Ice Hockey Referee Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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 primary responsibility of an Off-Ice Official is to function as a contributing member of a team of officials assigned to a variety of tasks for pre-season, regular season, and playoff games played in connection with the Firebirds Hockey Sports Team.

This role will pay an hourly rate of $20.00 - $24.00

Benefits for Part-Time roles: 401(k) Savings Plan and 401(k) matching.

This position will remain open until November 20, 2026.

Acrisure Arena is the premier sports and entertainment venue in the greater Palm Springs area, a 11,000+ seat building hosting the biggest artists and acts on the planet. The arena is home to the Coachella Valley Firebirds, an AHL affiliate of the Seattle Kraken, who reached the Calder Cup Finals in each of their first two seasons and have established one of the best game-night atmospheres in minor league hockey. Beginning in 2026-27, Acrisure Arena also becomes home to the Coachella Valley Lakers of the NBA G League, expanding the building's year-round sports calendar. We are building a championship organization that serves our fans, community, and business partners through exceptional sports and entertainment. Winning matters. Fans come first. Great teams achieve unimaginable results. And we honor the culture and diversity of the cities that make up the Coachella Valley.

• Timing the game from stoppage to stoppage. Resetting the clock when necessary. Monitoring that the clock is functioning properly. Timing of intermissions. Timing of both official and commercial time-outs.
• Timing of all penalties assessed by the referees. Ensuring that penalties are recorded accurately in the AHL records. Ensuring players are released at the appropriate times from the penalty box. Assisting the referees with determining the on-ice strength when multiple penalties are assessed.
• Responsible for the penalty box area in conjunction with the penalty timekeeper. Releasing players at the appropriate time at the expiration of their penalties. Replacing game pucks when they leave the ice surface and/or at other times per league guidelines. Maintaining a backup stopwatch for the game clock. Monitoring the video replay headset in case there are video reviews required and/or game clock adjustments.
• Handling the commercial time-outs based on established League guidelines. Communicating with the broadcasters, the on-ice officials, and fellow off-ice officials when commercial timeouts are upcoming and when they are about to be completed.
• Illuminating the red light when the referee signals that a goal has been scored.
• Making the official decision on all goals, including the goal scorer and those worthy of receiving an assist. Report this information to the off-ice official responsible for entering information into the scoring system and to the public address announcer. Reviewing all scoring plays on video to ensure accuracy.
• Accurately interpreting the events of the game and recording them in the League scoring system. Making instantaneous decisions on hits, shots, missed shots, blocked shots, giveaways, takeaways, goals and assists, penalties, and other pertinent game events.
• Verbalizing events so that nothing is missed by those entering them into the scoring system computers. Reviewing events on video to verify decisions or to make changes for accuracy.
• Reviewing all close plays at the net and communicating effectively with the technician, the on-ice officials, and the AHL Situation Room to accurately determine the legitimacy of all goals and potential goals.
• Arrive one-two hours prior to game time and until the game reports are completed and must be available for all pre-season, regular and post-season games (October to June)
• Other duties as assigned.

• 2+ years of hockey officiating experience is highly preferred
• High school diploma or GED. Associate's degree is preferred. Equivalent experience will be considered.
• Strong communication skills
• Ability to write reports and business correspondence
• Highly organized with good coordinating/project management skills.
• Ability to meet tight deadlines and work in a high-pressure environment
• Ability to analyze problems involving many variables
• Proficient in MS Office with Salesforce or similar CRM experience - Ticketmaster platform experience preferred - Archtics
• High level of demonstrated professionalism, integrity and ability to maintain sensitive information and appropriate decorum
• Team player with a positive attitude, professionalism, resourcefulness, integrity, motivation, and a strong work ethic
• Competitive, self-motivated, and creative-thinking skills and a team-first attitude
• Ability to work flexible hours including evenings, weekends, and holidays