Executive Director, Technology
World Tennis
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
World Tennis in Southwest London seeks an Executive Director, Technology to lead technology strategy and operations. You will ensure technology platforms and data services support strategic objectives, improve operational efficiency, and create digital opportunities.
The role requires strong experience in IT operations, software delivery, and stakeholder engagement. This position operates within a hybrid model, requiring some office presence to facilitate collaboration and productivity.
Qualifications
- Senior-level experience in technology leadership and IT operations.
- Capability to explain complex technical choices in business terms.
- Experience in leading digital transformation and software delivery.
Responsibilities
- Develop and maintain the technology strategy aligning with goals.
- Lead day-to-day operation of IT services and support.
- Define and lead software development and delivery function.
- Own and champion data strategy for operational value.
- Provide technology foundations for a connected digital ecosystem.
- Ensure technology services are secure and well-governed.
- Lead technology engagement with National Associations and partners.
Skills
Tools
Job description
At World Tennis, we live and breathe our sport. We are a global organisation at the heart of tennis, here for everyone who loves the game.
Working together with our 214 member nations and 6 regional affiliates, we’re proud to support every journey in tennis, from playground to podium. More than 100 million people play tennis today. Billions more follow it. It’s a sport that offers opportunities on and off the court, inspiring joy, confidence and connection. That’s why we reinvest 90% of our income each year into the game, directly and through our member nations, helping to grow tennis in every region and for every age, ability and background.
We grow the game from the ground up, to help the next generation fall in love with tennis. We enable tennis from grassroots participation to talent development and competition, all the way up to the Olympics and Paralympics.
We build a pathway to the top, creating opportunities for players everywhere to chase their dreams. From junior tournaments to the professional World Tennis Tour, we create opportunities for talent to rise, and we actively support players from underrepresented nations to excel.
We bring nations together so that players can compete not just individually, but for the pride of their country. Through our world-class team competitions, the Davis Cup, Billie Jean King Cup, Wheelchair World Team Cup and Beach Tennis World Cup, we make it possible for players to compete for the pinnacle of sporting glory.
We protect the spirit of the sport, and ensure the game is respected at every level.
We train the officials, set the standards, and as tennis’s global governing body, we uphold fair play, integrity and safety.
We drive tennis forward, sustaining its foundations and future. Through innovation and sustainability, we’re helping tennis evolve socially, environmentally and economically. We educate players and coaches at every level, and champion a more inclusive game for all.
Above all, we want everyone to feel part of it. We’re building a global tennis community that’s more passionate and welcoming than ever, both on the court and online.
The Executive Director, Technology is based in our offices in south-west London. The role is responsible for the strategic and operational leadership of all technology matters ensuring that technology platforms, data services, digital systems, infrastructure, cybersecurity, software delivery, support services and technology governance enable our strategic objectives, improve operational efficiency, support stakeholder engagement and create new opportunities for digital and data-led value.
The role sits at the centre of organisational transformation, providing the technology foundations that connect systems and data, reduce reliance on legacy technology, improve access to information, strengthen digital engagement and support adoption of new capabilities such as AI, automation and data-driven services balancing strategic innovation with operational resilience and owning and maintaining a strategic technology roadmap that supports short, mid, and long-term business strategy.
The Technology Department exists to enable our strategic and operational objectives through the delivery of secure, reliable and scalable technology solutions.
Its function is to provide and support the core systems, infrastructure, data platforms, digital services and software capabilities that allow us to operate effectively, engage with players, fans, National Associations, and other stakeholders and partners, and make better use of information.
The department leads technology strategy, cybersecurity, IT operations & infrastructure, staff support, software development, data services, BI & analytics, business applications, AI adoption, and digital service delivery, ensuring that technology not only supports day-to-day operations but also drives efficiency, innovation, resilience and future growth.
The Technology Department comprises 32 staff: 16 permanent employees and currently 16 contractors. The department is organised into three core functions – IT Operations & Support, Data & Insight, and Software Development & Technology Programmes – with project management and product support capabilities embedded within the delivery structure.
- Head, Technology Programmes
- Head, IT Operations
- Senior Technical IT Project Manager
- Senior Manager, Data & Insights
Develop, maintain and communicate our technology strategy, ensuring that IT priorities align with organisational strategy, operational needs, and future opportunities. This includes translating business objectives into technology roadmaps, advising senior leadership on technology choices, and ensuring that investment decisions consider value, risk, delivery capacity and long‑term sustainability.
Provide executive leadership for the day-to-day operation of IT services, including infrastructure, networks, staff support, cybersecurity, business applications, and core operational platforms.
The role is accountable for ensuring that operational systems are resilient, well-supported and protected from disruption
Define and lead the software development and delivery function, ensuring that internal and externally supported platforms are developed, maintained, supported, and modernised in line with organisational needs.
The role includes setting direction for modern development practices, including the use of AI‑assisted development, prototyping, requirements definition, testing, secure development, DevOps, architecture, tooling and governance.
Own and manage the organisation‑wide software development roadmap, working with business leaders, product owners and technology teams to identify and prioritise initiatives, enhancements and maintenance across all departments.
Own and champion our data strategy, ensuring that data is treated as a strategic asset and converted into operational, commercial, and strategic value.
The role is responsible for ensuring the delivery of centralised data management systems (including the Baseline Tennis Management System, Customer Data Platform, and Trajectory BI & Analytics hub), effective data collection and utilisation pipelines, connecting data to internal services and external partners, data governance, data security, data & BI products, APIs and automation.
Provide the technology foundations for our connected digital ecosystem, including shared Tennis ID single sign‑on / identity management, customer data, APIs, reusable platform components, data feeds, dashboards, and centralised digital administration services.
The role includes ensuring that major platforms such as Tennis ID, Tour Zone, Baseline, ITF websites, player support services, officiating services, CRM, Power BI, data services and APIs operate as part of a coherent technology ecosystem rather than as isolated systems.
Lead the technology contribution to services that support National Associations, partners, and the wider tennis ecosystem.
Ensure that technology services are secure, resilient and appropriately governed, with clear controls for cybersecurity, data protection, data access, information classification, supplier security, platform governance, and operational risk.
Lead the technology dimension of our AI strategy, ensuring AI adoption is practical, value‑led, governed and aligned with organisational priorities.
The role is responsible for establishing the foundations for safe AI use, including AI‑ready data, governance, ownership, controls, capability investment and benefits measurement.
Lead IT workforce, resource and capability planning across permanent staff, contractors and specialist suppliers, ensuring that the department can balance operational support, business‑as‑usual maintenance, strategic development, and new project delivery.
Manage strategic technology supplier and partner relationships, ensuring that externally provided systems, platforms and services align with operational, security, commercial and architectural requirements.
Current key partners include Infront, Tournament Software, ClubSpark, Crionet, and Microsoft.
The role also involves evaluating proposals, commercial models, and operational implications for new technology services across all departments, advising on suitability, impact, delivery, and sustainability needs.
Act as the senior technology adviser to executive leadership, department heads, internal teams, National Associations, external partners and governance forums.
The role requires explaining complex technical choices in business terms, providing clear recommendations, supporting board and executive papers, and helping stakeholders understand the implications of technology, data, AI, security, cost, and operational decisions.
We are looking for a leader with senior‑level experience in technology leadership, IT operations, software delivery, cloud platforms, cybersecurity, data strategy, digital transformation, technology governance, supplier management, and executive stakeholder engagement.
The role also requires the ability to operate across both strategic and operational domains: setting long‑term direction while making practical decisions on service resilience, staffing, cost, security, system performance, project delivery and stakeholder needs.
- Strategic technology planning and executive‑level communication.
- Leadership of IT operations, infrastructure, support and cybersecurity.
- Leadership of software development, product support, DevOps, and platform modernisation.
- Data strategy, analytics, BI, data governance, data platform and data product experience.
- Practical understanding of cloud platforms, Microsoft 365, Azure, Power BI, Dynamics 365 and modern workplace technologies.
- Supplier, partner and contract management experience.
- Ability to assess technology risk, security risk, operational risk, and business impact.
- Ability to lead transformation while maintaining reliable day‑to‑day services.
- Ability to translate business objectives into technology solutions, service models, and investment cases.
- Understanding of AI adoption, responsible governance, data readiness, and AI‑enabled operational improvement.
The role requires a pragmatic, business‑oriented technology leader who can balance innovation with governance, and delivery ambition with operational reality. It requires clear judgement, calm decision‑making, structured communication, commercial awareness, resilience, stakeholder credibility and the ability to make complex technology issues understandable to nontechnical audiences.
- Discretionary annual bonus
- Private Healthcare for you and eligible partner/spouse
- Group personal pension scheme, life assurance and annual wellbeing allowance.
- Health Cash Plan.
- Ride2Work Scheme.
- Complimentary lunch and fresh fruit when working in the office.
- Working hours: based on 35 hours per week. Normal office hours are 09.00 -17.00 Monday to Friday.
- Flexible working hours possible, with core hours of 10am-4pm.
We currently work to a hybrid model requiring a mandatory minimum of 3 days per week working in the office based in Southwest, London and as part of this, Mondays and Tuesdays are ‘anchor days’ where all staff are obliged to work from the office.
Equality, diversity & inclusion (EDI) is a fundamental priority for World Tennis. Our philosophy focusses on embedding inclusive behaviours and processes across every element of our business practice.
Applications will be forwarded to PSD Group, our retained search partner.
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