EVENT OPERATIONS SENIOR MANAGER - Seattle Seawolves Rugby

Location: Seattle, Washington | Reports To: President | Status: Full-time, including Match & Event Days

POSITION SUMMARY

The Seattle Seawolves are seeking a highly organized, proactive, and detail-oriented Event Operations Sr. Manager to lead the planning and execution of game day operations and team-hosted events - turning each one into a seamless, unforgettable Seawolves experience.

This role is for someone who thrives in the middle of the action - a strong communicator and natural problem-solver who stays tenaciously positive and calm under pressure, highly planful, and energized by managing multiple priorities at once.

You'll lead on-site teams, vendors, and staff through clear direction and strong execution - from pre-game setup to post-game breakdown, and from match days to community activations, sponsor events, and everything in between.

This is a hands-on, high-energy role on a growing team. One day you may be walking the venue building a run-of-show; the next, coordinating vendors, training event-day staff, or solving a last-minute curveball two hours before doors open.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead the planning, coordination, and execution of all Seattle Seawolves home game day operations, including pre-game setup, in-game logistics, and post-game breakdown.
• Plan and manage non-game day events and activations, including fan and community events, investor and sponsor events, retail pop ups, and other special team live activations.
• Develop and manage detailed game day plans, timelines, staffing assignments, run-of-show documents, operational checklists, and event maps.
• Recruit, train, schedule, and manage game day and event staff, part-time workers, interns, volunteers, and operational support teams.
• Partner closely with internal and external teams, including ticketing, sponsorship, marketing, merchandise, rugby operations, and venue partners to ensure all parties are well informed and planned for upcoming events.
• Serve as a key on-site operations lead for game/event days, ensuring all teams, venues, partners and vendors understand their roles, timing, responsibilities, and escalation paths well in advance and during events.
• Champion the look and feel of every event, helping develop signage, marketing displays, and layouts that are always on-brand and always ready on time.
• Stay two steps ahead - spotting issues before they happen, solving them in real time, and doing it all with a calm, positive, solutions-first mindset.
• Lead and participate in pre-event planning meetings and post-event debriefs.
• Continuously raise the bar - identifying and implementing improvements that boost efficiency, reduce risk, and elevate the fan and partner experience.

QUALIFICATIONS & KEY ATTRIBUTES

• 8+ years leading event operations, sports operations, live events, venue management, or a related field
• College degree or equivalent relevant professional experience.
• Proven track record managing game day staff, volunteers, vendors, and part-time teams.
• Exceptional organizational skills - you thrive managing dozens of moving pieces without missing a beat.
• Proficiency with professional business and communication tools, including Microsoft Office, Google Workspace and AI-enabled tools.
• A proactive problem-solver who finds the fix before anyone notices the issue.
• Strong written and verbal communicator across every level of the organization.
• Flexible and adaptable with ability to stay calm, focused, and decisive when the pressure is on.
• Relentless attention to detail and follow-through.
• Collaborative, team-oriented, and service-minded.
• Committed to delivering an excellent experience for every fan, partner, player, and staff member.
• Follows through - commitments made are commitments kept.
• Able to balance big-picture planning with hands-on execution.
• Ready to work nights, weekends, holidays, and extended hours during the season and around major events. Seawolves season runs March 1 - Early July, with ~10 home games plus additional events scheduled throughout Summer and Fall.
• Passion for live events, community-building, and creating fan experiences people remember.

THE MINDSET

This role is ideal for someone who thinks:

"How do we make this the best event yet?"

Better run-of-show. Better fan experience. Better execution under pressure. Better systems. Better teams.

We aren't looking for someone who simply keeps the trains running on time. We're looking for someone who wants to help build a live event experience that fans, partners, and players are still talking about long after the final whistle.

SCHEDULE & WORK ENVIRONMENT

Professional sports doesn't operate exclusively Monday through Friday. This position requires flexibility to work Seawolves match days, community events, evenings and weekends throughout the year.

• Must be able to work extended hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• Must be able to stand and walk for long periods during events.
• Must be able to lift, move, or transport event-related materials as needed.
• Must be comfortable working in indoor and outdoor event environments, including variable weather conditions.

This is an in-office position based in Seattle, WA. While the role requires working in person with the team, the Seawolves offer flexibility to accommodate individual schedule needs and personal accommodations.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

Compensation will be commensurate with experience and qualifications.

The Seattle Seawolves offer a competitive benefits package, including paid holidays and paid time off, and a 401(k) retirement plan.

Benefits include:

• Medical, dental and vision insurance
• Paid time off, including vacation and sick leave
• Paid company holidays
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Employee discounts on Seattle Seawolves merchandise
• Complimentary and/or discounted tickets to select Seawolves matches and events
• Professional development and growth opportunities
• Opportunity to work within a growing professional sports organization and play a meaningful role in building the Seawolves brand