Hockey League and Tournament Director
Palm Beach Gardens Ice Arena
3 days ago
Full-time
On-site
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, United States
$75,000 - $85,000 USD yearly
Job Title: Hockey League and Tournament Director
Reports To: General Manager
Reports To: General Manager
Department: Hockey
Location: Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Job Type: Full-Time/Salary Exempt
The Hockey League and Tournament Director is responsible for the leadership, administration, development, and growth of Palm Ice Arena’s hockey programming, including youth and adult leagues, tournaments, showcases, and other hockey-related events.
This position is responsible for creating and delivering a first class programming experience for athletes, families, coaches, officials, teams, and spectators. The Hockey League and Tournament Director will oversee day-to-day program execution, staff coordination, scheduling, registration, customer service, tournament operations, and program development while supporting revenue growth and facility utilization.
The position will work closely with the General Manager, facility leadership, marketing team, ice operations, outside event coordinators, league officials, USA Hockey, SAHOF, schools, community organizations, and other strategic partners to ensure successful and professional delivery of all hockey programs.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
Hockey Program Operations
- Oversee the day-to-day operations of youth and adult hockey leagues, Learn to Play programs, tournaments, showcases, clinics, and special events.
- Develop and implement consistent operating procedures and programming standards across all hockey offerings.
- Support the development of comprehensive player development pathways for participants across various ages and skill levels.
- Coordinate coaches, instructors, referees, scorekeepers, team managers, and other program personnel.
- Recruit, onboard, train, and evaluate hockey program staff while establishing clear performance and service expectations.
- Ensure all programs provide a safe, welcoming, organized, and high-quality experience for participants and families.
League Management
- Manage all aspects of youth and adult league operations, including registration, team formation, player placement, scheduling, rosters, standings, statistics, and communications.
- Develop and maintain league schedules that maximize ice utilization while providing a positive participant experience.
- Establish and enforce league rules, policies, procedures, and standards.
- Coordinate coaches, captains, team managers, officials, scorekeepers, and other league personnel.
- Monitor games and address scheduling, player, facility, behavioral, and operational issues promptly and professionally.
- Maintain accurate standings, statistics, game results, suspensions, disciplinary records, and other league documentation.
- Recruit teams and individual players to increase participation, retention, and revenue.
- Develop strategies to improve league retention and identify opportunities for new divisions and programming.
- Coordinate with Pro Shop Retail Manager ordering and delivery of league jerseys.
Learn to Play & Player Development
- Oversee the administration and execution of Learn to Play Hockey and introductory hockey programming.
- Assist in developing age-appropriate curriculum and player development pathways.
- Recruit and coordinate qualified instructors and coaches.
- Establish consistent instructional standards and customer-service expectations.
- Create opportunities for participants to progress from introductory programs into leagues, travel hockey, camps, clinics, and other facility offerings.
- Monitor participation and retention to identify opportunities for program growth.
Tournament & Event Management
- Plan, coordinate, and execute hockey tournaments, showcases, jamborees, and special events from initial planning through completion.
- Coordinate tournament registration, team acceptance, scheduling, brackets, game formats, rules, rosters, and event communications.
- Serve as a primary facility contact for visiting teams, coaches, managers, tournament directors, and event owners.
- Coordinate tournament operations with ice maintenance, officials, scorekeepers, concessions, pro shop, marketing, security, and facility operations.
- Manage tournament check-in, credentials, schedules, awards, merchandise, and other event requirements.
- Coordinate with hotels, travel partners, hospitality providers, and tournament partners when applicable.
- Ensure tournament schedules and event information are accurately communicated through registration platforms, websites, email, and other channels.
- Assist with post-event reporting, financial reconciliation, and customer feedback.
Scheduling & Facility Utilization
- Optimize ice scheduling and allocation to maximize facility utilization and program profitability.
- Coordinate seasonal and weekly ice schedules with the General Manager and facility leadership.
- Ensure appropriate ice time is allocated across leagues, tournaments, Learn to Play, clinics, camps, practices, and other programming.
- Coordinate schedule changes, cancellations, make-up games, and emergency adjustments.
- Work collaboratively with other departments to minimize scheduling conflicts and improve the overall guest experience.
Customer Service & Communications
- Provide exceptional customer service to players, parents, coaches, team managers, officials, visiting organizations, and spectators.
- Serve as a knowledgeable and responsive point of contact for hockey program questions and concerns.
- Communicate schedules, registration information, policies, changes, cancellations, and other important program information.
- Resolve customer concerns and conflicts professionally while consistently enforcing facility and league policies.
- Build strong relationships with teams, clubs, schools, hockey organizations, and community partners.
Financial Management & Revenue Growth
- Assist with developing program budgets, pricing strategies, revenue forecasts, and financial goals.
- Monitor league and tournament revenue, expenses, participation, and profitability.
- Develop strategies to increase participation, retention, and ancillary revenue.
- Identify opportunities for new leagues, divisions, tournaments, clinics, camps, and hockey programs.
- Support sponsorship, partnership, and promotional opportunities.
- Prepare regular reports regarding participation, revenue, program performance, and operational issues.
Marketing & Program Development
- Collaborate with the Marketing Department to develop and execute campaigns promoting leagues, tournaments, Learn to Play, clinics, camps, and special events.
- Assist with email campaigns, social media, promotional materials, registration communications, and program announcements.
- Identify market opportunities and emerging hockey trends that can support program growth.
- Monitor customer feedback and participation trends and recommend improvements.
- Support partnerships with schools, youth organizations, corporations, community groups, and hockey organizations.
Organizational Partnerships & Compliance
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with USA Hockey, SAHOF, local hockey organizations, schools, and community partners.
- Ensure applicable programs operate in accordance with facility policies and governing-body requirements.
- Maintain required program documentation, certifications, waivers, rosters, and records.
- Work with outside event owners, tournament operators, league officials, and other partners to ensure successful event execution.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications
- 5+ years of leadership experience in hockey, with demonstrated experience in hockey administration, programming, league operations, or tournament management.
- Proven experience managing youth and adult hockey leagues and large-scale tournaments.
- Demonstrated success developing, marketing, and selling recreational sports programs.
- Experience with budgeting, forecasting, revenue management, and program growth strategies.
- Strong knowledge of hockey operations, rules, league structures, and tournament formats.
- Proven leadership and staff management experience.
- Experience managing schedules, rosters, registrations, officials, coaches, and multiple programs simultaneously.
- Strong customer-service and conflict-resolution skills.
- Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
- Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in a team-oriented environment.
- Strong working knowledge of recreational and facility-management software systems.
- Advanced computer proficiency, including Microsoft Office Suite and other business software applications.
Preferred Qualifications
- USA Hockey certification or related hockey industry certification.
- CPR/AED and First Aid certification.
- Experience working in a multi-sheet ice arena or large sports facility.
- Experience with tournament management and travel hockey operations.
- Experience working with registration, scheduling, and league-management platforms.
Work Schedule
This position requires a flexible schedule based on program and facility operations, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and occasional extended hours. Significant weekend and evening availability will be required during tournament periods and peak hockey seasons.
Physical Requirements
- Ability to work throughout an active ice arena for extended periods.
- Ability to stand and walk for extended periods and work both on and off the ice.
- Comfortable working in cold rink environments.
- Ability to lift and move equipment and supplies weighing approximately 25–40 pounds as needed.
- Ability to respond quickly to operational needs throughout the facility.
Performance Expectations
Success in this position will be measured by:
- Growth in league, Learn to Play, and tournament participation
- Participant and customer retention
- Revenue growth and program profitability
- Effective ice utilization
- Successful execution of leagues and tournaments
- Quality and consistency of program delivery
- Staff performance and development
- Customer satisfaction
- Team and player recruitment
- Development of new programs and revenue opportunities
- Strong relationships with hockey organizations and community partners
- Timely, professional, and effective communication
Physical Requirements
- Ability to be on the ice and in the facility for extended periods
- Comfortable working in cold environments
- Ability to lift up to 25–40 lbs as needed
Compensation & Benefits
- Salary**: $75,000.00 - $85,000.00/year