Player Operations Intern 2026

Internship Objective:
The Kalamazoo Growlers are offering an opportunity for current college level students looking to gain real world Player Operations experience to position themselves for a career in the sports industry upon graduation.

About the Organizations:
The Kalamazoo Growlers are a 2014 Northwoods League expansion team, 2022 and 2024 Northwoods League Championship team, and have become one of the most premier sports and entertainment companies in the Nation, winning organization of the year in 2016, 2020, 2022 and 2024. The Growlers continue the rich history of baseball in Kalamazoo, carrying on the tradition of the Kalamazoo Kodiaks and Kalamazoo Kings. Homer Stryker Field, a 3,000-seat park located in Kalamazoo's Mayors Riverfront Park is the home field of the Growlers.

The Northwoods League is a summer baseball league comprised of teams of the top college players from across North America. The Northwoods League has more teams, plays more games, and draws more fans than any Summer Collegiate Baseball League in North America. Each team is operated similar to a professional minor league team, providing players an opportunity to play under the same conditions using wooden bats, minor league specification baseballs, experiencing overnight road trips, and playing nightly before thousands of fans.

Start Date
: On or near the start of summer (May 11th)
End Date
: On or near the end of summer (August 22rd)
Academic Qualifications:
Declared major or minor in Sport Management (Other majors will be considered including, but not limited to: Marketing, and Business)
Description of Responsibilities:
The player operations interns report directly to the Director of Stadium Operations. Under his supervision, the player operations interns direct and participate in the maintenance of the playing field and related work as required. Also maintaining a well-managed clubhouse, which offers a multi-functional facility, from providing a meeting room to acting as a second home to the players, coaches and umpires. The following is a list of responsibilities of the player operations interns. Responsibilities are not limited to this list.
Pre-Season Responsibilities:

• Assist in planning, supervising, and executing the maintenance of Homer Stryker Field
• Preparing Homer Stryker Field for Games and events during the summer
• Irrigation management
• Mowing, trimming and use of blowers
• Field markings and logo painting
• Baseball specific: Preparing the infield, outfield, mound and home plate areas and bullpens for the season
• Equipment Inventory
• Uniform Inventory
• Locker Room Organization
• Distribute Equipment and uniforms to each player & Keep track of items distributed

Game Day Responsibilities:

• Laundry: Home & Visiting team (personals, uniforms, towels)
• Clubhouse Cleaning: Home & Visiting team (tables, garbage cans, dugouts, water/Gatorade jugs, coach office) (cleaning crew will clean bathrooms, showers, and locker room floors)
• Equipment: Issue any necessary equipment to players (keep records), bring umpires game balls, fill water coolers for both teams (equipment inventory sheets will be provided and should be filled out for any equipment given to players. Sheets should be kept on file for future reference.)
• Food: Home, Visiting, & Umpires: It is the clubhouse manager's responsibility to pick up post game meal from a pre-determined sponsor for the home & visiting team. Post game meal for the umpires is from the concession stand and should be ready in their locker room before the end of the game
• Preparing Homer Stryker Field for daily batting practice and games including but not limited to:
• Overseeing watering and routine maintenance of Homer Stryker Field
• Setting up batting cage and other protective netting & equipment
• Removing batting practice equipment to prepare for games
• Dragging infield, base paths, home plate area and warning track
• Marking infield lines, home plate area and foul lines
• "Watering down" infield, mound and home plate area
• Inspection and routine maintenance of pitching mound, bullpens, infield, and home plate areas
• Communicating with the head coach and Director of Stadium Operations on necessary field needs

Post Game Responsibilities:

• General cleaning of both locker rooms
• Take both team and umpire meals to locker rooms or pre-determined eating location
• Collect laundry (uniforms & towels) from both locker rooms and begin for following day
• Equipment pickup and storage
• Any other request made by front office personnel
• Dragging of infield and base paths
• Nightly "recovery" of pitcher's mound and home plate area
• Taking note and communicating with head coach and Director of Stadium Operations, needs for following day

Post Season Responsibilities:

• Collect equipment and complete inventory of collected items
• Collect uniforms and complete inventory of collected items
• Cleaning & organization (coach locker room, player locker room, umpire locker room, bathrooms, showers, laundry room, washers, dryers, dugouts, batting cage area)

Other Responsibilities:

• Monitor and be aware of weather and other events that could cause field issues
• Direct & assist with rain delays and all responsibilities associated with such as:
• Field Tarp, water drainage, dugout clearing, field recovery, etc.
• Any other request made by the head coach, Team Leadership or Director of Stadium Operations

Desired Skills and Qualifications:

• Ability to work within a team environment
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Organized, motivated, and able to work independently
• Team-leadership and adaptability
• Ambitious and self-initiated
• Ability to lift 50 lbs.
• Ability to stand for extended periods of time and work in a fast-paced environment

Other Tasks and activities to include, but are not limited to:

• Picking up and removing trash
• Hanging ballpark banners
• Working concessions outlet as needed
• Participating in in stadium entertainment
• Playing Field pick up
• Office & Clubhouse clean up / organization
• Fan interaction & engagement
• Gameday set up
• Delivery receiving
• Power washing or other stadium recovery activities
• Food prep
• Intern Olympic competitions
• Working special events
• Working Battle Creek / Kalamazoo Games
• Player Food delivery / pickup
• Merch modeling, sorting, displaying
• Create / participate in promotional videos
• Community gorilla marketing campaigns

No Compensation.
The extent to which the Intern and the Company clearly understand that there is no expectation of compensation. The Intern understands that they are not entitled to wages for their time spent in the internship. The intern agrees that he/she will be compensated in knowledge, education, and experience as consideration for the duties/responsibilities that he/she will undertake during the duration of this agreement.

Housing & Living Expenses:
Housing is not provided, intern is responsible for coordinating summer arrangements. There are an abundance of housing options in Kalamazoo during the summer. Company will provide $600 monthly stipend to assist in covering living expenses such as food, gas and housing.
Credit:
College credit towards a major, minor or general elective available

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital or veteran status, or any other protected class.