Sport and Venue Officer

Position Summary

Canoe Kayak Canada (CKC) is hosting, in conjunction with its partners, the 2026 International Canoe Federation (ICF) Canoe Sprint & Paracanoe World Cup (July 9‑12) followed immediately by the 2026 COPAC Pan American Canoe Championships (July 13‑15) in Montreal, Quebec.

The Sport & Venue Officer is a contract position and will be responsible for planning, coordinating and delivering all sport technical and competition specific aspects of the 2026 World Cup and 2026 Pan American Canoe Championships. This role ensures compliance with the ICF and COPAC Venue and Sport Operations requirements while providing a sport specific lens to other areas to enhance the overall experience for all athletes, teams, officials, volunteers and stakeholders.

The Sport & Venue Officer will work closely with the Sport Technical Lead and partners to deliver on the Sport specific elements for the Field of Play and related areas with respect to training, competition and flow during the events.

• Oversee all aspects of competition delivery in accordance with ICF and COPAC technical requirements, rules and guidelines.
• Work with Parc Jean Drapeau and other partners for delivery of requirements.
• Lead the planning, coordination and execution of field of play operations, training areas and athlete flow, including:
  • Albano course setup
  • Start gate installation coordination
  • 5k course preparation
  • Paracanoe classification
• • Boat control: official and non‑official setups.
  • Training and access control.
  • Coordinate the Technical Officials’ needs (on water, off water and in the finish tower) with the Officials lead.
• Coordinate the quotes, acquisition, set‑up, and use of sport equipment according to needs and budget.
• Work with timing, scoring, and results service providers to ensure accurate competition delivery. Ensure backup systems are procured, reliable, and tested.

• Work closely with other area leads to ensure all other operations are coordinated with participant experience as top priority. Including but not limited to:
  • Boat manufacturer setup, needs, flow, and access.
  • Awards ceremony athlete flow.
  • Ensure volunteer needs are planned and communicated with Volunteer Lead. Help with any training items that are important to the roles involved in Field of Play operations.
  • Assisting with communication plan for all areas.
  • Collaborate with Medical Lead for on‑water rescue operations, which include ensuring collaboration between Safety Officer, Medical Lead, Volunteer operations, and others.
  • Collaborate with HOC leads in delivery of exhibition or Canada Cup events for aspects above.
• Work with partners to collaborate on efficiencies of vendors and space setup, while also working to deliver a smooth transition between events (World Cup → Pan Ams → Montreal International Dragon Boat Challenge).
• Regular meetings/touch points with Event Leads, HOC and delivery partners.
• Full‑time onsite during the training and competition days of Events.
• Review workflow during CKC National Team Trials, June 11‑14, for testing of certain areas onsite.

• Minimum 5 years of experience working in or with the sport of canoe sprint (technical, operational, and/or officiating roles).
• Experience delivering technical components of national or international sporting events.
• Strong knowledge of sport technical requirements, competition operations, and venue planning.
• Excellent organizational and problem‑solving skills with strong attention to detail.
• Ability to perform effectively in a fast‑paced, high‑pressure event environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience working with volunteers, officials, and multi‑stakeholder teams.
• Willingness to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends, particularly during peak delivery periods.
• Functional communication in both English and French is essential for this role.

• Compensation: $20,000
• Start Date:
  
  early March based on candidate’s availability

Canoe Kayak Canada is proud to host this event in coordination with its partners which include Canoë‑Kayak Québec, Tourisme Montreal, City of Montreal, Parc Jean Drapeau, Government of Québec and the Government of Canada.