Assistant Director, Athletic Events & Operations (Arena)

University of St. Thomas; Saint Paul (MN); On-site; USD 41,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of St. Thomas invites qualified candidates to apply for the Assistant Director of Athletic Events & Operations for the Lee & Penny Anderson Arena on the St. Paul campus.

The Assistant Director will serve as the primary event manager for assigned intercollegiate sports, coordinating game day operations, external staffing, and student staff supervision. This role requires a Bachelor’s degree and three years of athletics-related experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and three years of relevant experience in collegiate athletics or related athletic operations.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary event manager for assigned intercollegiate sports, overseeing all aspects of game day operations.
• Plan and coordinate the scheduling of external staffing for arena events, including security and public safety.
• Lead scheduling for arena events, coordinating with stakeholders to ensure successful execution.
• Hire, train, and supervise student staff for arena events using WhenToWork.
• Assist with facility maintenance, Emergency Action Plans (EAPs), and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Teamwork

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

OVERVIEW

The University of St. Thomas invites qualified candidates to apply for an Assistant Director of Athletic Events & Operations for the Lee & Penny Anderson Arena.

The University of St. Thomas embraces belonging and equal opportunity for all. Our convictions of dignity, diversity and personal attention call us to embody and champion an inclusive environment. The University is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer (EEO). All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, status as a protected veteran, or other protected characteristic. This commitment to inclusion and equal opportunity is consistent with our mission: Inspired by Catholic intellectual tradition, the University of St. Thomas educates students to be morally responsible leaders who think critically, act wisely, and work skillfully to advance the common good. A successful candidate will possess a commitment to the ideals of this mission.

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY

The University of St. Thomas offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits program, which includes:

• Tuition Remissionfor employees, spouses, and dependents
• Generous Retirement Contributionsto support your future
• Comprehensive Health Coverageincluding medical, dental, and vision
• Fully Paid Insurance: disability, life, and AD&D
• Paid Parental Leaveto support growing families

Salary Range: $40,500 to $50,000

The University of St. Thomas has provided a salary range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The specific salary offered will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information.

JOB SUMMARY

The Assistant Director is responsible for the planning and execution of assigned athletic and external events in Lee and Penny Anderson Arena on the St. Paul campus.

The Assistant Director serves as the primary event manager for assigned intercollegiate sports, overseeing all aspects of game day operations. They will plan and coordinate the scheduling of all external staffing for arena and other assigned athletic events and hire, train, schedule, and supervise student employees for arena and other athletic events.

This position will lead and support operational planning and scheduling for arena events, practices, coordination, facility use, and rentals. Coordinate with internal and external stakeholders—including key event contacts, coaches, support staff, campus partners, and external vendors to ensure successful event execution.

The Assistant Director will assist the Associate AD/Arena GM with other duties as assigned to support the operations of the arena and other athletic facilities and events.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Serve as the primary event manager for assigned intercollegiate sports, overseeing all aspects of game day operations—including visiting team coordination, officials’ logistics, credentialing, and emergency response planning. Ensure all events comply with NCAA, conference, and University standards for safety, operations, and fan experience. Oversee event logistics for assigned varsity sports, including budgeting, visiting team guides, parking coordination, event setup and teardown, weather monitoring via Perry Weather, and post-event debriefs. Serve as the postseason contact for assigned sports, coordinating logistics and support as needed. Collaborate with campus partners to ensure smooth execution.

• Plan and coordinate the scheduling of all external staffing for arena and other assigned athletic events. External staff may include, but is not limited to, contract security, public safety, police, fire/EMS, cleaning/custodial and stagehands/labor. Communicate with all external staffing groups event information and details. Provide training as required. Provide direct oversight of external staffing at events.

• Lead and support operational planning and scheduling for arena events, practices, coordination, facility use, and rentals. Coordinate with internal and external stakeholders—including key event contacts, coaches, support staff, campus partners, and external vendors to ensure successful event execution. Collaborate with athletics department and arena personnel on rental initiatives, including external camps, corporate clients, and campus partners to optimize facility use and drive revenue generation. Foster a positive, service-oriented culture while promoting community engagement through external programming.

• Hire, train, schedule, and supervise student employees for arena and other athletic events. Utilize WhenToWork software to manage student event staffing, ensuring appropriate coverage and effective operational support for all events. Provide ongoing training and develop opportunities for student staff.

• Assist the Associate AD/General Manager and the Sales & Marketing Manager with other duties as assigned. Assist with facility maintenance projects and the development of Emergency Action Plans (EAPs) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• Three years of relevant experience in collegiate athletics or a related athletic operations organization
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to work effectively across diverse teams and stakeholders
• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends, as required by events and facility operations

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Sports Administration or a related field

An equivalent combination of education and experience from which comparable skills and knowledge have been acquired may be substituted.