General Manager (Event Services Leader)

Department

UNIVERSITY EVENTS AND CONFEREN (UA-UECO-IUINA)

Department Information

The University Events team, provides strategic leadership to protect, advance, and elevate the university’s brand and reputation in Indiana and around the world. The University Events team strives to create world-class events and experiences for Indiana University (IU).

Indiana University Indianapolis is a public, urban R1 research university and a core campus of the Indiana University system, located in downtown Indianapolis. Established in 2024 as an independent campus, IU Indianapolis builds on more than 50 years of academic excellence, research innovation, and community engagement. The university serves a diverse student population and offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs, with particular strength in health sciences, technology, business, and STEM disciplines.

IU Indianapolis Athletics is an integral part of campus life and institutional identity. Competing at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level as members of the Horizon League, the Jaguars provide a highly competitive athletics program in a major metropolitan setting, fostering student-athlete success, school spirit, and community engagement.

The James T. Morris Arena is a state-of-the-art, multipurpose facility designed to serve as a central hub for athletics, campus life, and community engagement.

Key features include:

• Approximately 4,500-seat capacity with significant retractable seating for flexible configurations
• Competition venue for basketball and volleyball
• Locker rooms, training facilities, and administrative offices for IU Indianapolis Athletics and USA Track and Field
• Modern concourses, concessions, premium spaces, and support infrastructure
• The arena is designed to host a wide range of events, including collegiate athletics, high school championships, concerts, entertainment events, community gatherings, and university functions.

Job Summary

Indiana University Indianapolis (IU Indianapolis) invites applications for the position of General Manager of the new James T. Morris Arena, a premier multipurpose venue scheduled to open in October 2026. This position plays a pivotal leadership role in launching and operating the arena, overseeing all aspects of venue operations, event strategy, revenue generation, and guest experience. The General manager provides strategic and operational leadership for all aspects of the arena, including: venue operations and leadership, event strategy and revenue generation, financial management, facility operations and capital planning, event operations and guest experience, campus and community engagement, compliance and institutional alignment, and safety, security and risk management.

Department-Specific Responsibilities

• Provides overall leadership and direction for arena operations, including event management, facility operations, and guest experience
• Establishes and implements policies, procedures, and operating standards for a first-class multipurpose venue
• Recruits, develops, and supervises full-time staff, part-time employees, and event-based personnel
• Leads the development and execution of a comprehensive event booking strategy, including non-athletic events
• Builds and maintains relationships with promoters, event organizers, governing bodies, and community partners
• Maximizes venue utilization, revenue generation, and event-day profitability
• Collaborates with university leadership on sponsorship, premium seating, and ancillary revenue opportunities
• Develops and manages the arena’s annual operating budget
• Leads capital planning efforts, including lifecycle replacement and long-term facility investments
• Monitors financial performance and implement strategies to achieve revenue and expense targets
• Oversees all facility operations, including maintenance, conversions, and event readiness
• Coordinate with university facilities and external vendors to ensure efficient and high-quality service delivery
• Manage vendor relationships and service contracts (e.g., concessions, custodial, security, technical services)
• Provide leadership for comprehensive venue safety and security programs
• Coordinates with campus public safety and local agencies (law enforcement, fire, EMS)
• Oversees emergency preparedness, incident command protocols, and training exercises
• Ensures compliance with all applicable safety codes, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements, and university policies
• Oversees all event logistics, including scheduling, staffing, conversions, and event execution
• Coordinates parking, transportation, and ingress/egress planning
• Delivers a high-quality guest and fan experience across all events
• Serves as the primary liaison between the arena and university departments
• Supports athletics programs and student-athlete needs
• Promotes the arena as a community asset and regional destination for events
• Ensures compliance with all university, NCAA, and Horizon League policies and regulations
• Represents IU Indianapolis Athletics in a professional manner and contributes to departmental initiatives

General Responsibilities

• Provides highest level of operational leadership and coordination of assigned staff members to define event services methodologies and standards; provides direction and guidance on high priority event services projects/initiatives
• Establishes short-term business plans and long-term operational objectives, including managing project timelines/deliverables and developing resource plans for multi-project/multi-phase event services initiatives
• Conducts a variety of personnel actions to include, but not limited to hiring, promotion, performance management, and dismissal
• Manages high level assignments and allocation of event services resources, including negotiating and coordinating initiatives that involve staff in other departments/areas/teams; may coordinate large-scale event services projects with a wide audiences in support of academic initiatives
• Makes budgetary recommendations/proposals based on resource needs and ensures cost containment
• Researches and stays up-to-date on new industry event services standards, regulations, and specifications; responsible for the implementation of new protocols/procedures to address business needs
• Works collaboratively with other event services leaders across departments in recommending standards, best practices, and related policies/procedures
• Prepares management reports and summaries for senior administration, executive, steering and advisory committees; acts as advisor to executive committees; serves on various university committees, communities of practice, and task forces related to event services

Qualifications

Combinations of related education and experience may be considered. Education beyond the minimum required may be substituted for work experience. Work experience beyond the minimum required may be substituted for education.

EDUCATION

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in business or a related field

Preferred

• Master’s degree in business, sport management or a related field

WORK EXPERIENCE

Required

• 4 years in business, conferences, events, customer service, or a related field
• 1 year of management experience in a related field

Preferred

• 5 years of progressive experience in arena, stadium, or large public assembly venue management
• Experience opening a new venue or leading major facility renovation
• Experience in NCAA Division I athletics or comparable environments

SKILLS

Required

• Proficient written and verbal communication skills
• Maintains a high degree of professionalism
• Demonstrates time management and priority setting skills
• Demonstrates a high commitment to quality
• Excellent collaboration and team building skills
• Excellent organizational skills
• Effectively coaches and delivers constructive feedback
• Instills commitment to organizational goals
• Demonstrates excellent judgment and decision making skills
• Effective conflict management skills
• Builds and manages effective teams

Preferred

• Familiarity with venue management and event booking systems

Working Conditions / Demands

This role regularly requires the ability to effectively communicate. This role frequently requires the ability to handle equipment. This role frequently requires the ability to remain stationary and ascend/descend ladders/stairs. This role requires the ability to move objects weighing up to 25 pounds. The role requires the ability to detect items in close proximity as well as far away; discern between colors; detect objects in peripheral space of self; discern items in detail; and to have good depth perception. The person in this role must be able to perform the essential functions with or without an accommodation. This role requires working in both office and live event environments, including exposure to high noise levels and varying weather conditions, as well as frequent movement between indoor and outdoor areas.

Additional Information

This is a unique opportunity to shape the vision, culture, and long-term success of a new collegiate arena in one of the nation’s leading sports and events markets.

Work Location

Indianapolis, Indiana

Advertised Salary

$70,000.00 – 85,000.00 annually

Benefits Overview

For full-time staff employees, Indiana University offers a wide array of benefits including:

• Comprehensive medical and dental insurance
• Health savings account with generous IU contributions
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• Basic group life insurance paid by IU
• Voluntary supplemental life, long-term disability, critical illness, and supplemental accidental death and dismemberment insurance
• Base retirement plan with generous IU contributions, subject to vesting
• Voluntary supplemental retirement plan options
• Tuition subsidy for employees and family members taking IU courses
• 10 paid holidays plus a paid winter break each year
• Generous paid time off plans
• Paid leave for new parents and IU-sponsored volunteer events
• Employee assistance program (EAP)

Learn more about our benefits by reviewing the IU Benefit Programs Brochure.

Job Classification

Career Level: Sr. Operational

FLSA: Exempt

Job Function: Operations

Job Family: Events

Click here to learn more about Indiana University’s Job Framework.

Posting Disclaimer

This posting is scheduled to close at 11:59 pm EST on the advertised Close Date. This posting may be closed at any time at the discretion of the University, but will remain open for a minimum of 5 business days. To guarantee full consideration, please submit your application within 5 business days of the Posted Date.

If you wish to include a cover letter, you may include it with your resume when uploading attachments.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Indiana University is an equal opportunity employer and provider of ADA services and prohibits discrimination in hiring. See Indiana University Notice of Non-Discrimination here which includes contact information.

Campus Safety and Security

The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report, containing policy statements, crime and fire statistics for all Indiana University campuses, is available online. You may also request a physical copy by emailing IU Public Safety at [email protected] or by visiting IUPD.

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