President, Business Operations

Key Responsibilities

• 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.