Chief Technology Officer
The Football Association is seeking a Chief Technology Officer to shape and lead the next chapter of our technology strategy.
As the national governing body in football, The FA plays a unique role in overseeing and developing the game across England, from grassroots football through to the elite game. Wembley Stadium and St. George's Park sit at the heart of our operations, alongside an organisation with significant reach, complexity and opportunity.
With a strong core commercial model and an increasingly digital-first future, we have an exciting opportunity to use technology, data and AI to transform how we operate and engage our audiences and unlock new sources of revenue growth.
The opportunity
Reporting to the CEO and operating as a key member of the executive team, the Chief Technology Officer will define and deliver an ambitious, organisation-wide technology vision that supports operational excellence, audience engagement and sustainable revenue growth.
This is a broad and influential leadership role encompassing technology strategy, data, AI, infrastructure, enterprise systems, cybersecurity and innovation. Working closely with leaders across The FA, you will ensure that technology investment is focused on the priorities that will make the greatest difference to the organisation, our stakeholders and fans and ensure The FA can innovate responsibly and operate effectively at scale.
What you will be doing
You will:
- Define and deliver an ambitious technology transformation strategy aligned with The FA's wider organisational and commercial priorities.
- Lead a clear, prioritised technology roadmap that balances immediate operational needs with long-term transformation and growth.
- Lead the development and optimisation of enterprise systems, platforms and infrastructure, ensuring they are secure, scalable and deliver an excellent user experience.
- Shape and deliver an organisation-wide data strategy that strengthens decision-making, supports product development and enables future commercial growth.
- Champion the responsible adoption of AI across The FA, embedding appropriate governance, risk controls and practical applications within technology and product development.
- Provide executive leadership across cybersecurity, data privacy, business continuity, disaster recovery and technology risk.
- Work in close partnership with the Chief Digital Officer to enable the delivery of an ambitious digital product roadmap and joined-up experiences for our audiences.
- Lead the selection and management of strategic technology partners, ensuring the right balance between internal capability and external expertise, with a strong focus on value for money.
- Lead a high-performing technology function with the capability, culture and confidence to challenge, innovate and deliver.
- Provide the Board and executive team with clear, evidence-based insight into technology performance, investment, opportunity and risk.
What we are looking for
We are looking for an accomplished technology executive with the strategic judgement, commercial perspective and leadership credibility to operate effectively at Board and executive level.
You will bring:
- A strong track record of developing and delivering technology strategies within a complex, consumer-facing or multi-stakeholder organisation.
- The commercial and financial acumen to connect technology investment to organisational performance, customer experience and revenue growth.
- Experience of leading significant transformation across enterprise technology, digital products, data, infrastructure and cloud-based environments.
- Strong understanding of AI and its application across software, product development and organisational processes, alongside robust governance and risk management.
- The ability to create clarity from competing priorities and translate business needs into a focused, scalable and deliverable roadmap.
- Deep appreciation of cybersecurity, data protection, regulatory compliance and the importance of organisational resilience.
- Experience of building strong internal capability while selecting and managing technology suppliers and strategic partners effectively.
- A record of building and leading high-performing, multidisciplinary teams through change.
- The communication and influencing skills to engage credibly with the Board, executive colleagues and a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders.
You will be forward-looking, intellectually curious and comfortable balancing innovation with risk. You do not need to have worked in football previously, but you will bring a strong understanding of consumer, data and digital ecosystems, together with a genuine interest in the role technology can play in shaping the future of sport and entertainment.
Why join The FA?
Few leadership roles offer the opportunity to influence an organisation with the reach, profile and social significance of The FA.
This is an opportunity to help shape how football is supported, experienced and developed across England, while leading a modern technology function capable of serving the organisation today and enabling its ambitions for the future.
We welcome applications from leaders with diverse experiences, perspectives and backgrounds.
The FA is working with Ivy Street as its executive search partner for this appointment. Please contact contact@ivystreet.net if you wish to express an interest in this opportunity.
Further information about the application and selection process will be provided as part of the candidate materials.
What's in it for you?
We are committed to ensuring everyone can flourish in their roles. To achieve this, we have unique office spaces under the arch of the iconic Wembley National Stadium, which is the home of English Football. We are also delighted to offer a world-class, Elite Performance Centre, St. George's Park in Staffordshire, which is an exceptional setting to develop and inspire high-performing England teams and leaders.
We pride ourselves on offering a competitive salary as well as great opportunities to develop and grow in your role. But that is not all; we also have a range of exciting benefits, some of which can be found below:
- Access to event day tickets at Wembley Stadium, alongside a host of regular internal events throughout the season, encourages you to connect and learn with your colleagues and look after your mental health and well-being.
- Free, nutritious lunches at Wembley Stadium and St. George's Park.
- Private medical cover funded by The FA.
- A contributory pension scheme.
- An additional 'Thank You' day's leave, volunteering days, as well as 25 days of annual leave (based on a full-time, permanent contract)
- A hybrid working model which offers greater flexibility.
For more information on what it is like to work at The FA, please visit our FA Careers page, https://www.thefa.com/about-football-association/careers
Currently, we are working within a hybrid working model whereby the expectation is to work from your contractual location for part of the week, and as and when required by the team. The remaining days can be worked remotely. We will continue to monitor this model, and it may be adjusted in future if deemed necessary. The contractual location of this role can be found on the FA Careers page.
We are a diverse workplace, aspiring to represent football across the country. The Football Association actively promotes inclusion and diversity, encouraging you to be the best version of yourself at work.
We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. If you have any particular requirements in respect of the recruitment or interview process, please mention this during your application.
As part of the FA's commitment to ensuring a safe environment for everyone in football, every employee will be required to complete a DBS check. The level of the check required will be based on the activity of the specific job role and in line with legislation and government guidance.
