Chicago Fire Football Club

ZRG Partners, LLC.; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Chicago Fire Football Club is seeking a visionary Vice President of Technology to lead the enterprise technology function and build the technology foundation for McDonald’s Park. This leader will own the venue technology strategy and delivery from design through commissioning, opening readiness, and ongoing operations.

You will set the tech vision for the Club and park, oversee IT, infrastructure, cybersecurity, data platforms and AI initiatives, build a high-performing team, manage budgets and

Qualifications

• Experience leading technology in stadiums or live-event venues.
• Proven track record delivering large, complex capital projects.
• Experience with AI and emerging technologies in enterprise settings.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute multi-year enterprise technology strategy.
• Oversee McDonald’s Park tech program from design to operations.
• Translate requirements into integrated technology architecture.
• Lead a high-performing venue technology team.
• Manage budgets, vendors and partnerships.

Skills

Technology leadership

Enterprise IT operations

AI strategy

Cybersecurity

Stakeholder management

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or related

IT certifications

Tools

Network infrastructure

Converged networks

DAS/Wi-Fi

Cybersecurity tools

Cloud platforms

Job description

There has never been a more exciting time to join Chicago Fire FC.

As one of Major League Soccer's original clubs, Chicago Fire FC is in the midst of an exciting era fueled by tremendous investment, ambition, and growth. With a new $100M state-of-the-art Endeavor Health Performance Center now open, new offices in Chicago's iconic Wrigley Building, and plans underway for a privately-funded $750M+ soccer-specific stadium set to open in 2028 in the heart of Chicago, the Club is building the future of soccer in one of the world's great sports cities.

Chicago Fire FC is becoming a cultural force in Chicago by connecting communities, shaping experiences, and creating new ways for fans to engage with the game and the city. The Club's future home, McDonald’s Park, will anchor Chicago's newest neighborhood and serve as a catalyst of growth for the next chapter of professional sports and entertainment in the city.

Joining Chicago Fire FC today means joining an organization on the rise. Our growth creates once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for ambitious professionals to generate meaningful impact and help shape the future of our Club. Whether on the pitch working match day or in the front office, every team member plays a role in building something incredibly special.

At Chicago Fire FC, our mission is to entertain, serve, and unite Chicago through world-class experiences and a relentless pursuit of excellence. We are guided by our core values: Integrity, Respect, Innovation, Accountability, and a commitment to Never Settle.

If you're looking for a place where your work will matter, your ideas will be heard, and your career can grow alongside one of the most ambitious projects in professional sports, we'd love to hear from you.

Position Overview

Chicago Fire Football Club is seeking a visionary Vice President of Technology to lead the enterprise technology function and, as the role's foremost near-term mandate, build the technology foundation for McDonald's Park. This leader will own the venue technology strategy and delivery program from design and construction through commissioning, opening readiness, and ongoing operations. The role will ensure that the stadium's technology ecosystem is integrated, resilient, secure, scalable, and capable of supporting a world-class fan experience and a diverse calendar of matches, concerts, and other events.

As a strategic partner and enterprise leader, the Vice President of Technology will set the technology vision and roadmap for both the Club and McDonald's Park. The role will oversee enterprise IT functions, drive innovation, including the practical and responsible use of artificial intelligence; and build a high-performing team and partner network capable of supporting multiple facilities and always-on venue and business operations. This role will also provide dotted-line leadership and support for sporting-related technology and innovation initiatives, helping align competitive performance, data, and emerging technologies with organizational goals.

This is a rare opportunity to build something enduring: to lead the technology delivery of a new major-league venue, architect the digital backbone of a modern sports organization, and influence how millions of fans experience live events. We are seeking a collaborative, forward-thinking leader with direct experience in stadium, arena, or major live-event technology; a track record of building and operating complex, always-on environments; and the judgment to translate long-term strategy into disciplined design and execution of systems and operations that scale, endure, and evolve to lead this transformative chapter and build a technology legacy that will be felt long after opening day.

The Vice President of Technology will report to the Chief Legal and Administrative Officer.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a multi-year enterprise technology strategy and roadmap aligned with the Club’s business strategy, growth objectives and long-term vision
• Lead the vision, strategy, and execution for McDonald’s Park technology program, including design coordination, procurement, implementation, commissioning, opening readiness, and transition to steady-state operations
• Translate the venue's business, fan experience, operational, security, broadcast, and event-production requirements into an integrated technology architecture and multi-year roadmap
• Lead delivery of the stadium's core technology ecosystem, including network and fiber infrastructure, Wi-Fi, DAS and telecommunications, audiovisual and event-production systems, IPTV and digital signage, point-of-sale and payment connectivity, ticketing and access-control integrations, cybersecurity, data platforms, and other venue systems
• Represent the Club's technology interests throughout design and construction, partnering closely with stadium leadership, the owner's representative, architects, contractors, operators, league partners, vendors, and internal stakeholders to manage scope, budget, schedule, dependencies, and risk
• Establish and execute a comprehensive testing, commissioning, cutover, training, documentation, and opening-readiness plan, including redundancy, disaster recovery, incident response, and live-event support protocols
• Design the post-opening venue technology operating model, including staffing, service levels, vendor support, preventive maintenance, lifecycle replacement, capital planning, and support for matches, concerts, private events, and year-round operations
• Partner with colleagues and leadership to create an industry-leading fan technology, audiovisual, and event-production experience while ensuring systems are intuitive and reliable for employees, operators, partners, and guests
• Develop and lead a high-performing technology operation that supports McDonald's Park, the Endeavor Health Performance Center and sporting office, the Fire Pitch soccer facility, and the front office, with clear accountability across IT, infrastructure, audiovisual and event technology, cybersecurity, data, applications, and end-user support
• Establish standards across the enterprise for infrastructure, applications, cybersecurity, service delivery, data, connectivity and technology lifecycle management
• Establish an AI strategy and roadmap, identifying and deploying high-value use cases while ensuring appropriate governance, security, privacy and responsible use
• Continuously research and evaluate emerging technologies to drive innovation and assess multiple platforms, reduce redundancies, increase automation, and improve employee, fan, and other stakeholder experience
• Provide strategic and dotted-line leadership for sporting technology and innovation, including analytics, video, data and emerging technologies.
• Build and develop a high-performing technology team through recruiting, coaching, succession planning and cross-functional training, creating depth and reducing dependency on individual subject-matter experts
• Manage technology budgets, major projects, vendors and strategic partners, ensuring investments and resources are cost-effective and aligned with organizational priorities
• Effectively communicate vision and project objectives to leadership, internal and external stakeholders
• Completion of other duties as assigned

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, Business or a related field preferred; equivalent relevant experience considered. Technology certifications such as ITIL, TOGAF or PMP are a plus
• 8+ years of progressive technology leadership experience, including significant responsibility for dynamic technology organizations and large-scale initiatives
• Demonstrated experience leading technology within a stadium, arena, major live-event venue, or similarly complex, high-availability environment required; professional sports experience strongly preferred
• Direct experience planning and delivering the technology program for a new venue, major renovation, or comparable development strongly preferred, including design coordination, procurement, systems integration, testing, commissioning, and operational handoff
• Proven ability to lead both strategic transformation and highly reliable day-to-day IT operations across multiple facilities or business functions
• Deep knowledge of venue technology architecture and operations, including converged networks and fiber, Wi-Fi, DAS and telecommunications, audiovisual and event-production systems, IPTV and digital signage, point-of-sale connectivity, ticketing and access-control integrations, cybersecurity, and data platforms
• Proven ability to lead complex, interdependent capital projects across owners, designers, contractors, systems integrators, operators, vendors, and internal business leaders while managing scope, budget, schedule, risk, and accountability
• Strong understanding of cybersecurity, cloud technologies, data and analytics, enterprise applications and digital transformation
• Demonstrated fluency with AI and emerging technologies, including the ability to translate new capabilities into practical enterprise applications
• Experience managing significant technology budgets, complex projects, vendors and strategic partnerships
• Exceptional executive communication, business acumen and ability to translate technical concepts into clear business terms and decisions
• Travel and ability to work weekends/flexible hours required
• Ability to work non-traditional hours, in non-traditional settings, including all home games (or other work events) that fall on nights, weekends, and/or holidays

Leadership Profile

• Visionary and strategic—connects long-term technology strategy to near-term execution and inspires others around a compelling vision
• Builder—thrives where teams, systems, processes and capabilities must be created or transformed
• Fast, decisive and results-oriented—makes sound decisions quickly, operates efficiently, removes obstacles, and maintains momentum in a dynamic environment
• Innovative and AI fluent—curious about emerging technology and able to translate innovation into practical, measurable value
• Venue-minded and operationally excellent—understands that live-event technology must work flawlessly under pressure and designs for reliability, redundancy, maintainability, and rapid issue resolution
• Collaborative and emotionally intelligent—builds trust, reads organizational dynamics and partners effectively across functions and levels
• Talent developer—creates depth, cross-functional capability, accountability and continuous learning while developing future leaders
• Adaptable, resilient, humble and curious—with the judgment, optimism and work ethic to thrive in professional sports
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills

Compensation

• This role offers a salary range of $150,000-200,000. Final salary is determined by carefully considering the applicant's background, experience, and qualifications. Base pay may vary significantly based on geographic location, job-specific knowledge, skills, and overall experience. This role is classified as Full-time, exempt
• This role is bonus eligible based on club-wide goals
• Additional benefits & perks: Official Chicago Fire FC Website

Please note:

• Chicago Fire FC is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion. Our diversity initiatives start with the recruitment and selection process; therefore, we’d like to welcome all diverse candidates to apply to opportunities within our Club.
• CFFC is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and maintaining a workplace for employees and applicants for employment that is free from discrimination. The Company does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, citizenship, age, veteran or military status, disability, sexual orientation, sexual orientation or expression, marital status or any other characteristic protected by law. This policy governs all aspects of employment, including hiring, promotion, compensation, discipline, termination, and access to benefits and training.
  
  • If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, please contact the People and Culture Department at [e-mail] to let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.