What are the responsibilities and job description for the Lead Equipment Manager position at NJ/NY Gotham Football Club LLC?
Lead Equipment Manager Job Description
NJ/NY Gotham FC (“Gotham FC” or “the Club”) is a National Women’s Soccer League (“NWSL”) team representing New Jersey and New York. The team plays at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, NJ.
The Role:
Gotham FC is seeking a Lead Equipment Manager who will play a crucial role in ensuring that the team has everything it needs to succeed, both on and off the field. The Lead Equipment Manager will oversee all aspects of managing, maintaining, and distributing equipment for the First Team. This includes organizing training and match day gear, managing inventory, ensuring compliance with league regulations, and allowing players and staff to have the necessary resources to perform at their best. The Lead Equipment Manager will work closely with the technical and operations staff to ensure that all equipment logistics are handled efficiently and effectively. The Lead Equipment Manager will manage and mentor Equipment staff, helping them to develop and grow whilst achieving success within their roles. This person will be required to attend all matches, both home and away.
Key Responsibilities:
- Equipment Planning & Management: Assess team needs based on training and match day strategies, weather, and tactical requirements. Research and propose new equipment and apparel enhancements, staying within budgetary constraints. Complete all equipment ordering and inventory.
- Training and Game Day Management: Prepare and organize equipment for match and training days, ensuring that jerseys, boots, and other required items are ready for use. Oversee the cleaning and maintenance of all team gear and all Equipment spaces (locker rooms, laundry rooms etc.), ensuring equipment and spaces are in top condition for use.
- Training Day Responsibilities: Set up training fields, organize player lockers, and manage day-to-day equipment requirements, ensuring all gear is maintained and available. Accommodate and fulfill visiting team training requests. Assist the technical, operations and medical staff in coordinating facility flow adhering to facility contract rules & regulations
- Match day Operations: Ensure players follow NWSL and CONCACAF equipment regulations, prepare locker rooms, assist visiting teams, and manage post-match clean-up.
- Apparel Customization: Serve as a resource on boot fittings and apparel customization, tailoring equipment to each player’s unique needs.
- Logistics & Travel: Assist with packing and transporting equipment for home and away games, and travel with the team to ensure match day readiness.
- Player & Staff Liaison: Act as the main point of contact for equipment-related requests and needs from players and staff.
- Vendor & Supplier Relations: Manage and foster positive relationships with suppliers and vendors to ensure timely delivery of equipment, kit orders, and supplies.
- Laundry & Maintenance: Oversee the cleaning and maintenance of all team gear, ensuring equipment is in top condition for use. Ensure team branding is consistent and up-to-date across all equipment and spaces.
- Personnel Management: Manage and mentor equipment staff to ensure the department is running smoothly, contributing to the overall success of the wider Operations Department.
Qualifications:
- 4 years of experience in equipment management, preferably in a professional sports environment.
- 1 years experience of managing a department, preferably within Soccer.
- Passion for Women’s Soccer and equipment management.
- Knowledge of sports equipment and apparel; Specific knowledge of soccer equipment is preferred.
- Familiarity with inventory management systems and software is preferred.
- Proven ability to work under pressure, managing multiple tasks and competing priorities.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills to work across departments and with diverse stakeholders.
- Strong organizational skills with attention to detail, particularly in managing inventory and logistics.
- Willingness to travel extensively, working irregular hours, including weekends and holidays.
- Capable of lifting and transporting heavy items (up to 50 pounds) and working on-site for extended periods.
- Strong leadership skills, with the ability to support, guide, organize, and educate direct reports within an equipment team.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with flexibility to handle changing priorities.
- Ability to make decisions, and take responsibility for projects.
- Proven ability to manage budgets and control costs effectively.
- Spanish proficiency is preferred.
- An understanding of athlete care and development at the elite level.
- Experience of working within elite level sport environments; Women’s Soccer is preferred.
- Knowledge of the New York and New Jersey areas is preferred.
- Spanish proficiency is preferred.
Capability & Other Characteristics:
- Detail-Oriented: Ability to manage inventory and logistics with precision.
- Collaborative Team Player: Ability to work effectively with coaching staff, players, and other stakeholders to ensure success.
- Proactive Problem Solver: Proactive in identifying and resolving equipment-related issues.
- Flexible & Adaptable: Able to handle unexpected changes and requests.
- Customer-Oriented: Committed to providing excellent service and support to players, staff, and others.
- People Manager: Strong ability to manage people and projects successfully. Track record of helping others to learn and grow.
- Decision Maker: Ability to exercise discretion and independent judgment with
- respect to assuring the smooth implementation, coordination, and operation of job duties.
- Legally authorized to work in the United States.
Location:
This position is fully in-person, based at Gotham FC’s soccer operations office and practice facility, located in Whippany, New Jersey. Ability to attend all home games, all away games, and any mandatory events as necessary. A willingness to travel for other business-related needs, as they arise. Ability to work at the team’s business operations office in Jersey City, New Jersey, as needed. Gotham FC requires its associates to live in its market, that is, within reasonable commuting distance of Gotham FC’s offices, practice facility and Red Bull Arena.
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Gotham FC is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes everyone to our team. We are committed to broadening the pool of qualified talent for consideration, including those who have been historically underrepresented. We strongly encourage people of color, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and non-binary people, veterans, parents, and individuals with disabilities to apply.
Job type: Full-time Exempt
Salary range: $60,000 - $80,000 annually
Benefits: Medical, Dental & Vision benefit plans available for Employee and Family, Employee funded 401(k) option
This job description is a broad summary of the essential job functions and general duties for this position, the additional job duties that may be required from time-to-time, the level of knowledge and skill typically required, and the scope of responsibility, but should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. The person in this role may be required to and must be willing to perform other duties as assigned, to meet organizational needs. This job description may be modified from time to time, at the sole discretion of Gotham FC.
This employee must follow and enforce all policies and procedures formulated by Gotham FC and be a role model for the organization.
The existence of this job description does not modify the employee’s “at-will” status. That is, unless a signed employment contract specifying a term of employment exists between Gotham FC and the employee or his/her/their representative, both Gotham FC and the employee will have the right to terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without reason or notice, unless otherwise prohibited by law.
Salary : $60,000 - $80,000