Head of FIFA Disability-Football Tournaments

Department: Tournament and Venue Operations

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Zurich

Description

THE POSITION

• Strategy & concept development: Define the vision, scope and delivery model of FIFA Disability-Football Tournaments, translating this into a clear multi-year roadmap aligned with the global disability football landscape.
• Discipline framework: Lead the assessment and selection of competition disciplines, leveraging international best practice and expert input across formats such as blind football, amputee football, Cerebral Palsy football, deaf football, intellectual disability football and powerchair football.
• Competition design: In collaboration with FIFA Competitions and technical experts, develop the competition format, qualification system, eligibility principles, classification approach, regulations, team services and match operations standards.
• Operational delivery: Define and implement the overall event delivery model, including roles and responsibilities across FIFA, Local Organising Committees and venues, and oversee end-to-end planning and delivery across all operational areas.
• Athlete-centred standards: Ensure a world-class, inclusive tournament experience, delivering safe, accessible and high-quality conditions for elite athletes, teams, officials and support staff.
• Stakeholder leadership: Build and manage strong relationships with international federations, disability sport organisations, Member Associations, hosts and athlete representatives.
• Governance & decision-making: Establish clear governance structures, milestones, reporting cadence and escalation processes to support effective decision-making at senior level.
• Team leadership: Build and lead a specialised project team, defining capabilities and fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration and inclusion.
• Budget & resources: Develop and manage budgets, procurement strategies and resource planning for both project setup and tournament delivery.
• Accessibility & inclusion by design: Integrate accessibility, safeguarding, human rights, anti-discrimination and sustainability principles into all aspects of the event from the outset.
• Readiness & testing: Oversee readiness planning, test events and operational simulations to ensure successful tournament delivery.
• Legacy & future editions: Establish scalable standards, knowledge management, post-event review processes and recommendations for future editions and potential integration into FIFA’s broader competition portfolio.
  
  

YOUR PROFILE

• Proven experience (ideally 10+ years) in disability sport, Paralympic sport or adaptive international sport environments, with a strong understanding of disability classification systems
• Track record in designing or delivering major international multi-sport events and building new functions from concept to execution
• Strong international credibility, with the ability to engage effectively with federations, NGOs, delivery partners and diverse stakeholder groups
• Strategic, pragmatic and delivery-focused mindset, with the confidence to challenge assumptions and influence decision-making at all levels
• Inclusive leadership style, high cultural awareness and strong stakeholder empathy
• Ability to lead cross-functional, multicultural teams and collaborate across organisational boundaries
• High degree of autonomy, accountability and resilience, with sound judgement under pressure
• Strong organisational skills, including experience managing complex budgets and resource planning
• Excellent attention to detail combined with the ability to maintain a clear strategic overview
• Clear, structured and diplomatic communicator, able to adapt messaging across different audiences
• Strong alignment with principles of equality, inclusion and accessibility, with a passion for sport and its broader impact
• University degree in Sports Management, Disability Studies, Business or a related field; additional qualifications in disability sport, accessibility, safeguarding or project/programme management are highly valued
• Fluent in English; additional languages such as French, Spanish or German are a strong asset
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and familiar with project management and collaboration tools
• Zurich-based role with significant international travel, including extended periods during planning and tournament delivery phases
  
  

PERKS & BENEFITS

• Health and fitness: Regular football sessions for all abilities, plus on-site gym.
• Home office: Up to two days of home office per week if work permits and home office allowance for all.
• Language courses: Offered to all staff to aid personal and professional growth.
• Continuous learning: We care about your development and encourage internal mobility, offering a variety of training and education to help achieve it.
• Pension: Flexible pension benefits with generous employer contributions.
• Relocation assistance: A dedicated team will be on hand to support your relocation.
• Sustainability: We support all employees using public transport.
• Vacation: Maintain a healthy work/life balance with a generous vacation allowance.
• Volunteering: Make an impact beyond your regular role and bond with colleagues by volunteering with one of our partners.