The Jacksonville Suns baseball team wants to double its workforce for the upcoming baseball season and seek candidates for seasonal jobs at the organization’s job fair Saturday.
The Suns already employ about 60 workers to handle food and beverage concessions at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville, but they want to expand that number by as many as 100 employees.
The event will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Baseball Grounds, 301 A. Philip Randolph Blvd. as the Double A franchise now under new ownership looks increase staff. The jobs will not only be for some 70 Suns home baseball games during the season, which runs from spring through summer, but workers will also be employed for Jacksonville Armada soccer games and other stadium events.
Suns administrators said they believe this is the first time the team is holding a job fair and it coincides with new ownership for the franchise that serves as a farm club for the Miami Marlins.
Ken Babby spent $25 million to buy the Suns from long-time owner Peter Bragan Jr. and assumed ownership at the conclusion of the team’s season in September.
Babby immediately set out to overhaul the organization’s operations and has already announced lower ticket prices for the 2016 season. He’s already hired several new managers and administrators.
In a November Times-Union report, Babby said he plans many changes to attract more fans to the Suns and his commitment to Jacksonville is extensive.
“This is a long, marathon play and we’re making a big bet in Jacksonville,” Babby said then. He also owns a Double A baseball franchise in Akron, Ohio.
A key Jacksonville hire was Mary Nixon as assistant general manager over food, beverages and special events. She’s already in the process of revamping the menu and concession lineups for Suns games and the hires from Saturday’s job fair will handling those new offering.
“With the revamp of how we’re going to be running the menu in different concession areas and some other portable areas we’ll need to have additional staff members,” Nixon said. “It’s a very big deal. We’re looking for people that take pride in their work and we’re looking for people that can be part of our team overall to help give a great fan experience.”
Nixon declined to disclose the budgetary numbers the Suns are willing to spend on the additional hires. She said most jobs are technically part-time and minimum wage positions, though there is increased pay for positions with more responsibility.
The Suns are want applicants to commit to working most games through the season. Training for new hires is likely to begin as early as Jan. 18 for some positions, Nixon said.
The positions available include:
■ Concession workers.
■ Stand managers.
■ Concourse supervisors.
■ Hawkers.
■ Line cooks.
■ Portable and concession cooks.
■ Bartenders.
■ Hospitality servers.
■ Warehouse supervisors.
■ Warehouse staff.
■ Cashiers.
Nixon said the new hires are directly correlated to the new management and overhauls of the fan services.
“We’re going to build our core team to help bring a whole new experience to the Jacksonville Suns stands and give different opportunities that we haven’t had before,” Nixon said.
Applicants are advised to bring resumes, wear appropriate attire and prepare to be interviewed. Parking is provided in Lot P east of the Baseball Grounds. Applicants can enter through the main stadium gates.
Drew Dixon: (904) 359-4098
