Director of Equipment Operations/Facilities Coordinator

Join our vibrant community of dedicated faculty and staff who work to create a transformative educational experience rooted in faith, reason, and justice.

Eastern University is a nationally-recognized Christian university enrolling approximately 9,000 students in a wide array of undergraduate, graduate, professional, and seminary programs. The university’s main campus is located in St. Davids, PA, with many programs also offered online. Eastern’s core values of Faith, Reason, and Justice are woven into all of its educational offerings. Through dynamic programs, a vibrant campus community, and meaningful service learning opportunities, Eastern University is committed to providing students with transformative, accessible, and affordable education.

Position Description

The Director of Equipment Operations / Facilities Coordinator reports jointly to the Athletic Director and the Head Football Coach. This position is chiefly responsible for planning, administering, and executing all aspects of the athletic department's equipment, apparel, and uniform needs, with a primary focus on the sport of football and dedicated oversight of specialized safety equipment across athletic programs (e.g., lacrosse). This includes utilizing modern inventory tracking software, managing equipment budgets, and enforcing strict, updated safety certifications and annual recertification protocols.

Regarding facilities, this role serves as the central liaison for the athletic department. These responsibilities are focused on serving as the operational lead for all facility work requests originating at West Campus (VFMAC), auditing athletic spaces, and collaborating closely with the Athletic Director and the Assistant AD of High Performance/External Operations to identify, track, and strategize facility updates and operational issues. Minor maintenance and facilities upkeep are required in this role.

The individual is accountable for modeling a professional demeanor inherent in higher education and athletics, emphasizing student-athlete mentorship and Christian formation while ensuring all activities support the mission of the University.

Position Responsibilities

Equipment & Apparel Operations (Primary):

• Inventory & Technology Management: Plan, manage, and administer all aspects of the Football program's on- and off-the-field equipment and apparel needs using modern inventory management systems. Maintain an accurate, digital log of all athletic department deliveries, safety gear, and assets.
• Safety & Helmet Compliance: Maintain active certification to properly fit, adjust, and repair player safety equipment (e.g., AEMA certification). Ensure the football program strictly adheres to all MAC, NCAA, and manufacturer guidelines regarding equipment requirements.
• Lacrosse Helmet Management: Manage the inspection, fitting, and safety verification for all lacrosse helmets, ensuring strict compliance with NOCSAE performance standards (ND041 for field use) and managing the mandatory annual reconditioning and recertification cycle (NOCSAE ND043 via NAERA-licensed facilities). Ensure any helmet structurally compromised or exceeding manufacturer-specified life cycles is immediately decommissioned.
• Laundry & Maintenance: Oversee and provide operational oversight for the daily cleaning, sanitization, care, and repair of all practice and game-day uniforms and protective gear for all sports.
• Financial Administration: Partner with the Head Football Coach and Athletic Director to build, justify, and maintain an accurate, modern budget line for equipment, apparel contracts, and safety reconditioning.

Facilities Liaison & Operations:

• West Campus Work Request Lead: Serve as the primary point of contact and lead administrator for all facility work requests at West Campus (VFMAC). Inspect athletic facilities, identify structural, mechanical, or cleanliness issues, and formally input/track all maintenance requests through the university’s facilities portal.
• Strategic Collaboration: Coordinate directly with the Athletic Director and the Assistant AD of High Performance/External Operations to assess long-term facility issues, review operational bottlenecks, and identify necessary facility upgrades.
• Football Practice Field Preparation: Oversee and coordinate the daily setup and breakdown of the field and field equipment for football practices. Ensure all training gear, sleds, cones, and safety markers are positioned properly and secured post-practice.
• Football Game-Day Setup & Coordination: Act as the lead operational liaison for football game-day structural and field setup. Oversee stadium preparation, field marking verification, sideline equipment layout (including headsets and medical/trainer physical boundaries), and post-game breakdown in coordination with the external operations staff.

Leadership & Conduct:

• Supervision: Hire, train, schedule, and monitor a diverse team of student-workers and managers within University standards.
• Student-Athlete Welfare: Cooperate closely with Head/Assistant Athletic Trainers and health personnel regarding safety gear. Immediately notify sports medicine staff concerning any equipment-related safety issues, worn padding, or player injuries.
• Policy Enforcement: Support and enforce Eastern University policies for student conduct, working alongside the Dean of Students and Athletic Administration to maintain high standards of personal behavior.
• Administrative Presence: Attend all athletic department staff meetings and engage in a spirit of teamwork and cooperation across the university ecosystem.

Status : Staff, time, hourly, 40 hours per week, 12 months per year.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred.
• Experience: Previous athletic equipment management or collegiate football operations experience required. Athletic Equipment Managers Association (AEMA) certification (or immediate eligibility to obtain) is highly preferred. Deep knowledge of NOCSAE standards, NAERA reconditioning cycles, and proper helmet-fitting parameters for high-impact sports (football and lacrosse) is required.
• Philosophy & Mission: A deep commitment to the NCAA Division III philosophy of athletics and a demonstrated ability to mentor student-athletes. Candidates must understand, embrace, and actively support the University’s Christian Mission.
• Core Competencies: Proficiency with modern asset/inventory management platforms; excellent organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills; and an ability to effectively champion the vision of the Eastern University Athletic Department to alumni, vendors, and friends.

About Eastern University

Eastern University is a Christian university of the arts and sciences that integrates faith, reason and justice for students in its undergraduate, graduate, seminary, urban, professional and international programs. Applicants should have a Christian commitment compatible with its mission and be willing to support the mission and vision of the university. The university complies with federal and state guidelines of nondiscrimination in employment; members of protected classes encouraged to apply.