Hire industry-ready sport business talent

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Elevate your game

The sport and recreation industry needs talent that balance business expertise and industry knowledge. Our co-op students bring both—a passion for sport and strong management skills. They are ready to make an impact across all levels, from grassroots community programs to elite professional organizations. 

Whether it's managing community recreation, event marketing or running sport facilities, our student talent bring the versatility your business needs to succeed. 

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Why hire Waterloo?

Fresh talent, huge impact

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Katie boosted Scotiabank’s team events and enhanced fan experience with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Katie, a Sport and Recreation Management student, organized events and supported the automotive finance branch at Scotiabank as a business analyst, and improved communication efficiency as a fan experience intern with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Riana Ismail lead initiatives such as NFT projects, premium space development, and fan engagement plans

Riana Ismail, a fifth-year health student in the Sport and Recreation Management program, lead innovative projects like the launch of an NFT rewards program and development of premium spaces and engagement plans with organizations like U SPORTS, the Canada Games Council, the San Jose Sharks, and Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment. 

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Roles co-op students can fill

Tap into valuable skills of Waterloo co-op students in areas such as:

Leading Teams and Leagues

Sample jobs Sample job responsibilities
Fan experience assistant  Enhancing the fan experience through innovative
projects, such as integrating technology for virtual reality experiences.
VIP Hospitality experience and commercialization assistant Working with
premium clients and creating new business and revenue streams for sports
teams and venues.
Media relations co-ordinator Assisting with press releases, media co-ordination,
and managing relationships with journalists and media outlets.
Social media co-ordinator Managing the team’s social media accounts, creating
engaging content, and interacting with fans online.
Ticketing and registration co-ordinator Overseeing ticket sales, registration
processes, and customer service for event attendees.

Sports Marketing

Sample jobs Sample job responsibilities
Event planning assistant Planning and executing sports events, including logistics, vendor co-ordination, and participation engagement.
Marketing and promotions assistant Assisting with marketing campaigns, social media management, and brand promotion for sports teams or events.
Sponsorship co-ordinator Securing and managing sponsorships, including partner relationships and activations strategies.
Content creator Producing engaging content such as videos, blogs, and social media posts to promote sports events and athletes.
Sport marketing analyst Analyzing data to track marketing performance, fan engagement, and overall success of campaigns.

E-Sports and Gaming

Sample jobs Sample job responsibilities
Volunteer co-ordinator Recruiting, training, and managing volunteers, ensuring they are well-coordinated, informed, and prepared for their roles during esports events.
Esports analyst Analyzing game data and player performance to provide insights for teams to improve strategies.
Esports sales representative Working on ticket sales, merchandise, and other revenue-generating activities for esports events and teams.
Esports community manager Building and maintaining a strong community around an esports team or brand through social media, forums, and fan interactions.
Esports production assistant Assisting with the technical aspects of esports events, such as setting up equipment, managing live broadcasts, and ensuring smooth production.

Sporting Goods

Sample jobs Sample job responsibilities
Merchandising assistant Assisting with visual merchandising, product edisplays, and promotions to enhance in-store and online sales.
Product development assistant Working with design and engineering teams to develop new sporting goods products, from concept to market launch.
Customer service representative Handling customer inquiries, returns, and support for sporting goods products and services.
Supply chain co-ordinator Assisting with inventory management, order fulfillment, and logistics for sporting goods companies.
Market research analyst Conducting research and analyzing data to understand market trends, consumer preferences, and competitive landscape.
Digital analyst Analyzing website traffic, social media engagement, and digital marketing performance to optimize online presence.

Event Management and Promotion

Sample jobs Sample job responsibilities
Event planning assistant Planning and organizing sports events, including logistics, scheduling, and overseeing event execution to ensure smooth operations
Event marketing co-ordinator Promoting sports events through marketing campaigns, social media, and community outreach to attract attendees.
Fan engagement specialist Developing and Executing fan engagement activities and initiatives to enhance the event experience.
Volunteer co-ordinator Recruiting, training, and managing volunteers for sports events, ensuring they are well-prepared and supported.
Event operations co-ordinator Managing on-site event logistics, such as set-up, tear -down, and co-ordination of staff and volunteers.
Sponsorship activation assistant Managing sponsorship agreements and ensuring sponsor visibility and engagement during events.

Sport Technology and Analytics

Sample jobs Sample job responsibilities
Sports data analyst Analyzing player performance, game statistics, and team metrics to provide insights for coaches and managers.
Performance analyst Using technology and data to assess and improve athlete performance through video analysis and wearable technology.
User experience (UX) designer Creating intuitive and engaging user interfaces for sports technology products and applications.
Wearable tech sales representative Working on sales strategies and customer engagement for wearable technology products.
Wearable technology assistant Collaborating with companies that develop fitness trackers and wearable devices to improve their functionality and user experience.

Fund your next hire

Hiring a co-op student through the subsidies and grants below can be an affordable way of building a sustainable talent strategy!

Student Work Placement Program (SWPP)

Through SWPP, Canadian organizations that offer full-time employment opportunities for full-time Canadian post-secondary students can receive wage subsidies.

Funding will cover up to 50 per cent in wage subsidies (to a max. of $5,000) per co-op student hired for each 12–16-week work term. Students hired from under-represented groups may be eligible to have up to 70 per cent of their wages subsidized. Eligbility is determined on a case-by-case basis at the end of each work term.

Ontario Co-operative Education Tax Credit  

Large corporations can claim 25 per cent of expenditures, up to $3,000 per work placement. Small businesses can claim 30 per cent, up to $3,000. Each work placement must be at least 10 weeks and up to 4 months. This tax credit is available for each eligible work placement. Employers may have multiple work placements at the same time and throughout the year.

The tax credit is per eligible work placement and there is no cap. If an organization decides to hire for an eight-month work term, or two students for four-month work terms, both would be considered as two work placements and would be eligible for a total tax credit of up to $6,000.

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Find the right talent today.

Connect with Felicia! 🚀

Felicia is a business development and industry strategist with the University of Waterloo’s Co-operative Education department. She can help guide your recruitment strategy and answer questions about recruiting top talent with us.    

Email: fobiora@uwaterloo.ca

Phone: 519-888-4567 x41819

Industry-leading companies hire Waterloo co-op students