideally within sports, media or entertainment
Deep knowledge of the sports landscape, including leagues, athletes and key storylines
Proven experience sourcing, booking, and managing high-profile talent
Strong editorial instincts and the ability to shape compelling narratives and conversations
Experience working with journalists or editorial teams is highly preferred
Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with a strong network across sports and media
Highly organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to manage multiple workstreams simultaneously
Comfortable working in a fast-paced, collaborative environment and adapting to evolving priorities
Willingness to travel for events as needed

Benefits

Comp & perks

medical, dental and vision benefits
Flexible Spending Accounts (F.S.A.s)
company-matching 401(k) plan
paid vacation
paid sick days
paid parental leave
tuition reimbursement
professional development programs

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

event programmingsourcing talentbooking talentmanaging talentdeveloping event conceptsshaping narrativespreparing briefing materialsnegotiating contractsexecuting live eventscross-functional collaboration

Soft Skills

communication skillsrelationship-buildingorganizational skillsdetail-orientedadaptabilitycollaborationeditorial instinctsnetworkingtime managementproblem-solving