IT Manager | Full-Time | Ryan Field at Northwestern University

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary on-site escalation resource for complex IT, network, systems, and infrastructure issues.
• Provide advanced Tier II support with the ability to independently diagnose and resolve Tier III-level incidents.
• Ensure venue endpoints are connected, functional, properly configured, and ready for daily operations and live events.
• Conduct routine field inspections and testing of point-of-sale terminals, ticket scanners, cameras, access points, IPTV devices, access-control systems, digital signage, and other network-connected equipment.
• Support and maintain the Cisco network environment, including switches, routers, wireless infrastructure, VLANs, access ports, network closets, and related platforms.
• Troubleshoot LAN, WAN, WLAN, VPN, DHCP, DNS, TCP/IP, routing, switching, authentication, and connectivity issues.
• Maintain network diagrams, equipment inventories, IP records, system documentation, and troubleshooting procedures.
• Coordinate technology projects, infrastructure upgrades, equipment replacements, structured cabling, and vendor work.
• Support temporary event connectivity and technical requirements for visiting productions, promoters, and event partners.
• Clock in with OVG Corporate IT, Northwestern University Information Technology, cybersecurity teams, and service providers to implement organizational standards.
• Recommend improvements that increase reliability, security, operational efficiency, revenue opportunities, and the guest experience.
• Provide guidance and mentorship to part-time staff and event personnel.

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of professional experience providing Tier II technical support, preferably in a professional, power collegiate sports or entertainment setting.
• Bachelor’s degree in information technology, computer science, network engineering, or a related field is preferred.
• Cisco certifications such as CCNA or CCNP are highly desirable.
• AV networking, Microsoft, CompTIA, or ITIL certifications are a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to independently troubleshoot Tier III-level network, systems, and infrastructure issues.
• Strong technical judgment, including the ability to identify when an incident requires escalation to third-party support and to provide the documentation and troubleshooting details necessary for an efficient resolution.
• Hands-on experience supporting Cisco networking environments is required.
• Strong understanding of routing, switching, VLANs, trunking, Spanning Tree, TCP/IP, DHCP, DNS, VPNs, wireless networking, and network-access controls.
• Experience supporting ticketing, point-of-sale, credentialing, IPTV, digital signage, broadcast, audiovisual, security, or access-control systems is preferred.
• Working knowledge of modern converged AV and IT environments, including Netgear AV switching, AV over IP, Dante, AES67, and SMPTE ST 2110.
• Experience with Microsoft 365, Windows, Active Directory, Entra ID, endpoint management, and enterprise software deployment.
• Strong troubleshooting, documentation, project-management, and organizational skills.
• A “fans first” mindset with a commitment to customer service, operational excellence, and identifying creative ways technology can improve the guest experience and support revenue generation.
• Ability to communicate effectively and work collaboratively with technical teams, venue leadership, university partners, employees, vendors, and event stakeholders.
• Ability to remain calm and make effective decisions in high-pressure, time-sensitive situations.

Benefits

This position pays a yearly salary of $90,000 - $100,000. Benefits for Full-Time role include Health, Dental and Vision insurance, 401(k) savings plan, 401(k) matching, and paid time off (vacation days, sick days, and 11 holidays).

About The Venue

The new Ryan Field is a new 35,000-seat football stadium designed to be the premier venue of its size in America for college sports, concerts, and other live events. Welsh-Ryan Arena is a 6,500-seat multipurpose arena located on the campus of Northwestern University and home to Northwestern basketball, volleyball, wrestling, and other university and community events.