Vice President, Business Operations

Overview

The Youngstown Phantoms are a leading USHL junior hockey club with strong ties to the Mahoning Valley. The organization focuses on competitive success, memorable fan experiences, and making a positive impact in the community. This opening is for a senior business leader to drive and expand the revenue operations that support the team.

Role Summary

Reporting to the Team President and partnering closely with Black Bear Sports Group leadership, the Vice President of Business Operations is responsible for the organization’s ticketing, fan experience, broadcasting, digital media, retail, and overall day-to-day business functions. The position is highly hands-on and carries direct accountability for revenue performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead ticketing strategy and revenue generation across season memberships, group sales, premium seating, flex packages, and all related ticket income targets.
• Build, coach, and manage a motivated sales and operations team focused on high performance.
• Oversee broadcasts, streaming coverage, away-game production, and compliance with league media standards.
• Direct game-day presentation, including entertainment, in-game activations, audio-visual production, and the complete fan experience.
• Manage digital presence and retail operations, including the website, social channels, online engagement, team store, and merchandise.
• Act as the business point of contact for the arena, while also handling payroll, budgets, and financial reporting.

Candidate Profile

The ideal applicant brings at least 5 years of advancing leadership experience in ticket sales or business operations within sports, entertainment, or live events. A history of consistently meeting and surpassing revenue goals, along with the ability to develop a strong sales culture, is important. Experience with budgeting, forecasting, sales performance, and broader business metrics is also expected. Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills are needed to work effectively across departments. A bachelor’s degree is preferred, though substantial director-level experience may be considered in place of formal education. The role also requires availability for evenings, weekends, and game-day commitments.

Why This Opportunity Stands Out

This position offers the chance to guide business operations for a well-supported, championship-caliber junior hockey organization backed by Black Bear Sports Group. The role provides significant autonomy, meaningful organizational influence, and the opportunity to help shape the fan and community experience for one of the Mahoning Valley’s key sports teams.