IT Manager | Full-Time | Ryan Field at Northwestern University

Oak View Group (OVG) is the global leader in premium live entertainment infrastructure and services with a platform spanning venue development and end-to-end capabilities across venue management hospitality and sponsorship sales. Founded in 2015 the company serves a collection of seven world-class owned venues and a client roster of the most iconic arenas stadiums convention centers music festivals performing arts centers and cultural institutions spanning four continents.

The IT Manager is responsible for the day-to-day reliability support and maintenance of technology infrastructure at New Ryan Field and Welsh-Ryan Arena. Reporting to the Director of Venue Technology this position serves as a senior hands-on technical resource providing Tier II support while independently troubleshooting and resolving Tier III-level network systems and infrastructure issues. A primary responsibility of this position is ensuring that all venue technology endpointsincluding point-of-sale terminals ticket scanners cameras wireless access points digital signage access-control devices and other connected systemsremain operational and event-ready at all times. The IT Manager supports venue business operations event production ticketing point-of-sale security broadcast audiovisual building systems and other event-critical technologies. This role requires a proactive team player who can collaborate effectively with OVG Corporate IT Northwestern University Information Technology when applicable venue partners vendors tenants promoters and event personnel. This is a 100% on-site field-based position. The majority of each workday will be spent throughout the venues inspecting systems resolving issues testing endpoints supporting users and proactively identifying technology concerns. Availability for evenings weekends holidays and extended hours is required based on the event schedule.

This role pays a yearly salary of $90000 - $100000

Benefits for Full-Time role: Health Dental and Vision insurance 401(k) savings plan 401(k) matching and paid time off (vacation days sick days and 11 holidays).

This position will remain open until October 2 2026.

The new Ryan Field is a new 35000-seat football stadium designed to be the premier venue of its size in America for college sports concerts and other live events.

Welsh-Ryan Arena is a 6500-seat multipurpose arena located on the campus of Northwestern University and home to Northwestern basketball volleyball wrestling and other university and community events.

• Serve as the primary on-site escalation resource for complex IT network systems and infrastructure issues.
• Provide advanced Tier II support with the ability to independently diagnose and resolve Tier III-level incidents.
• Ensure venue endpoints are connected functional properly configured and ready for daily operations and live events.
• Conduct routine field inspections and testing of point-of-sale terminals ticket scanners cameras access points IPTV devices access-control systems digital signage and other network-connected equipment.
• Support and maintain the Cisco network environment including switches routers wireless infrastructure VLANs access ports network closets and related platforms.
• Troubleshoot LAN WAN WLAN VPN DHCP DNS TCP/IP routing switching authentication and connectivity issues.
• Monitor network and system performance and proactively address potential service interruptions.
• Provide technical leadership and event-day support for football games basketball games concerts and other live events.
• Respond quickly to issues affecting ticketing point-of-sale credentialing Wi-Fi broadcast audiovisual IPTV security digital signage and back-of-house operations.
• Exercise sound judgment in determining when issues should be resolved internally and when timely escalation to manufacturers integrators service providers or other third-party support is necessary.
• Support computers mobile devices printers phones conference rooms and enterprise applications.
• Maintain network diagrams equipment inventories IP records system documentation and troubleshooting procedures.
• Coordinate technology projects infrastructure upgrades equipment replacements structured cabling and vendor work.
• Support temporary event connectivity and technical requirements for visiting productions promoters and event partners.
• Coordinate with OVG Corporate IT Northwestern University Information Technology cybersecurity teams and service providers to implement organizational standards.
• Recommend improvements that increase reliability security operational efficiency revenue opportunities and the guest experience.
• Provide guidance and mentorship to part-time staff and event personnel.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• 3-5 years of professional experience providing Tier II technical support preferably in a professional power collegiate sports or entertainment setting.
• Bachelors degree in information technology computer science network engineering or a related field is preferred. Equivalent professional experience will be considered.
• Cisco certifications such as CCNA or CCNP are highly desirable. AV networking Microsoft CompTIA or ITIL certifications are a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to independently troubleshoot Tier III-level network systems and infrastructure issues.
• Strong technical judgment including the ability to identify when an incident requires escalation to third-party support and to provide the documentation and troubleshooting details necessary for an efficient resolution.
• Hands-on experience supporting Cisco networking environments is required.
• Strong understanding of routing switching VLANs trunking Spanning Tree TCP/IP DHCP DNS VPNs wireless networking and network-access controls.
• Sports live entertainment stadium arena hospitality or event-production experience is highly preferred.
• Working knowledge of modern converged AV and IT environments including Netgear AV switching AV over IP Dante AES67 and SMPTE ST 2110.
• Experience supporting ticketing point-of-sale credentialing IPTV digital signage broadcast audiovisual security or access-control systems is preferred.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft 365 Windows Active Directory Entra ID endpoint management and enterprise software deployment.
• Strong troubleshooting documentation project-management and organizational skills.
• A fans first mindset with a commitment to customer service operational excellence and identifying creative ways technology can improve the guest experience and support revenue generation.
• Willingness to spend the majority of each day working throughout the venues rather than primarily from an office.
• Ability to communicate effectively and work collaboratively with technical teams venue leadership university partners employees vendors and event stakeholders.
• Ability to remain calm and make effective decisions in high-pressure time-sensitive situations.

Working Conditions

• This position is 100% on-site and requires regular fieldwork throughout both venues.
• Ability to work evenings weekends holidays event days and extended hours.
• Ability to respond to urgent technology issues outside normal business hours when required.
• Ability to work in offices control rooms data rooms network closets loading docks seating areas concourses concession areas and exterior venue spaces.
• Ability to walk and stand for extended periods climb stairs and ladders work around equipment racks and lift or carry heavy equipment.

At OVG we understand that to continue positively disrupting the sports and live entertainment industry we need a diverse team to help us do it. We also believe that inclusivity drives innovation strengthens ourpeople improves ourservice and raises ourexcellence. Our success is rooted in creating environments that reflect and celebrate the diverse communities in which we operate and serve and this is the reason we are committed to amplifying voices from all different backgrounds.

Oak View Group is committed to equal employment opportunity. We will not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment on any legally recognized basis (protected class) including but not limited to veteran status uniform service member status race color religion sex national origin age physical or mental disability genetic information or any other protected class under federal state or local law.