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…