This post provides detailed information on the sports equipment manager job description, including the key duties, tasks, and responsibilities they commonly perform.
(You will be able to download the sports equipment manager job description template in pdf below.)
It also highlights the major requirements you may be expected to fulfill to be hired for the sports equipment manager role by most employers.
What Does a Sports Equipment Manager Do?
A sports equipment manager is responsible for the supply of sports equipment and clothing to a team.
The sports equipment manager job description entails handling inventory, repairing equipment, supervising athletes and coaches, and overseeing the logistical aspects of sports equipment within a sport organization.
It also involves disassembling and assembling equipment and uniforms for practices and games, transporting equipment and uniforms to and from venues, and ensuring compliance with safety and quality standards and regulations.
Their duties also include supporting athletes and coaches with fitting, adjusting, and using equipment and uniforms, managing budgets, invoices, and records, as well as recruiting and training of staff or volunteers.
Equipment managers can work with different individuals and groups to ensure athletes have the necessary equipment and that they are properly maintained.
Their responsibilities can be as simple as performing basic inventory checks, cleaning equipment, and ensuring items are properly stored, or as complex as carrying out budgeting, negotiating with suppliers, managing complex inventory systems, and making strategic decisions about equipment upgrades and repairs.
Sports equipment managers engage in a wide array of activities using tools and technologies, including specialized software for asset management, equipment maintenance, and inventory tracking, as well as tools for communication, scheduling, and financial management.
Most sports equipment managers typically report to the athletic director or a similar senior administrator within a school or sports organization.
Depending on the specific structure of the organization, in some cases, they may also report to a head coach or a facility manager.
Their reporting structure ensures accountability and effective management of sports equipment.
In larger sports operations, sports equipment managers usually report to a Chief Operating Officer (COO) or a Director of Operations. They might also report directly to a General Manager (GM) in some instances.
Where Sports Equipment Managers Work
Sports equipment managers work mostly in sports facilities, like sports halls, golf courses, gymnasiums, swimming pools, or within any other service center that specializes in sports activities.
Some managers may work in offices, but frequently travel to various structures for inspections and to manage both the physical equipment and the teams within these facilities.
Sports Equipment Manager Training and Certification
Formal academic degrees, on-the-job experience, and specialized certifications can be combined to form the formal education and training pathway for sports equipment managers.
A Bachelor’s degree in Sports Management provides a solid base in the business aspects of sports, including event management and facility, which relate to the role of sports equipment management.
Additionally, specific certifications related to equipment maintenance, repair, and inventory management can improve a candidate’s qualifications.
For example, the Athletic Equipment Managers Association, AEMA, Certification can be helpful in enhancing the knowledge and skills of a sports equipment manager.
Also, sports equipment managers may be expected to adhere to national and local laws that dictate safety standards.
The National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE) sets industry standards and offers certification for sports equipment managers in the United States.
Sports Equipment Manager Job Description Example/Sample/Template
The sports equipment manager job description may consist of the following duties, tasks, and responsibilities, depending on where they work:
- Place orders, take inventories, store equipment and uniforms, as well as inspect, clean, repair, and maintain sports equipment, and ensure it’s in good working condition and safe to use
- Set up and break down equipment and apparel for practices and games, transport equipment and apparel to and from venues, and ensure compliance with safety and quality standards and regulations
- Support athletes and coaches with fitting, adjusting, and using of equipment and apparel, and manage budgets, invoices, and records, as well as supervise and train staff or volunteers
- Track and manage all athletic equipment and uniforms by carrying out regular inventory checks, tracking inventory levels, and receiving new equipment
- Coordinate with vendors and stay within budget to order and restock equipment and supplies as required
- Ensure equipment is in best shape by filling the balls with air, cleaning dirty equipment, and patching gear as required
- Negotiate with vendors and manage sport specific contracts in collaboration with sales representatives to secure athlete equipment and other athletic equipment products for assigned sports programs
- Examine how uniforms are distributed among team members, the coach, and individual athletes, and maintain accurate records about equipment inspection
- Purchase sport equipment according to department procedures and check in equipment upon delivery to verify receipt
- Maintain and care for the team’s uniforms by seeing that they are washed when necessary and handled with utmost care
- Manage inventory and inventory control software to comply with NCAA rules about issuance of clothes and footwear
- Collaborate with university brand managers to ensure appropriate management of brand and logos, making products to represent the University in a proper way
- Hire assistants, interview and train them, and evaluate their performance, as well as organize day-to-day work schedules and follow up on work progress
- Collaborate with the coaching staff to ensure they are reaching the team’s equipment needs
- Carry out small repairs and precautionary maintenance, and organize repairs of equipment maintenance machines
- Often count and examine the team or department’s equipment to ensure everything is intact
- Pack equipment for the team’s away games or matches and order new equipment as needed when equipment is no longer usable
- Help with supplying sports equipment to individual athlete, ensuring it gets to the right person by writing names or numbers on it for tracking reason
- Ensure adherence to safety regulations, security, function, and guidelines related to equipment policies when distributing and using equipment.
Sports Equipment Manager Requirements: Abilities, Skills and Knowledge for Career Success
The sports equipment manager requires certain technical skills, industry knowledge, and a number of personal attributes to be successful on the job and career, and to qualify for hiring by most recruiters/employers, including:
- Organizational Skills: Sports equipment managers need strong organizational skills to effectively manage inventory, keep track of equipment distribution, maintain records, and coordinate with suppliers.
- Communication Skills: Sports equipment managers need excellent written and verbal communication skills to necessarily interact with athletes, coaches, vendors, and other members of the team. As they are able to visibly, politely, and efficiently communicate with players, coaches, and other support staff, they will help all members of the organization have the equipment, tools, and gear they need.
- Problem-Solving Skills: Sports equipment managers need this skill to troubleshoot equipment problems and discover solutions to ensure smooth operations. They will be able to utilize their problem-solving skills to address equipment-related issues, including scarcities or breakdowns.
- Technical Skills: The knowledge of sports equipment and its functions, as well as its maintenance and repair, is very important among sports equipment managers. The skill also makes it possible for them to operate and troubleshoot equipment and tools. Knowledge of Microsoft Office is part of the technical skills sports equipment managers need to possess if they actually want to succeed.
- Adaptability: Because sports equipment managers work in a fast-paced and constantly-changing environment, they need adaptability and resilience. They need the ability to adjust to changing priorities and equipment needs.
- Attention to Detail: Being accurate in inventory management, equipment preparation, and record-keeping is very crucial for sports equipment managers as they need a keen eye for detail and the ability to stay organized and ensure everything is in order. For sports equipment managers to successfully complete their tasks, they have to be careful about detail and thoroughness.
- Knowledge of Sports: Sports equipment managers need to know how sports function, including the basic equipment and players needs for practices and games. They also need knowledge of storage procedures and the ability to handle sports equipment successfully.
- Self-Control: Sometimes, sports equipment managers may find themselves in very difficult situations that irritate them and change their mood. In such situation, they should be able to keep their emotions in check and maintain composure, as well as avoid aggressive behavior.
- Customer Service Skills: Having the knowledge of principles and processes to provide excellent customer service is very essential. Sports equipment managers should be able to assess customer needs satisfaction, as well as meet quality service delivery.
- Math Skills: Sports equipment managers need basic math competencies for inventory management and equipment ordering and distribution. They have to strongly utilize demonstrated knowledge of math computation skills, such as addition, subtraction, division, and multiplication, and apply them to their day-to-day operations.
- Decision-Making Skills: This skill will assist sports equipment managers in making decisions about which equipment is safe to use and which pieces should be removed. They need to know how the existing and predicted economic and general equipment market impact utilized equipment demand and pricing. Sports equipment managers must make sound decisions when negotiating with dealers and customers and handling changing market values.
Download sports equipment manager job description template (pdf).
Sports Equipment Manager Job Description for Resume
If you have worked before as a sports equipment manager or are presently working in that role and are making a resume or CV for a new job, then you can create a compelling Professional Experience for your resume by applying the sample sports equipment manager job description provided above.
You can express the duties and responsibilities you have carried out as a sports equipment manager in your resume’s Professional Experience by utilizing the ones provided in the above sports equipment manager job description example.
This will show to the recruiter/employer that you have been successful working as a sports equipment manager, which can boost your chances of getting the new job, especially if it requires someone with some sports equipment manager work experience.
Conclusion
This post has provided detailed coverage of the sports equipment manager job description, highlighting the major responsibilities and duties that they typically perform.
It also provided information on the skills and training needed to gain employment and be successful on the job and career of a sports equipment manager.
If you are interested in pursuing a career in sports equipment management, you will find this post beneficial in learning about the duties and responsibilities of the role.
It is also helpful to employers needing to make a job description for the sports equipment manager position.
They can apply the sports equipment manager job description template provided on this page in making a detailed one for their organizations.
