The Southland Conference (SLC), based in suburban north Dallas and serving twelve NCAA Division I member institutions across Texas and Louisiana, seeks a highly organized, proactive, and versatile professional to serve as Director of Executive Operations.

Reporting to the Commissioner, the Director of Executive Operations will provide high-level executive, administrative, and operational support to the Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer, helping maximize the effectiveness of the Conference's senior leadership and overall office operations.

This position will operate at the center of the Southland Conference office and play a critical role in coordinating executive priorities; planning and executing Conference meetings and events; preparing leadership for key meetings and decisions; managing special projects; and ensuring consistent follow-through across the organization.

The successful candidate will be an exceptional planner and problem solver who anticipates needs, manages details at a high level, communicates effectively, and thrives in a fast-paced environment where priorities can change quickly. The position requires discretion, sound judgment, initiative, and a willingness to step in wherever needed to help the Conference operate at a championship level.

Duties and Responsibilities: The Director of Executive Operations will serve as a trusted executive and operational partner to the Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer, with significant responsibility for Conference meeting and event planning, executive coordination, governance support, project management, and day-to-day office operations.

Primary Responsibilities:

Executive Operations & Leadership Support

· Provide high-level executive and operational support to the Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer.

· Help organize and prioritize critical issues, information, meetings, and projects to facilitate efficient decision-making.

· Prepare the Commissioner and COO for meetings, events, travel, and public appearances by developing briefing materials, background information, agendas, talking points, relevant history, outstanding issues, and anticipated follow-up items.

· Anticipate executive needs and proactively identify information, materials or actions required in advance of meetings, travel, events and deadlines.

· Manage the Commissioner's daily schedule and electronic calendar, including appointments, meetings, conference calls and visitors.

· Coordinate the Commissioner's travel, including transportation, lodging, itineraries and supporting materials.

· Coordinate interview schedules, speaking engagements, and other appearances involving the Commissioner.

· Process expense reports, reimbursements, and supporting documentation.

· Review and route correspondence directed to the Commissioner's Office, ensuring matters requiring attention are handled appropriately.

· Maintain the highest level of discretion when handling confidential and sensitive information.

· Serve as a dependable point of coordination between the Commissioner, COO, senior staff, and other Conference personnel.

· Attend meetings or functions on behalf of the Commissioner or Chief Operating Officer when requested, primarily to provide coordination, gather information, communicate established direction, and ensure appropriate follow-up.

·      Support the Commissioner's engagement with university presidents, athletics directors, Conference partners, NCAA leadership, community leaders, sponsors, and other key stakeholders, including meeting preparation, logistics, materials, and follow-up.

Conference Meetings & Event Planning

· Lead the administrative and logistical planning of Conference meetings and events from initial concept through execution and post-event follow-up.

· Coordinate Commissioner-hosted and Conference executive events, including schedules, invitations, venues, materials, hospitality, transportation, technology, vendors, run-of-show, and on-site execution.

· Coordinate logistics for Board of Directors meetings, Advisory Council meetings, athletic director meetings, staff retreats, business summits, campus events, community initiatives, championship-related functions, and other Conference events.

· Develop detailed event timelines, run-of-show documents, checklists, room diagrams, itineraries, and operational plans.

· Coordinate hotels, rooming lists, meeting spaces, meals, transportation, credentials, signage, audiovisual needs, technology, and other event logistics.

· Work directly with hotels, venues, caterers, transportation providers, and other vendors to coordinate event needs and ensure successful execution.

· Conduct site visits and assist with venue selection and event preparation as needed.

· Track event contracts, deadlines, deposits, invoices, and other administrative requirements in coordination with the appropriate Conference staff.

· Maintain event budgets and monitor expenses in coordination with the Chief Financial Officer and applicable department leads.

· Coordinate staff assignments and responsibilities for Conference meetings and events.

· Serve as an on-site operational lead or support resource for designated Conference events.

· Troubleshoot operational challenges before and during events and make timely decisions necessary to maintain a first-class experience.

· Establish a consistent pre-event briefing and post-event debrief process to identify responsibilities, lessons learned, and opportunities for improvement.

· Maintain and update master event calendars, planning documents, historical records, and templates to improve year-to-year efficiency.

· Provide planning and logistical support for Conference championships as assigned while working collaboratively with the appropriate sport administrator and championship staff.

· Be available for occasional nights, weekends, and travel associated with Conference meetings, championships, and special events.

Board, Advisory Council & Governance Coordination

· Provide administrative and logistical support for the Southland Conference Board of Directors, Advisory Council, and other designated governance groups.

· Serve as the primary administrative liaison between the Commissioner’s Office and the Board of Directors, Advisory Council, and their respective executive assistants and administrative staff.

· Coordinate meeting schedules, availability polls, notices, calendar invitations, agendas, and meeting materials.

· Work with the Commissioner and COO to ensure Board and Advisory Council materials are organized, accurate, and distributed on time.

· Act as Secretary of the SLC Board of Directors and attend designated governance meetings to support Conference leadership, monitor attendance, and capture minutes and action items.

· Maintain an organized annual governance calendar and track Board, Advisory Council, and leadership action items through completion.

· Maintain organized governance records and historical meeting materials.

· Help ensure interactions with university presidents, athletic directors, and other institutional leaders are organized, professional, and responsive.

Project & Priority Management

· Assist the Commissioner and COO in coordinating key Conference projects and organizational priorities.

· Develop and maintain systems that provide visibility into projects, deadlines, responsibilities, and outstanding action items.

· Track commitments and decisions made during executive, staff, and governance meetings and ensure appropriate follow-through.

· Coordinate outreach and follow-up communications resulting from executive meetings, events and Commissioner initiatives, ensuring commitments and action items are appropriately assigned, tracked and completed.

· Manage cross-departmental projects when multiple Conference departments are involved.

· Maintain and coordinate executive project timelines, key organizational deadlines, event schedules, centralized calendars, and project-management systems to ensure alignment, visibility, and timely execution across the Conference.

· Identify potential scheduling conflicts, missed deadlines, operational gaps, and other issues before they become problems.

· Prepare periodic status updates for the Commissioner and COO regarding major projects, upcoming deadlines, and outstanding action items.

· Take ownership of designated special projects from assignment through completion.

Conference Office Operations

· Help ensure the efficient day-to-day operation of the Southland Conference headquarters.

· Maintain Conference contracts, vendor records, and administrative files in organized electronic and physical systems.

· Coordinate office technology, equipment, and supply needs with appropriate vendors and staff.

· Coordinate incoming and outgoing mail, deliveries, and shipments.

· Assist with onboarding and offboarding Conference staff, including equipment, technology, credentials, and building access.

· Maintain appropriate office calendars, contact lists, directories, and administrative resources.

· Assist with Conference purchasing and vendor coordination as assigned.

· Help maintain an organized, professional and welcoming Conference office environment.

· Support staff culture, internal communication and organizational consistency alongside the Commissioner and senior leadership.

· Identify opportunities to improve administrative systems, workflows and operational efficiency.

Executive Communications & Special Projects

· Assist the Commissioner and COO with correspondence, presentations, reports, meeting materials and other executive communications.

· Review executive correspondence, presentations, meeting materials and other deliverables for accuracy, consistency, professionalism and alignment with the Commissioner’s priorities before distribution.

· Work with the Conference communications staff to coordinate speeches, talking points, presentations and sensitive communications when appropriate.

· Help prepare internal communications from the Commissioner's Office.

· Create and maintain polished, professional meeting decks for the Board of Directors, Advisory Council and other Commissioner-led meetings using Canva and other Conference presentation platforms.

· Maintain organized records of important correspondence, commitments and follow-up items.

· Conduct research and compile background information for meetings, projects and executive decision-making.

· Lead and support special projects and emerging initiatives assigned by the Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer, coordinating across departments and external partners as necessary from assignment through completion.

· Serve as a flexible resource across the Conference office when additional coordination or operational support is needed.

General Knowledge

· Exceptional organizational, planning, and time-management skills.

· Demonstrated experience planning and executing meetings, events, or complex projects involving multiple stakeholders.

· Strong attention to detail and ability to manage numerous simultaneous deadlines.

· Ability to anticipate needs and take initiative without requiring constant direction.

· Strong project-management skills and demonstrated ability to move projects from concept through successful execution.

· Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

· High level of professionalism, discretion, judgment, and emotional intelligence.

· Demonstrated ability to handle confidential and sensitive information appropriately.

· Ability to interact professionally and confidently with university presidents, athletic directors, senior administrators, coaches, student-athletes, vendors, and other stakeholders.

· Strong problem-solving skills and ability to remain composed when plans or priorities change.

· Ability to build collaborative working relationships across departments without relying on direct authority.

· Strong technology skills and comfort learning new project-management, scheduling, and administrative platforms.

· Service-oriented mindset and willingness to assist wherever needed.

· Ability to work independently while remaining highly collaborative with the Commissioner, COO, and Conference staff.

· Commitment to efficient, accurate, and high-level execution.

Education and Experience

· Bachelor's degree required.

· Four or more years of progressively responsible experience in executive operations, event management, collegiate or professional athletics administration, hospitality, project management, executive support, or a related field preferred.

· Demonstrated experience supporting senior executives or leadership teams strongly preferred.

· Demonstrated experience coordinating complex meetings, events, travel, or multi-stakeholder projects.

· Experience in collegiate athletics, professional sports, higher education, hospitality, or event operations preferred.

· Experience working with executive-level stakeholders and confidential information preferred.

· Proficiency with Microsoft Office and modern scheduling, project-management, and collaboration platforms.

Other Information:

The Southland Conference offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support employees professionally and personally, including:

• Conference-paid medical, dental and vision insurance
• $500 annual Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA)
• Retirement benefits
• Paid vacation, sick leave and holidays
• Monthly cell phone stipend
• Complimentary office parking at The Star
• Conference-provided technology and resources necessary to perform the position
• Professional development opportunities
• Conference-related travel and expenses in accordance with Southland policies