Strategy Director

Job purpose

This position is responsible for shaping, driving, and tracking the organization’s long-range strategy for a sports business. The role connects sporting performance, commercial expansion, and operational effectiveness, ensuring the organization stays aligned with local and international sports industry developments. The Strategy Director will help strengthen financial sustainability, grow the fan community, and improve the organization’s standing across regional and global markets.

Key responsibilities

Strategic planning and leadership

• Own the creation, refinement, and regular refresh of short-, medium-, and long-term strategic plans.
• Convert the organization’s vision and objectives into practical business plans and strategic actions across Sporting, Commercial, Marketing, and Finance functions.
• Partner with the Sporting Director to make sure corporate strategy supports on-field performance goals, including the first team, youth academies, and other sports.

Performance and execution management

• Define, monitor, and review KPIs and OKRs across all departments.
• Prepare recurring strategy performance updates for the CEO and Board of Directors, including recommendations for adjustments where needed.
• Guide the PMO so strategic programs and major initiatives are completed on schedule, within scope, and on budget.

Market analysis and sports intelligence

• Continuously benchmark the organization against leading global sports clubs and similar institutions to identify effective practices.
• Study international sports trends, including digital innovation, fan engagement tools, and regulatory changes such as Financial Fair Play.
• Deliver insight-led recommendations on fan behavior, market movement, and emerging business opportunities.

Commercial development and partnerships

• Work with Commercial and Marketing teams to discover and grow new revenue sources such as broadcasting, sponsorship, ticket sales, hospitality, retail, and international tours.
• Assess the business case and expected return on investment for new sporting, infrastructure, or commercial initiatives.
• Develop and sustain strong relationships with important external stakeholders, including ministries, leagues, federations, sponsors, and investors.

Change management and corporate development

• Lead change efforts that build a culture of strategic thinking, innovation, and high performance.
• Identify strategic risks across financial, legal, and sporting areas, then put mitigation plans in place.

Qualifications and experience

• A bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Sports Management, Economics, or Industrial Engineering is required.
• An MBA or master’s degree in Sports Management is strongly preferred.
• 8 to 12 years of professional experience in corporate strategy, strategic planning, or management consulting.
• At least 3 to 5 years of strategic leadership experience within the sports industry, sports entertainment, or a top-tier consulting firm working on sports-sector projects.

Location

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Additional information

This is a full-time onsite leadership role with a confidential semi-government organization.