Executive Operations Manager

Champions Blue Job Posting Title: Executive Operations Manager Requisition Number: R-000002999 Department Name: Champions Blue Work Location: Joe Craft Center Grade Level: 47 Salary Range: $57,158.00 - $94,286.00 Type of Position: Regular Position Time Status: Full time Equivalency Link https://hr.uky.edu/employment/working-uk/equivalencies Shift: Days (United States of America)
Job Description

Job Summary Responsible for providing high-level operational, administrative, communications, stakeholder engagement, and project coordination support to the Champions Blue CEO/Athletic Director. This position will manage complex executive scheduling, coordinate travel and meeting logistics, prepare executive-level materials, support strategic initiatives, and serve as a key point of coordination for internal and external stakeholders. This position requires sound judgment, discretion, professionalism, and the ability to manage sensitive, confidential, and time-sensitivity matters in a highly visible executive environment. The role will coordinate executive priorities, track commitments and follow-up items, support donor/VIP and board or committee engagement, and help ensure timely communication and execution of key initiatives. The ideal candidate will be highly organized, proactive, and comfortable managing competing priorities while building effective working relationships with university leaders, athletics leadership, coaches, board members, donors, external partners, and community constituents.
Essential Functions

Serves as a trusted strategic partner to the Champions Blue CEO/Athletic Director, providing executive-level operational, administrative, stakeholder engagement, and project management support in a highly visible and complex athletics environment.
Oversees complex scheduling, executive communications, travel logistics, donor and VIP engagement coordination, board and committee support, and strategic initiatives while exercising sound judgment, discretion, and independent decision-making.
Facilitates coordination among university leaders, athletics leadership, coaches, board members, donors, external partners, conference and national athletics stakeholders, and community constituents to advance institutional and athletics priorities.
Acts as an extension of the executive office by exercising delegated authority to coordinate priorities, resolve routine and complex operational matters, and ensure timely execution of executive commitments.
Coordinates high-profile executive engagements, including donor meetings, board or committee interactions, university leadership meetings, external partner discussions, game-day or special-event commitments, and other strategic stakeholder activities.
Synthesizes complex and sensitive information into concise briefings, executive summaries, recommendations, presentations, and action plans to support timely decision-making.
Anticipates emerging issues, identifies potential risks, and proactively recommends solutions to support executive effectiveness, confidentiality, and organizational priorities.
Coordinates executive travel associated with university priorities, athletics leadership responsibilities, donor and VIP engagement, conference or national association meetings, competitive events, special events, and other high-profile external commitments.
Develops executive-ready itineraries, briefing books, contact lists, logistics plans, and contingency plans to support travel, meetings, and public-facing engagements.
Works with internal teams and external partners to manage last-minute changes, sensitive logistics, and competing priorities with discretion, urgency, and sound judgment.
Plan, coordinate and manage all travel arrangements for the Champions Blue CEO/Athletic Director and other designated executive leaders.
Coordinate and advance executive priorities, strategic initiatives, and organizational objectives on behalf of the Champions Blue CEO/Athletic Director.
Serve as a representative of the Champions Blue CEO/Athletic Director in interactions with university leaders, faculty, staff, students, board members, community partners, and external constituents.
Oversees day-to-day executive office operations to ensure efficiency, responsiveness, confidentiality, and alignment with executive and organizational priorities.
Establishes systems, procedures, tracking tools, and records management practices that support high-level executive operations and ensure timely follow-through on commitments.
Assists with monitoring executive office budgets, discretionary expenditures, travel expenses, and administrative financial processes in accordance with applicable policies and procedures.
Maintains confidential materials related to executive priorities, personnel matters, donor or stakeholder interactions, strategic planning, and sensitive organizational issues.
Education Requirement

Bachelor’s degree
Experience Requirement

3+ years of related experience, required. Experience in providing executive-level administrative, operational, project coordination, or comparable professional support to senior leadership, preferred. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered. All experience must be paid and in the same related field. Part‑time and PRN experience will be prorated based on hours worked per week. Volunteer work and internships for academic credit are not counted.
Certifications & Licensures

N/A
Working Conditions

A. Lifting, pushing, and/or pulling objects up to 50lbs: 2. Occasional ( B. Lifting, pushing, and/or pulling objects over 50lbs: 1. Never
C. Standing or walking with objects up to 10lbs: 3. Intermittent (10% - 50% of the time)
D. Standing or walking with objects up to 25lbs: 2. Occasional ( E. Sitting at computer workstation for extended periods: 4. Regular (> 50% of the time)
F. Risk of back injury from moving, lifting, or positioning patients, equipment, or materials: 1. Never
G. Repetitive motion: 4. Regular (> 50% of the time)
H. Working at heights above 4 feet: 1. Never
I. Working in confined spaces: 1. Never
J. Risk of injuries from use of equipment on the job: 1. Never
K. Job‑related travel: 2. Occasional ( L. Loud noises: 1. Never
M. Temperature extremes: 1. Never
N. Hazardous chemicals and fumes including waste: 1. Never
O. Radiation: 1. Never
P. Burns: 1. Never
Q. Cuts/Punctures: 1. Never
R. Bloodborne/airborne pathogens: 1. Never
S. Recombinant DNA or viral vectors: 1. Never
T. Combative/violent people: 1. Never
U. Animal handling (including carcasses): 1. Never
V. Please specify other(s) and amount of exposure (i.e. Occasional, Intermittent or Regular): N/A
Physical Demands

This position requires regular sitting at a computer workstation for extended periods of time; performing tasks with repetitive motions (such as typing) on a regular basis; intermittent standing or walking with objects weighing up to 10 pounds; and occasional standing or walking with objects weighing up to 25 pounds, as well as lifting, pushing, and/or pulling objects weighing up to 50 pounds.
Additional Job Responsibilities

N/A
Our University Community

We value the well-being of each of our employees and are dedicated to creating a healthy place for everyone to work, learn and live. In the interest of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students, employees, patients and visitors, the University of Kentucky is a Tobacco & Drug Free campus. The University follows both the federal and state Constitutions as well as all applicable federal and state laws on nondiscrimination. The University provides equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information or social or economic status. Any candidate offered a position may be required to pass pre-employment screenings as mandated by University of Kentucky Human Resources. These screenings may include a national background check and/or drug screen. Our growth is creating opportunities! Our team is expanding, and we want to hire the most talented people we can. Continued success depends on it! So once you've had a chance to explore our current open positions, apply to the ones you feel suit you best and keep track of both your progress in the selection process, and new postings that might interest you! Our Work Experience is the combination of everything that's unique about us: our culture, our core values, our company meetings, our commitment to sustainability, our recognition programs, but most importantly, it's our people. Our employees are self-disciplined, hard working, curious, trustworthy, humble, and truthful.

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