Director of Digital & Innovation (Sport)
Leading digital transformation and technological integration to enhance fan engagement and business performance in sports.
Overview
The role involves a high-speed rhythm dictated by both seasonal sports calendars and the rapid pace of technological change. On a daily basis, this leader navigates complex projects ranging from stadium IoT infrastructure and mobile app development to advanced data analytics for performance and marketing. The work requires a constant balance between maintaining stable legacy systems and experimenting with high-risk, high-reward innovations like virtual reality or blockchain-based fan engagement tools.
Successful individuals in this field tend to be strategic thinkers who can translate technical jargon into business value for non-technical stakeholders. The day-to-day experience is highly collaborative, involving frequent meetings with broadcast partners, sponsors, and internal department heads. Those who thrive are comfortable with ambiguity and have a deep passion for how technology can deepen the emotional connection between a sports brand and its global fan base.
Responsibilities
- Define the long-term digital roadmap to support the organisation's commercial and performance goals.
- Oversee the development and maintenance of all fan-facing digital platforms including mobile apps and websites.
- Manage relationships with external technology vendors and innovation partners to source new solutions.
- Lead data strategy initiatives to improve fan insights and drive personalised marketing efforts.
- Collaborate with the commercial team to integrate digital assets into sponsorship and hospitality packages.
- Direct a multi-disciplinary team of product managers, developers, and data scientists.
- Allocate annual budgets for digital infrastructure and emerging technology pilot programs.
Qualifications
- Extensive experience in digital product management or technical leadership within the sports or media sectors.
- Proven track record of delivering complex digital transformation projects from inception to launch.
- Deep understanding of current technology trends such as AI, data analytics, and cloud computing.
- Exceptional stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence at the executive level.
- Strong financial acumen and experience managing multi-million dollar technology budgets.
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Business Administration, or a related field.
Nice to have
- Master of Business Administration or equivalent advanced degree.
- Experience working within a major professional sports league or a global broadcast network.
- Familiarity with sports performance data and its integration with media platforms.
Work environment
- Work is typically performed in a professional office setting with frequent presence at sporting venues.
- The role requires flexibility to work during match days, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.
- Occasional international travel is expected to attend industry conferences and visit global technology partners.
- The culture is high-pressure and results-oriented, mirroring the competitive nature of professional sports.
Benefits & growth
- Compensation often includes a base salary plus performance-linked bonuses tied to commercial growth.
- Common perks include premium access to home games, hospitality events, and industry networking opportunities.
- Career progression typically leads to Chief Technology Officer or Chief Digital Officer positions.
- The role offers significant exposure to the global sports tech ecosystem and investment opportunities.
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