Operations Coordinator

CB Champions Blue, LLC; United States; On-site; USD 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Champions Blue LLC in the United States is seeking an Operations Coordinator within UK Athletics operations to support event logistics, budgeting, and payroll for NCAA and SEC events. You will coordinate bids, lodging, staffing, and financial projections while liaising with internal teams, partners, and vendors to ensure smooth event execution.

The role emphasizes payroll processing, contract administration, and operational coordination across multiple events, requiring collaboration with Human

Qualifications

• Associate degree required.
• 2 years of experience in event operations or related field preferred.
• Experience with budgeting and payroll administration preferred.
• Experience supporting athletic events, championships, or large-scale events preferred.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate planning, administration, and execution of NCAA/SEC events.
• Serve as liaison between UK Athletics and partners on hosted events.
• Coordinate preparation and submission of championship bids and budgets.
• Assist payroll processing and timekeeping for event staff.
• Support vendor management, contracts, and post-event reconciliation.
• Prepare payroll reports and facilitate onboarding of event staff.

Skills

Operational coordination

Payroll processing

Budget administration

Event logistics

Vendor management

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Education

Associate degree

Bachelor's degree preferred

Tools

Payroll systems

Budgeting tools

Job description

Champions Blue Job Posting Title: Operations Coordinator Requisition Number: R-000004998 Department Name: Management & Operations UKAA Work Location: Joe Craft Center Grade Level: 0 Salary Range: $0.00 - $0.00 Type of Position: Regular Position Time Status: Full time Equivalency Link https://hr.uky.edu/employment/working-uk/equivalencies Shift: Day (United States of America)

Job Description: Job Summary Responsible for providing operational, financial, payroll, and event support for Athletics Operations. Coordinates the planning, administration, and execution of NCAA, SEC, and external events hosted by the University of Kentucky. Serves as a primary resource for championship bid development, event logistics, budget administration, payroll processing, and operational coordination. Collaborates with athletics staff, conference and governing body representatives, community partners, vendors, and campus stakeholders to support successful event execution, compliance, and operational excellence.

Essential Functions

• Coordinates the planning, administration, and execution of NCAA, SEC, and external events hosted by the University of Kentucky.
• Serves as a liaison between UK Athletics, conference offices, governing bodies, community partners, local organizations, and hospitality partners regarding hosted events and championships.
• Coordinates preparation and submission of NCAA and SEC championship bids, including venue requirements, scheduling information, lodging plans, staffing plans, financial projections, and supporting documentation.
• Negotiates and administers hotel agreements and lodging arrangements for visiting teams, officials, and event personnel.
• Maintains relationships with local hospitality partners, hotels, community organizations, tourism representatives, and event stakeholders.
• Supports financial reconciliation, reporting, and post-event evaluation activities for hosted championships and external events.
• Assists with administration, monitoring, and reconciliation of operational budgets supporting Event Management, NCAA Events, SEC Events, and other hosted events.
• Processes expenditures, invoices, reimbursements, and other financial transactions while supporting budget monitoring, revenue and expense tracking, financial reporting, and reconciliation activities.
• Coordinates operational purchases, equipment rentals, vendor services, and other departmental expenditures.
• Assists with management of operational contracts and vendor relationships supporting Athletics Operations.
• Coordinates payroll processing activities for event staff and temporary personnel.
• Serves as a resource regarding event staff scheduling, timekeeping, and payroll processes.
• Collaborates with Human Resources and departmental leadership to ensure timely and accurate payroll processing.
• Assists with the administration of workforce scheduling systems and payroll software.
• Prepares payroll reports and supporting documentation for hosted events and departmental activities.
• Supports event staff onboarding, record maintenance, and administrative processes.
• Provides operational support for NCAA, SEC, and external events hosted by the University.
• Coordinates event publications, diagrams, maps, credentials, vouchers, operational documentation, hospitality activities, and stakeholder communications supporting hosted events and championships.
• Supports event logistics, contract administration, and post-event reconciliation activities.
• Assists with department-wide operations initiatives and special events as assigned.
• Participates in operational planning meetings and department initiatives.
• Maintains operational records, reports, inventories, documentation, and departmental resources necessary to support Athletics Operations activities.
• Supports special projects and strategic initiatives within Athletic Operations.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Education Requirement

Associate degree required. Bachelor’s degree preferred.

Experience Requirement

2 years of experience in event operations, athletics administration, business operations, event management, payroll administration, financial administration, hospitality management, or related field. Experience supporting athletic events, championships, tournaments, conferences, or large-scale special events preferred. Experience with budgeting, payroll administration, event logistics, or operational coordination preferred. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered. All experience must be paid and in the same related field. Part-time and PRN experience will be prorated based on hours worked per week. Volunteer work and internships for academic credit are not counted.

Certifications & Licensures

Valid Driver’s License preferred.

Working Conditions

A. Lifting, pushing, and/or pulling objects up to 50lbs: 2. Occasional (<10% of the time)

B. Lifting, pushing, and/or pulling objects over 50lbs: 1. Never

C. Standing or walking with objects up to 10lbs: 3. Intermittent (10% - 50% of the time)

D. Standing or walking with objects up to 25lbs: 2. Occasional (<10% of the time)

E. Sitting at computer workstation for extended periods: 3. Intermittent (10% - 50% of the time)

F. Risk of back injury from moving, lifting, or positioning equipment or materials: 1. Never

G. Repetitive motion: 3. Intermittent (10% - 50% of the time)

H. Working at heights above 4 feet: 1. Never

I. Working in confined spaces: 1. Never

J. Risk of injuries from use of equipment on the job: 1. Never

K. Job-related travel: 2. Occasional (<10% of the time)

L. Loud noises: 3. Intermittent (10% - 50% of the time)

M. Temperature extremes: 2. Occasional (<10% of the time)

N. Hazardous chemicals and fumes including waste: 1. Never

O. Radiation: 1. Never

P. Burns: 1. Never

Q. Cuts/Punctures: 1. Never

R. Bloodborne/airborne pathogens: 1. Never

S. Recombinant DNA or viral vectors: 1. Never

T. Combative/violent people: 1. Never

U. Animal handling (including carcasses): 1. Never

V. Please specify other(s) and amount of exposure (i.e. Occasional, Intermittent or Regular): Evening, weekend, and event-day work; Intermittent (10%-50% of the time).

Physical Demands

This position requires intermittent sitting at a computer workstation for extended periods of time; performing tasks involving repetitive motions such as typing, payroll administration, budgeting, report preparation, and event coordination activities; intermittent standing and walking throughout athletic venues and event facilities; and occasional lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling materials weighing up to 50 pounds. The position may require evening, weekend, and holiday work in support of athletic events, championships, tournaments, and special events.

Our University Community

We value the well-being of each of our employees and are dedicated to creating a healthy place for everyone to work, learn and live.

In the interest of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students, employees, patients and visitors, the University of Kentucky is a Tobacco & Drug Free campus.

The University follows both the federal and state Constitutions as well as all applicable federal and state laws on nondiscrimination.

The University provides equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information or social or economic status.

Any candidate offered a position may be required to pass pre-employment screenings as mandated by University of Kentucky Human Resources.

These screenings may include a national background check and/or drug screen.

At the University of Kentucky, excellence isn't just something we pursue on game day. It's something we work toward every day in our work, culture and commitment to our student-athletes. Whether you're supporting operations behind the scenes, elevating our fan experience, guiding student-athlete development or driving innovation across our programs, we want to hear from you. We can't wait to see the impact we'll make together.

Champions Blue LLC is a nonprofit public entity that serves as the holding company for UK Athletics. Champions Blue is designed to increase flexibility and enable UK Athletics to continue as one of the best in the country by finding new opportunities to generate additional revenue and more efficiently manage expenses. It is led by a Board of Governors and