Position Summary:
Hartford Athletic seeks an experienced leader as our Director of Operations. This person will serve a critical role within the organization, as this person will help ensure the Club is properly implementing and managing a top-in-class gameday experience in North America. The Director of Operations will provide overall administrative planning, direction, and policies to gameday staff, assuring the highest quality service for soccer games and events. This person will also ensure an effective, high quality and cost-efficient outcome for all events and overall gameday operations. The successful candidate will also be expected to play an active role in developing the Club’s various stadium fan experience initiatives.
The Director of Operations will report to the Chief Operating Officer.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities:
- In collaboration with Stadium operators, ensure that the strategic vision for the Club’s stadium and gameday experience is defined, developed, and executed, including development of additional revenue streams.
- Serve as Club’s primary point-of-contact regarding the overall development, implementation and management of gameday, including but not limited to: Back of House Operations, Gameday Special Events, Hospitality, Fan Zone, Merchandise, Broadcast, Media, Traffic Control, Venue, Teams & Officials, Supporters, Match Operations, Match Presentation, Security and Parking.
- Manage the organizational structure of the gameday operational experience and ensure reporting and line item responsibilities of departmental staff are appropriate.
- Oversee and ensure budgets remain in line with the Club’s financial model and strategic plan.
- Review all services for optimization, considering internal and third party options for all divisions of operations.
- Ensure fan experience is a primary focus and stay ahead of trends in order to achieve continuous improvement.
- Negotiate, administer and manage contracts with outside vendors and labor groups (as needed).
- Serve as the Club’s liaison with USL for all gameday-related functions.
- Collaborate with Stadium operators on the development of staff, including hiring, training, coaching and ensuring compliance with labor regulations.
- Work with local officials on gameday-related functions (city/county codes, parking, transportation, security, licenses, permitting, etc.).
- Ensure all health and safety requirements are met during gameday events and activities.
- Organize, manage and transport operations equipment for home matches and special events.
- Coordinate event logistics, including development and execution of field plans, collateral placement, crowd management and emergency safety measures.
- Set-up and dress activation areas according to Marketing and Sponsorship contract obligations.
- Assist on-field activities on match days by setting up team benches and locker rooms, managing ball kids, sitting stretcher crew and leading kids in pre-game/half-time ceremonies.
- Represent the Club and its respective partners/sponsors with pride and passion.
- Communicate, coordinate and stall all game day volunteers.
- Develop game-day staff list.
- Create all game-day volunteer paperwork, including credentials, post orders, brief sheets.
- Track and record attendance of all volunteers.
- Manage the set-up, and clean-up of supplies for stadium game operations.
- Assist with team practices and additional team-related activities as necessary.
Qualifications:
- Demonstrated knowledge of gameday management and experience in employee supervision in facility operations.
- Must be an effective fiscal manager with demonstrated success in reducing costs and improving quality.
- Experience functioning in a 24/7 operating environment, including frequent work on nights and weekends.
- Manage time effectively, with the ability to perform well with strict deadlines.
- Be comfortable multi-tasking and problem-solving in a fast-paced environment.
- Perform strenuous physical duties, including carrying heavy boxes and equipment.
- Maintain an effective working relationship with coworkers, fans, vendors and sponsors.
- Follow all policies, procedures and safety precautions established by the Club.
- Access to a car, a clean driving record, proof of auto insurance and a valid driver’s license.
