IT Systems and Project Manager

IT Systems and Project Manager

Trail Drive Management Corp. – Fort Worth, TX

Trail Drive Management Corp (TDMC) is the not-for-profit organization that manages the spectacular Dickies Arena, a 14,000-seat multipurpose venue located adjacent to the Will Rogers Memorial Center campus in Fort Worth, Texas. Owned by the City of Fort Worth, the state-of-the-art arena opened in November 2019 and hosts a variety of events, including concerts, sporting events, family entertainment, and Fort Worth Stock Show rodeo performances.

Job Summary:

Trail Drive Management Corp (TDMC) is looking for a full-time IT Systems and Project Manager. The IT Systems and Project Manager will serve as the operational anchor for the TDMC technology department. This role bridges the gap between high-level venue strategy, internal technical teams (IT, Broadcast, A/V), event management, and external technical consultants. The Project Manager role shifts the department from reactive technical execution to proactive planning by managing vendor SLAs, leading technical event advances, overseeing technology procurement, and ensuring all event-day deployments run smoothly. The IT Manager portion focuses on firmware updates, business best practices, and operational efficiencies of the core network architecture.

Essential Job Functions:

Vendor & Financial Management

• Act as the primary point of contact for all outside IT consultants, Managed Service Providers (MSPs), and hardware vendors.
• Generate Purchase Orders (POs) for departmental hardware, software licenses, and event-specific technical rentals.
• Review and code all incoming technology invoices, verifying that MSP billing, consultant hours, and equipment purchases align with active contracts and Service Level Agreements (SLAs).
• Track departmental spending against the annual IT budgets, ensuring project costs are properly allocated to specific events or capital expenditure accounts.
• Log, track, and escalate high-level technical help requests with vendors, following through to complete resolution.

Event Advancing & Production Coordination

• Serve as the primary technical liaison for Arena Event Managers. Review tour riders, participate in production calls, and translate incoming show requirements into actionable technical plans.
• Lead technical walkthroughs with show promoters, broadcast partners, and internal staff. Take meticulous notes, identify potential infrastructure bottlenecks, and generate the final "Event Tech Deployment Guide."
• Manage the request, provisioning, and scheduling of event-specific IT needs, including coordinating the deployment of custom SSIDs, VLANs, hardlines, and splash pages with the MSP.
• As needed, work with the AV team to maintain the master schedule for event-day production staffing, ensuring adequate coverage across video, lighting, and audio for concerts, sports, and the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo.

Operational Workflow & Team Synergy

• Create and implement daily and weekly work plans that support business and operational needs across the IT, Broadcast, and Audio/Lighting divisions based on advancing notes.
• Standardize and maintain department Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), including infrastructure health logs, maintenance records, and proof-of-performance reporting for corporate sponsors.
• Manage the "ticket queue" and task delegation for internal staff (Helpdesk Tech, Systems Engineer, Low Voltage Tech), ensuring team members have clear, approved punch lists rather than fielding direct, ad-hoc requests.
• Serve as the central communication hub, translating complex technical capabilities into clear offerings for stakeholders, management, and incoming tours.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Technical Foundation: Solid understanding of enterprise IT environments, including Cisco networking, Microsoft Office 365, and Active Directory. You don't need to configure the switch, but you must know how to direct the team that does.
• Event Experience: Proven experience in live events, sports presentation, or arena operations. Familiarity with broadcast requirements, A/V signal flow, and temporary event deployments.
• Project Management: Strong organizational skills with experience tracking budgets, coding invoices, and managing vendor contracts. (PMP, ITIL, or similar certifications are a strong plus).
• Communication: Exceptional written and oral communication skills. The ability to speak "Network Engineer" to consultants and "Business Value" to executive leadership.
• Demeanor: Possess an outgoing personality suited to providing exceptional customer service, solving problems, and working well under high-pressure, live-event situations.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule including – nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Able to communicate effectively with management, guests, and team members.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks in a fast-paced, high-energy environment.

Working Conditions:

• Employees will work in an environment with fluctuating temperatures.
• Employees must have the ability to lift, push, and pull up to 50 lbs.
• While performing the essential functions of this job, the employee will frequently operate a computer and other office devices.
• Employees will constantly move about inside and outside various areas of the facility before/during/after events to interact with internal/external clients and supervise the work of employees during events.
• Ability to quickly and easily navigate the property/building, walk, and climb stairs.
• Employees will regularly spend their shift standing/walking, traveling stairs, with limited to no sitting.
• Employees may be exposed to high noise levels and/or fluctuating lights in event settings.
• Employees must have the ability to reach, lift, and bend to perform job duties throughout the shift.
• Employees may be exposed to hazards associated with moving vehicles and require strict adherence to safety protocols.

Other Duties:

• This job description is not designed to contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.