[Hiring] VP, Events & Commercial @Chess.com

Role Description

We are hiring a VP, Events & Commercial to lead a talented team that oversees Chess.com's competitive events ecosystem and commercial strategy. This is a dual-mandate role: you own both the product (our online competitive events, broadcasts, and live finals) and the revenue engine (sponsorships, brand integrations, business development and internal alignment with ads and monetization teams). The best candidates will see these as one job, not two.

Chess.com runs the most complex and sophisticated competitive chess operation in the world, which includes:

• Hundreds of online events — from the Speed Chess Championship to Titled Tuesday to our coverage of major events like the World Chess Championship.
• A broadcast operation that produces multiple shows per week.
• A growing portfolio of selective, high-impact live events.

Our competitive programming is a key commercial asset, and our commercial strategy is what makes our events bigger.

This leader will report directly to our Chief Chess Officer and work alongside senior leaders across Content and Communications.

Qualifications

• Understanding that competitive programming is a product.
• Commercially creative with the ability to build new commercial products.
• Ability to manage operational complexity and strategic imperatives simultaneously.
• Experience working alongside a deeply involved founder/CCO.
• A hunger to build the defining competitive platform for chess.
• A passion for chess or readiness to fall in love with it.

Requirements

• Own Chess.com's competitive event ecosystem.
• Run the broadcast operation with precision and quality.
• Oversee the competitive programming strategy.
• Build the connective tissue between events and content.
• Manage a selective portfolio of in-person events.
• Manage the broadcast production infrastructure.
• Own the commercial strategy across events and product portfolio.
• Identify and develop new commercial opportunities.
• Lead business development and sponsorship sales.
• Think strategically about Chess.com's investment in competitive programming.
• Work closely with Communications for authentic deal activation.
• Set revenue targets and create reporting infrastructure.
• Own the Events & Commercial P&L.
• Directly manage team leads across Events, Broadcast, and Business Development.
• Build scalable processes and reporting structures.

Benefits

• This is a full-time opportunity.
• We are 100% remote (work from anywhere!).
• This role is open to candidates who can work in USA/CAN/EMEA.

Preferred Skills

• 10+ years of experience in events, sports media, esports, competitive gaming, or digital entertainment.
• Demonstrated experience as a leader of leaders.
• Proven track record in online competitive programming or digital-first event production.
• Experience running or overseeing broadcast operations.
• Experience building and closing commercial deals.
• Experience with digital advertising and direct sales to large brands.
• A track record of commercial innovation.
• Strategic fluency in the economics of events.
• Deep relationships across the sports, entertainment, and brand marketing ecosystem.

Nice-To-Have Skills

• Background in chess, esports, or passion-driven competitive communities.
• Experience working with sports governing bodies.
• Familiarity with live event production.
• Experience operating inside a founder-led, fast-moving organization.