President, Business Operations

Gondola; Des Moines, Northern (IA, KY); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Des Moines Buccaneers is seeking a President, Business Operations in Des Moines, Iowa. The role leads the organization’s business strategy, commercial growth, financial performance, and brand development while coordinating with ownership, hockey operations, sponsors, and fans.

The President, Business Operations is a highly visible executive role tasked with driving revenue, developing people, and maximizing facility and team assets for long-term success both on and off the ice.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressive leadership experience in sports, entertainment, or related fields.
• Demonstrated success leading business operations and revenue-generating functions.
• Experience managing a P&L and annual budgets.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and organizational direction.
• Oversee revenue generation: partnerships, tickets, merchandising, events.
• Manage budgets, forecasts, and financial controls.
• Guide brand, marketing, communications, and fan engagement.
• Lead ticketing, fan development, and attendance initiatives.
• Develop leadership pipeline and cross-department collaboration.
• Build community partnerships and stakeholder relations.
• Align business operations with hockey objectives and league rules.
• Represent the organization publicly and maintain high performance standards.

Skills

Entrepreneurial

Commercially driven

Strategic

Financial management

People leadership

Communication skills

Relationship building

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business or related field

Job description

President, Business Operations

Des Moines Buccaneers

Position Overview

The Des Moines Buccaneers are seeking an accomplished, entrepreneurial, and strategic leader to serve as President, Business Operations. This executive will be responsible for leading the organization's overall business strategy, commercial growth, financial performance, brand development, and day-to-day business operations.

The President, Business Operations will work closely with ownership, the hockey operations department, league leadership, community partners, sponsors, fans, and key stakeholders to position the Des Moines Buccaneers for sustained long-term success both on and off the ice.

This is a highly visible leadership position requiring a proven ability to drive revenue, build partnerships, develop people, maximize facility and team assets, and create new business opportunities.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Lead the overall business strategy and organizational direction of the Des Moines Buccaneers.
• Develop and execute short- and long-term strategic plans designed to increase revenue, profitability, attendance, brand awareness, and organizational value.
• Serve as a key advisor to ownership and provide regular reporting on financial performance, business development, organizational initiatives, and strategic opportunities.
• Establish a high-performance culture focused on accountability, innovation, collaboration, and customer service.
• Identify emerging trends and opportunities within professional and junior hockey, sports, entertainment, and the broader Des Moines market.

Revenue Generation & Commercial Growth

• Oversee all revenue-generating functions, including corporate partnerships, ticket sales, premium seating, group sales, merchandise, concessions, events, and other ancillary revenue streams.
• Develop and implement aggressive but sustainable commercial growth strategies.
• Build and maintain relationships with major corporate partners, sponsors, community leaders, civic organizations, and business executives.
• Lead the organization's sponsorship strategy, including prospecting, sales, renewals, activation, and fulfillment.
• Develop new revenue opportunities through strategic partnerships, premium experiences, special events, tournaments, concerts, shows, conferences, and other uses of team and facility assets.
• Maximize utilization and profitability of all available organizational and venue assets.

Financial Management

• Maintain overall accountability for the organization's financial performance and P&L.
• Develop and manage annual operating budgets and long-range financial forecasts.
• Monitor revenue, expenses, cash flow, and key financial performance indicators.
• Work with ownership and finance personnel to establish appropriate financial controls and reporting processes.
• Identify opportunities to improve margins, reduce unnecessary expenses, and increase organizational efficiency.

Brand & Marketing

• Oversee the continued development and evolution of the Des Moines Buccaneers brand.
• Develop strategies that increase the team's visibility, relevance, and connection with the Des Moines community.
• Oversee marketing, digital media, communications, public relations, promotions, and fan engagement initiatives.
• Ensure consistent brand positioning across all organizational platforms and business relationships.
• Develop innovative campaigns and experiences designed to attract new fans while increasing engagement among existing supporters.

Ticketing & Fan Development

• Oversee ticket sales strategy, including season tickets, group sales, individual game sales, premium products, and retention initiatives.
• Establish strategies to grow the organization's fan base and improve attendance.
• Develop programs that strengthen relationships with season-ticket holders, youth hockey families, alumni, corporate partners, and the broader community.
• Utilize data and analytics to improve customer acquisition, retention, pricing, and overall fan experience.
• Work collaboratively with venue management and partners to maximize the economic potential of the team's facility assets and expansion of the new events center.

Organizational Leadership

• Recruit, develop, motivate, and retain a high-performing business operations team.
• Establish clear goals, performance expectations, and accountability across departments.
• Provide leadership and oversight to the organization's sales, marketing, finance, ticketing, digital media, fan development, game operations, and administrative functions.
• Encourage cross-departmental collaboration between business and hockey operations.
• Develop future organizational leaders and establish a strong succession and talent-development culture.

Community & Stakeholder Relations

• Serve as a primary public-facing representative of the Des Moines Buccaneers.
• Build strong relationships throughout the Des Moines business, civic, hockey, and philanthropic communities.
• Represent the organization with league officials, local government, sponsors, community organizations, media, and other key stakeholders.
• Expand the team's community impact and visibility through strategic partnerships and outreach initiatives.

Hockey & League Operations

• Work closely with the President of Hockey Operations, Head Coach and General Manager to ensure alignment between business and hockey objectives.
• Support initiatives that enhance the player and fan experience while protecting the long-term interests of the organization.
• Maintain a strong working relationship with league leadership and other ownership and executive groups.
• Ensure the business operation supports the organization's competitive and player-development mission.

Leadership Expectations

• Entrepreneurial — constantly identifying new revenue opportunities and ways to grow the organization.
• Commercially driven — experienced in sales, partnerships, sponsorships, and revenue generation.
• Strategic — able to balance immediate business needs with long-term organizational objectives.
• Financially disciplined — comfortable owning a P&L and making data-driven business decisions.
• Relationship-oriented — capable of building meaningful relationships with corporate, civic, community, and hockey stakeholders.
• A strong communicator — comfortable representing the organization publicly and internally.
• A people leader — capable of building, developing, and holding a team accountable.
• Innovative — willing to challenge traditional sports-business models and develop new revenue streams.
• Community-minded — passionate about making the Buccaneers an important part of the Des Moines community.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressive leadership experience in professional sports, collegiate athletics, entertainment, hospitality, venue management, or a related industry.
• Demonstrated success leading business operations and revenue-generating functions.
• Proven experience managing a P&L and organizational budget.
• Demonstrated success in corporate partnerships, ticket sales, sponsorships, or other commercial revenue functions.
• Experience leading and developing teams.
• Strong understanding of sports, entertainment, event, and/or venue business models.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills.
• Bachelor's degree in business, sports management, marketing, finance, or a related field preferred.

Performance Measures

• Overall revenue and profitability growth.
• Sponsorship and partnership growth and retention.
• Ticket sales and attendance growth.
• Fan acquisition, retention, and engagement.
• New revenue streams and non-hockey event development.
• Brand awareness and community engagement.
• Employee performance, retention, and organizational culture.
• Financial discipline and achievement of annual business objectives.
• Overall organizational value and long-term sustainability.

Position Structure

• Title: President, Business Operations
• Organization: Des Moines Buccaneers
• Reports To: Ownership / Board of Directors
• Location: Des Moines, Iowa
• Employment Type: Full-Time, Executive Leadership

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital or veteran status, or any other protected class.