Facility Director

Job Description: Executive Director / General Manager – Ice Sports & Entertainment ComplexBackground: Since 1959, ice sports have been part of the fabric of North Alabama, bringing generations together through skating, hockey, and recreation. The Huntsville Ice Sports Center ( Link 1 ) is entering an exciting new era with a transformative $44M expansion that will elevate the ice sports experience in Huntsville and the surrounding region. Featuring a new 1,500-seat arena, five curling lanes in a dedicated curling center, expanded training and community spaces, and enhanced dining and gathering areas, this landmark project will more than double ice availability while creating new opportunities for athletes, families, and visitors bringing the total square footage to 204,000sf. Known as the “Rocket City,” Huntsville, Alabama, is a dynamic and rapidly growing community where Southern charm meets world-class innovation. Nestled in the Appalachian foothills of North Alabama, Huntsville is a hub for aerospace, defense, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, and higher education, supported by major employers, leading research facilities, and a thriving technology sector. Beyond its economic vitality, the city offers an exceptional quality of life through its rich arts and cultural scene, beautiful parks and outdoor recreation, and an enthusiastic sports community. From the U.S. Space & Rocket Center and Orion Amphitheater to the Rocket City Trash Pandas, Huntsville Havoc, and Huntsville City FC, the city celebrates opportunities for people of all ages and interests to connect, compete, and thrive. At the heart of this growing sports culture is the Huntsville Ice Sports Center, a welcoming and expanding community of curlers, figure skaters, hockey players, athletes, and ice sports enthusiasts dedicated to developing talent, fostering lifelong participation, and sharing the excitement of ice sports with the greater Huntsville community.

Position Summary: The Executive Director / General Manager provides overall operational, financial, and strategic leadership for a multi-surface ice sports and entertainment facility. The Director oversees all ice surface operations, master scheduling across competing sports disciplines, a comprehensive multi-unit F&B program, capital maintenance, staffing, and customer safety while maximizing facility utilization and revenue. The position reports directly to the Board of Governance. Proposed compensation package range: $150,000 – 175,000

Education: Master’s Degree or equivalent industry experience.

Leadership Experience: Multi-venue operations executive with 5 years of leadership experience. Fiscal Management: 5+ years of experience in multi-departmental budget formulation, management, and fiscal oversight Business Development: Demonstrated track record of cultivating strategic alliances with key stakeholder organizations. Facility Metrics: Figure Skating School: 800+ member Learn to Skate, Aspire, and competitive programs. (Link 2) Youth & Adult Hockey Leagues: 1,700+ combined players, leagues, tournaments, and clinic rentals.(Link 3) Curling Center: 5-lane dedicated curling leagues, bonspiels, and corporate events. (Link 4) Public Sessions: 325+ annual sessions 3000+ hours of ice rented annually $2M+ earned annual revenue Key Responsibilities & DutiesMission-Driven Leadership : sustain and fortify a facility culture of excellence where all ice sports thrive equally. Maintain an operationally sound and financially self-sufficient facility. Cultivate and expand ice sports within the Huntsville community, championing a diverse facility for all ice sports. Program Leadership: Directly supervise program heads, including the Skating Director, Hockey Director, Curling Coordinator, and Operations Supervisors. Offer high-quality community programming, tournaments, and events. Enhance the civic reputation of both the Facility and the City of Huntsville by driving measurable regional sports tourism. Work with Huntsville Sports Commission to track, evaluate, and report event-driven economic impact metrics (such as projected hotel room nights, out-of-town visitor spend, and municipal tax generation) to demonstrate the facility's ongoing return on investment to the Huntsville community. Proactively secure bid awards for regional and national events in partnership with program activities, targeting a defined increase in sports tourism and economic footprint. Regulatory and Financial Compliance: Monitor liquor license compliance, health inspections, food cost controls, labor margins, waste management, and event catering logistics. Staff Management: Direct recruiting, onboarding, training, and performance reviews for 40–100+ full-time, part-time, and seasonal employees (ice technicians, skate guards, cashiers, bartenders, kitchen staff, custodial). Risk & Emergency Management: Oversee safety inspections, air quality monitoring, ice depth tracking, and facility Emergency Action Plans (EAPs). Equal Employment Opportunity (EOE) StatementThe Huntsville Ice Sports Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees, free from discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, disability, age, or any other legally protected status. Employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications.