General Manager - Gadsden Athletic Center

sportadvisory; Gadsden (AL); On-site; USD 95,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Gadsden Athletic Center in Gadsden, AL, seeks a General Manager to direct financial and operating performance within an exempt, full‑time role. You will optimize profitability, foster client relationships, and drive growth across food & beverage and event operations.

You will lead department heads, coordinate budgets, and ensure compliance while developing staff and implementing major initiatives. Strong leadership and sports venue experience are essential.

Qualifications

• Prior responsibility in daily P&L management and budget oversight of $4MM or greater.
• Proven experience in organizing, booking, and operating sports tournaments and events; including baseball, softball, soccer and similar activities.
• Operational knowledge of F&B, entertainment, and sport clubs as well as parties, corporate events, and team building preferred.
• Experience with convention & visitor bureaus, regional sports commissions, and/or regional event management booking in a regional sports context.
• A minimum of 7 years of management experience.
• Operational knowledge of risk management, kitchen operations, entertainment, and sports clubs, as well as parties, corporate events, teambuilding, and leadership development.
• Sports programming and sports event operations expertise required.

Responsibilities

• Analyze operations to evaluate performance and identify cost reduction or policy changes.
• Appoint department heads or managers and delegate responsibilities.
• Confer with ownership, advisors and staff to coordinate activities and resolve problems.
• Coordinate development and implementation of budgetary control systems and recordkeeping.
• Direct and coordinate financial and budget activities to fund operations and improve efficiency.
• Direct administrative activities, including high‑level hiring and department setup.
• Direct, plan and implement policies to maximize returns and productivity.
• Implement corrective action plans to solve organizational problems.
• Prepare and present reports on activities, expenses, budgets, and statutory matters.
• Represent the organization at official functions and delegate representatives as needed.
• Serve as liaison between organizations, shareholders and community groups.
• Communicate and present to tourism commissions and community groups.
• Administer site location selection, construction considerations, and equipment provisioning.
• Oversee production, pricing, sales, and distribution activities.
• Negotiate or approve contracts with suppliers and agencies.
• Prepare budgets for approval and program funding.
• Review staff reports and suggest changes.
• Schedule ongoing staff training on operations, safety, and compliance.
• Perform additional duties as assigned by VP of Venue Management.

Skills

P&L management

Budget oversight

Sports tournament ops

Vendor negotiations

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in business management or related field

Job description

GENERAL MANAGER - Gadsden Athletic Center

GAC SFM, LLC

LOCATION: Gadsden, AL

DEPARTMENT: OPERATIONS

REPORTS TO: VP OF VENUE MANAGEMENT

STATUS: FULL-TIME (EXEMPT)

ABOUT THE COMPANY:

Gadsden Athletic Center is a premier sport, recreation and entertainment destination focused on improving the health and economic vitality of Gadsden, AL. You will be joining a championship level team focused on fun, fulfillment and service built to enrich the community as well as your career and personal growth.

Gadsden Athletic Center is a managed facility by Sports Facilities Management, LLC, a Sports Facilities Companies SFC company. SFC is the nation's leading resource for managing and developing sports, recreation, wellness, and events facilities. We provide a highly collaborative and supportive culture that raises our team members to new levels of career growth. Together, we will carve a path in a hyper‑growing industry where you will enjoy the journey and learn from the industry's best while having some fun.

SFC has been awarded national recognition as a Top Workplace and is considered a workplace of choice. Our mission‑focused company is highly entrepreneurial, team‑oriented with a culture centered on collaboration, accountability, excellence, and service. We are growing rapidly and looking for high performers at every level to grow with us.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The General Manager is responsible for the financial and operating performance. The objectives for this position include:

• Optimizing overall profitability
• Creating a positive relationship with client and stakeholders
• Creating a culture of accountability which supports the organizational values
• Meeting or exceeding annual growth objectives
• Facilitating interdepartmental collaboration
• Employee retention and staff development
• Development of Team Members and operating policies
• Implementation of major business initiatives
• Manage overall Food and Beverage operations
• Manage overall event operations

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:

• Analyze operations to evaluate the performance of the company and its staff in order to meet objectives, and to determine areas of potential cost reduction, program improvement, or policy change
• Appoint department heads or managers and assign or delegate responsibilities to them
• Confer with ownership, Sports Facilities Management advisors & support team, and staff members to discuss issues, coordinate activities, and resolve problems
• Coordinate the development and implementation of budgetary control systems, recordkeeping systems, and other administrative control processes
• Direct and coordinate an organization's financial and budget activities in order to fund operations, maximize investments, and increase efficiency
• Direct administrative activities, including the approval of administrative plans and activities, the selection of directors and other high‑level staff, and establishment and organization of major departments
• Direct, plan and implement policies, objectives, and activities of organizations or businesses in order to ensure continuing operations, maximize returns on investments, and increase productivity
• Implement corrective action plans to solve organizational or departmental problems
• Prepare and present reports concerning activities, expenses, budgets, government statutes and rulings, and other items affecting businesses or program services
• Represent the organization and promote its objectives at official functions, or delegate representatives to do so
• Serve as liaisons between organizations, shareholders, community shareholders, and outside organizations
• Effectively communicate and regularly present to tourism commission and community groups
• Administer programs for selection of any site location, potential construction needs, and provision of equipment and supplies
• Direct and coordinate activities of businesses or departments concerned with production, pricing, sales, and/or distribution of products
• Negotiate or approve contracts and agreements with suppliers, distributors, federal and state agencies, and other organizational entities
• Prepare budgets for approval, including those for funding and implementation of programs
• Review reports submitted by staff members in order to recommend approval or to suggest changes
• Schedule and monitor continued training seminar for staff on various operational, safety, and legal responsibilities
• Any additional duties assigned by the VP of Venue Management

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Prior responsibility in daily P&L management and budget oversight responsibility of $4MM or greater
• Proven experience in organizing, booking, and operating sports tournaments and events; including but not limited to baseball, softball, soccer and other similar activities
• Operational knowledge of F&B, entertainment, and sport clubs as well as parties, corporate events, and team building preferred
• Experience working with convention & visitor bureaus, regional sports commissions, and/or regional event management booking in a regional sports
• A minimum of 7 years of management experience
• Operational knowledge of risk management, kitchen operations, entertainment, and sports clubs, as well as parties, corporate events, teambuilding, and leadership development
• Sports programming and sports event operations expertise required
• Bachelor's degree in business management, sports management, marketing, hospitality, food and beverage, related field, or equivalent experience

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:

• Some travel

WORKING CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Will be required to sit for extended periods of time operating a computer
• Office and facility have intermittent noise
• Must be able to lift 40 pounds waist high
• Must be available to work nights and weekends