Assistant Director, Travel Operations

Job Function: the Assistant Director, Travel Operations supports reliable, high‑quality execution of NCAA championship travel through hands‑on operational coordination, policy application, and vendor engagement. This role plays a critical part in ensuring consistent travel standards, timely issue resolution, and financial integrity across championship travel programs.

Serving as a key execution partner to travel leadership and vendors, the Assistant Director provides day‑to‑day operational support during peak championship periods, contributes to continuous improvement efforts, and helps protect the student‑athlete experience by reducing disruption risk and execution issues. The role operates with a high degree of accountability and judgment while partnering closely with internal stakeholders and external travel providers.

Job Responsibilities:

Championship Travel Execution

• Support day‑to‑day execution of NCAA commercial and charter air travel operations, including championship team travel, officials, staff, and committee travel.
• Serve as an operational lead for assigned championship travel programs, with a primary execution emphasis on Division II and Division III championships.
• Exercise judgment and decision‑making authority for routine operational travel issues during peak championship periods, escalating complex matters as appropriate.
• Provide additional execution support during peak Division I championship periods, including WBIT, NIT, Selection Sunday, and early‑round tournament activity.
• Maintain on‑call availability during critical championship travel windows to ensure timely issue resolution and continuity of service.
• Partner with championships staff and internal stakeholders to align travel execution with competition schedules, site logistics, and student‑athlete needs.
• Coordinate closely with travel management companies, ground transportation providers, and housing partners to ensure accurate execution and service fulfillment.

Policy Execution & Issue Resolution

• Apply, interpret, and support consistent execution of NCAA travel policies across assigned championships.
• Resolve day‑to‑day travel issues related to air, ground, lodging, and expense activity while documenting decisions and outcomes.
• Escalate sensitive or precedent‑setting issues to senior travel leadership with clear context and recommended actions.

Financial Integrity & Operational Support

• Support committee and governance committees on championship enhancements, sports committee initiatives and strategic planning efforts.
• Support accurate financial tracking and documentation related to championship travel activity.
• Assist with issue investigation, billing review, and documentation needs in coordination with Finance and travel leadership.
• Help ensure travel activity aligns with budget expectations, financial controls, and audit requirements.
• Support leadership reviews by compiling operational insights related to cost drivers, disruptions, and execution challenges.
  
  
• Other duties as assigned
  
  

Job Requirements:

• Education required: high school diploma or equivalent. Bachelor’s degree strongly preferred.
• 2-4 years of experience in customer service or related field. 4+ years preferred.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, sports administration, operations management, or a related field.
• 2-4 years of experience supporting operations, logistics, or service delivery in a fast paced, time sensitive environment.
• Experience contributing to execution of large-scale events or programs involving multiple internal and external stakeholders.
• Familiarity working with third party service providers such as travel management companies, transportation vendors, or similar partner driven operating models.
• Strong organizational, communication, and problem solving skills with the ability to make sound decisions under pressure.
• Demonstrated ability to consistently apply policies and procedures while exercising practical judgment in real time situations.
• Ability to interpret operational and financial information to support issue resolution and leadership decision making; experience working with enterprise financial or reporting systems preferred.
• Proficiency with standard business tools, including Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Teams); experience with travel or expense platforms a plus.
• Willingness and ability to be on call and work extended or non-standard hours during peak championship periods.
• Ability to travel as needed, with seasonality aligned to championship support requirements.
  
  

Key Competencies:

• Effective Communication | Can exchange ideas, thoughts, opinions, knowledge, and data so that the message is understood with clarity and purpose.
• Accountability | Holds self and others accountable for measurable high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results. Determines objectives, sets priorities, and delegates work. Accepts responsibility for mistakes. Complies with established control systems and rules.
• Resourcefulness | The ability to creatively cope with difficult situations, or unusual problems. It is about problem-solving and getting things done in the face of obstacles and constraints.
• Drive for Results | Can be counted on to consistently accomplish work effectively and efficiently, is very bottom-line oriented, steadfastly pushes self and others for results.
• Problem Solving | Identifies and analyzes problems; weighs relevance and accuracy of information; generates and evaluates alternative solutions; makes recommendations.
  
  

Core Values:

• LEADERSHIP| We actively listen and continually strive to provide vital solutions, counsel and advocacy for student-athletes and intercollegiate athletics.
• INCLUSION| We seek and incorporate different perspectives and experiences to drive innovation and impact.
• COMMUNICATION| We commit to an environment of openness to build trust and make timely decisions.
• COLLABORATION| We work together, based on mutual respect, to lead and serve our stakeholders.
• ACCOUNTABILITY| We take ownership for our actions and results to add value every day.