Senior High Performance Operations Manager

Reports to: Men's & Women's National Team Head Coaches

Works Closely With: High Performance Director; Men's & Women's National Team Head Coaches; Commercial Partnerships Manager; Performance Support staff (Medical, S&C, Performance Analysis, Nutrition, Mental Performance)

Location: Charlotte, North Carolina

The Senior High Performance Operations Manager leads the operational delivery of USA Field Hockey's Men's and Women's National Team programs, creating an environment where athletes and coaches can focus entirely on performance. Working in close partnership with the High Performance Director and National Team Head Coaches, the role is responsible for the planning, coordination and execution of training camps, centralized daily operations, domestic and international travel, competitions, athlete services, equipment management, commercial partner liaison and budget administration.

Success is measured by operational excellence: anticipating issues before they occur, delivering proactive solutions, communicating effectively, managing resources responsibly, and continually improving the systems that let coaches and athletes focus solely on preparation and performance.

1. High Performance & Program Operations

● Lead operational delivery of all Men's and Women's National Team activities, including domestic camps, international tours, test matches, Continental Championships, World Cups and Olympic Qualification events.

● Maintain a visible daily presence in the Charlotte high performance environment; coordinate facilities, meeting rooms, recovery services, equipment and logistics for the program and visiting teams.

● Ensure coaches and athletes operate in a world-class, distraction-free performance environment.

2. International Tour & Travel Operations

● Own end-to-end delivery of international tours: travel, accommodation, transport, meals, practice facilities, meeting rooms, accreditation, visas, customs documentation and contingency planning.

● Maintain expertise in airline policy, visa/customs requirements, insurance and equipment transport; continuously identify cost-saving opportunities while improving the athlete and staff experience.

● Deliver tours with zero preventable operational errors.

3. Financial Management

● Prepare and monitor program budgets; forecast annual expenditure and complete monthly budget reconciliation.

● Manage purchase orders and credit card reconciliation; negotiate with suppliers and identify efficiencies.

● Track expenditure and report financial outcomes to the High Performance Director.

4. Athlete Services & Compliance

● Assist with the creation and ongoing management of athlete agreements, stipends, rooming lists, travel information and communications.

● Maintain athlete administration records: passport and visa expiry dates, emergency contacts, medical information, SafeSport compliance, Anti-Doping support, eligibility and selection documentation, and Code of Conduct acknowledgements.

● Coordinate athlete onboarding, travel insurance documentation and Elite Athlete Health Insurance.

5. Equipment & Kit Operations

● Manage uniforms, inventory, equipment tracking, GPS units, medical supplies, shipping and customs paperwork.

● Serve as day-to-day point of contact to the kit sponsoring partner (in coordination with the Commercial Partnerships Manager): place orders ahead of time, maintain the athlete sizing roster and delivery addresses, and relay design or embellishment requests.

● Anticipate apparel and equipment needs well in advance, recognizing new kit items or in-kind sponsorship equipment can take up to a year to arrive.

6. Commercial Partnership Liaison

● Hold quarterly meetings with the Commercial Partnerships Manager to plan deliverables for national team athletes/staff and discuss cost-saving opportunities.

● Communicate sponsor benefits and opportunities to athletes, staff and parents at least quarterly, and support compliance with sponsor apparel requirements.

● Act as liaison between athletes/families and the Commercial Partnerships Manager for job opportunities, athlete sponsorships, and appearance or autograph requests (in person and digital); manage the scheduling this requires.

7. Communication Hub

● Serve as the operational communication hub between coaches, athletes, HP staff, USOPC, FIH, hotels, airlines, suppliers and tournament organizers.

8. Performance Support Coordination

● Coordinate (not direct) operational scheduling with Medical, Strength & Conditioning, Performance Analysis, Nutrition and Mental Performance staff so each has what they need.

● Arrange and lead recurring National Team staff meetings and facility scheduling.

9. Continuous Improvement

● Develop SOPs and checklists; conduct tour debriefs; improve systems, processes and operational efficiency year over year.

● Operational excellence, planning and organization
● Ownership, accountability and proactive decision-making
● Project management — able to run 50+ moving pieces simultaneously without missing deadlines
● Financial acumen — comfortable managing budgets in excess of several hundred thousand dollars
● Communication and relationship management across athletes, staff and external partners
● Customer service orientation — this role is athlete-facing every day
● Adaptability and problem solving; anticipates issues before they occur
● Emotional intelligence and composure under pressure; exceptional attention to detail
● Technology proficiency (see Technology & Systems below)

● Highly organized, calm under pressure, and anticipates problems before others see them
● Emotionally intelligent, builds trust quickly, and is comfortable working behind the scenes
● Service-oriented without needing recognition; positive and adaptable
● Loves planning and enjoys creating order from complexity; deadline-driven
● Self-directed — takes ownership of problems and communicates proactively rather than reactively

● Microsoft 365: Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, SharePoint
● Google Workspace: Sheets, Calendar, Forms
● Adobe Acrobat / PDF tools
● DocuSign (athlete agreements, waivers and other e-signature documentation)
● Athlete Management System / database platform (specific system TBD)

● Zero preventable travel booking errors
● 100% visa and travel compliance
● Programs delivered within approved budget
● Operational plans finalized at least 14 days prior to departure where possible
● High coach and athlete satisfaction
● Documented process improvements each year
● Quarterly meeting cadence maintained with the Commercial Partnerships Manager

Salary Range: $45,000-$55,000, plus excellent benefits package.

This position is physically located in an office environment with the High Performance staff and athletes in Charlotte, NC.

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital or veteran status, or any other protected class.