Manager, Ritchie Center Events & Operations

Manager, Ritchie Center Events & Operations Apply now Job no: 498883 Work type: Staff Full-Time Location: Denver, CO Categories: Events, Business Operations / Services, Admin / Executive / Office Support, Recreation / Kennedy Mountain Campus Division: Recreation and Wellness Current DU Students & Families Prospective Students & Families Faculty & Staff Alumni & Donors Local Community Companies & Organizations National Peers & Media Together, we are shaping a vibrant, supportive, and dynamic campus culture where every student and participant can discover their potential and make a meaningful impact. 4D Experience Office of External Relations (OER) Housing, Residential Education and Dining Services Driscoll & Community Commons Business and Planning Student Engagement New Student & Family Programs Wellness & Recreation Health & Counseling Center View email address on click.appcast.io Learning Effectiveness Program Student Disability Services Student Rights & Responsibilities Veteran & Military Resources Office of the Dean of Students Kennedy Mountain Campus, Wellness & Recreation The Kennedy Mountain Campus, Wellness & Recreation department at the University of Denver (DU) is a vibrant and integrative unit that advances the university’s holistic 4D Experience—supporting intellectual growth, well‑being, character development, and purposeful careers and lives. By bridging DU’s urban and mountain campuses, the department offers immersive wellness and recreational programs that cultivate personal growth, resilience, and meaningful community engagement. At the heart of our urban campus, the Daniel L. Ritchie Center for Sports and Wellness fosters a championship culture grounded in excellence, integrity, and connection. Drawing inspiration from the spirit of the Rocky Mountain West, our team embraces innovation and builds lasting relationships that serve as a vital link across DU’s diverse community. Nestled beside Roosevelt National Forest, the James C. Kennedy Mountain Campus spans 724 acres of breathtaking wilderness. This unique setting provides students with transformative, nature‑based learning experiences designed to deepen their connection to self, others, and the natural world. With a focus on leadership, character development, and holistic well‑being—spanning social, spiritual, and physical dimensions—the campus is a cornerstone of DU’s commitment to experiential education. Position Summary The Manager of Ritchie Center Events & Operations is a visible, hands‑on operational manager responsible for delivering exceptional safety, service quality, and operational excellence across the Ritchie Center’s diverse portfolio of venues, including parking facilities, fitness and aquatic centers, ice and field venues, satellite facilities, and support spaces. This role sets and sustains high performance standards for daily operations, staff performance, and customer experience, ensuring each venue operates safely, efficiently, and in alignment with divisional and department priorities. The position provides direct management and oversight of core operating units, including facility operations, event and rental supervision, front‑line staffing, food and beverage inventory, locker room operations, and service delivery systems. The Manager leads the recruitment, training, scheduling, and performance management of service and facility associates, fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, teamwork, and pride in service. In addition to primary responsibility for operational venues, this position provides management and operational support for Ritchie Center spectator venues—such as Magness Arena, Hamilton Gymnasium, Barton Lacrosse Stadium, and Soccer Stadium—when utilized by the Department of Kennedy Mountain Campus, Wellness & Recreation. The Manager serves as a key operational partner during events and peak activity periods, ensuring seamless coordination, policy compliance, and consistent standards across all spaces. Serving as a Manager on Duty, the position requires the ability to make sound, real‑time decisions, manage competing priorities, and lead during high‑traffic, high‑expectation environments. Working hours will include evenings, nights, and weekends based on facility activity and divisional needs. The Manager is expected to model flexibility, reliability, and professionalism while maintaining a strong on‑site management presence. This role is central to delivering a distinctive and personalized customer experience at every point of interaction. Through intentional supervision of front‑line operations, the Manager ensures excellence in parking and access, facility entry, transactions, communication, facility condition, safety, and customer engagement – creating environments where participants, spectators, and guests feel welcomed, supported, and valued. This position summary is not designed to capture all activities, duties, or responsibilities required for this position. Responsibilities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time. Essential Functions Lead and Supervise Part‑Time Staff Provide direct leadership for approximately 50 part‑time employees, setting clear expectations for professionalism, safety, service excellence, and accountability. Recruit, hire, train, schedule, and deploy staff to ensure consistent, high‑quality facility operations across multiple venues. Foster a performance‑driven team culture through proactive communication, recognition, and corrective action, ensuring staff are engaged, prepared, and aligned with divisional and department standards and customer service priorities. Ensure Staff Compliance and Performance Establish and maintain rigorous performance standards through ongoing training, coaching, and evaluation of part‑time staff. Ensure required certifications, compliance training, and in‑services are completed, documented, and current. Administer bi‑weekly payroll accurately and on time within approved budgets. Address performance issues promptly and consistently, using data, feedback, and coaching to drive improvement, mitigate risk, and reinforce a culture of accountability and operational excellence. Oversee Daily Facility Operations and Service Standards Ensure all assigned facilities are operated at a high standard of safety, cleanliness, functionality, and customer readiness. Oversee regular facility inspections, work‑order identification and coordination, inventory control, locker room operations, and point‑of‑sale (POS) inventory, ordering, and sales processes. Translate operational standards into daily execution, ensuring issues are identified early, resolved efficiently, and communicated effectively to maintain a consistently positive member and guest experience. Maintain Facility Readiness and Operational Efficiency Serve as Manager on Duty across multiple venues, providing on‑site management, decision‑making, and real‑time problem resolution. Ensure adherence to all facility policies, procedures, and safety protocols while supervising staff performance during peak usage and high‑impact periods. Proactively balance competing demands, respond to emergent issues, and maintain operational continuity to enhance participant satisfaction, risk management, and overall facility effectiveness. Support Event Operations and Logistics Support the planning and execution of internal programs and external events by ensuring appropriate staffing, facility readiness, and operational coordination. Partner with event stakeholders to translate event requirements into efficient operational plans, adjusting staffing and resources as needed to ensure safe, seamless, and high‑quality event delivery that reflects positively on the Ritchie Center and the division. Manage and Optimize Operational Systems and Communication Ensure accurate, consistent, and effective use of the Connect2 system to support inspections, task management, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and daily staff communication. Leverage systems and documentation to reinforce expectations, improve consistency, increase efficiency, and support transparency across operations. Continuously evaluate workflows and information flow to identify opportunities for process improvement and stronger operational alignment. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Ability to motivate and build relationships with part‑time staff to achieve desired outcome in relation to a high‑quality service and experience for students, members, and guests. Ability to engage and strengthen our relationships with students, alumni, and the Denver community. Ability to solve operational problems and deal with a variety of variables in situations where only limited standardization may exist. Ability to work with the public with tact and judgment. Excellent organizational skills and time management abilities. Ability to work with facility scheduling, employee scheduling, and program registration software. Required Qualifications Bachelor’s Degree 1+ year of related experience Preferred Qualifications Bachelor’s Degree in recreation management or related degree 2+ years experience managing in a sports or recreation facility. Working Environment: Standard office environment, unexpected interruptions occur often, and stress level is moderate to high, noise level is quiet to moderate. This position requires employees to work onsite with a primary schedule of afternoons and evenings. It is primarily a Tuesday through Saturday work week. Staff are expected to support student Hallmark, Tradition and other program events throughout the year. Physical Activities Must sit in front of a computer for an extended period of time, occasionally required to move around the office/campus with the capability of transporting objects up to 20 lbs. Work Schedule Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Application Deadline For consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) July 31, 2026. Special Instructions Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted. Salary Grade Number The salary grade for the position is 9. Salary Rate The salary rate for this position is $60,000. Benefits The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. Equal Opportunity Statement The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital, family, or parental status, pregnancy or related conditions, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. The University of Denver does not discriminate and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, creed, disability, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital family, and parental status, pregnancy, genetic information, military enlistment, or veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the University’s educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Americans with Disabilities Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; the Equal Pay Act; the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Worker's Rights ("POWR") Act; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. All offers of employment are based upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history and National Sex Offender Registry background check. Advertised: July 06, 2026 Applications close: July 31, 2026 #J-18808-Ljbffr The University Of Denver