Director Planning and Operational Excellence

About the Role

Team Saudi is seeking a Director of Planning and Operational Excellence to drive strategic alignment and optimize performance outcomes across its high-performance programs. This full-time role, based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, involves close partnership with Senior Directors and other High-Performance staff to support goal setting, strategic planning, tracking, and monitoring. The Director will oversee High-Performance Planning and Sports Research & Development functions, ensuring the implementation of research-backed, innovative approaches and comprehensive plans to meet athlete development needs.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and integration of annual and multi-year High-Performance operational plans, translating strategic priorities into coordinated programs, service requirements, and delivery priorities.
• Coordinate integrated planning and operational readiness across High-Performance programs and enabling functions, ensuring all athlete requirements and critical dependencies are identified and planned.
• Establish planning cycles, prioritization approaches, and readiness standards, monitoring critical dependencies to resolve or escalate material constraints and risks.
• Lead the Sports R&D and innovation agenda, directing research priorities and fostering collaboration to translate evidence and emerging technologies into practical applications for athlete performance.
• Lead the operational excellence agenda by identifying and addressing process inefficiencies, service gaps, and bottlenecks to improve High-Performance delivery.
• Apply continuous improvement methodologies, including process analysis, benchmarking, and root-cause analysis.
• Lead cross-functional improvement initiatives to enhance operational efficiency, responsiveness, service quality, and stakeholder experience.
• Lead the design, governance, and continuous improvement of the end-to-end Elite Athlete Journey, ensuring effective integration between programs and support functions.
• Establish service requirements, standards, ownership, handoffs, SLAs, and performance measures across critical athlete-facing processes.
• Monitor athlete and stakeholder service experience, coordinating interventions for recurring service gaps or operational issues.
• Lead the design, documentation, standardization, and governance of priority High-Performance operational processes and the operating model.
• Maintain and continuously develop the High-Performance process architecture, including policies, procedures, and service standards.
• Embed operational risk identification, controls, and assurance within High-Performance processes, monitoring adherence and coordinating corrective actions.
• Lead the ongoing management and continuous improvement of High-Performance operational processes, ensuring effectiveness and responsiveness to evolving requirements.
• Establish process-level monitoring and review mechanisms to assess effectiveness, cycle times, and compliance.
• Drive a structured continuous-improvement cycle across the High-Performance process landscape, using operational data and stakeholder feedback.
• Act as a key integration and liaison point between High-Performance programs, athlete-support functions, corporate/shared services, and National Federations.
• Represent Team Saudi in High-Performance discussions with national and international partners, building strategic relationships and advocating for priorities.
• Build and maintain relationships with external experts, researchers, institutions, and High-Performance partners.
• Lead and manage the High-Performance Planning & Operational Excellence team, establishing clear roles, objectives, and performance expectations.
• Drive individual and team performance through effective delegation, coaching, and development planning.
• Build and sustain a high-performing team by identifying capability requirements, developing talent, and fostering a collaborative environment.

Experience and Qualifications

• Candidates should possess 5-10 years of relevant experience in planning, operational excellence, or a related field.
• Demonstrated ability to drive strategic alignment and optimize performance outcomes.
• Experience in overseeing research and development functions.
• Proficiency in continuous improvement methodologies.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills.
• Proven leadership and people management capabilities.

Work Environment

This is a full-time position based in Riyadh, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The role operates within a dynamic environment focused on high-performance programs, requiring proactive engagement and continuous improvement to advance objectives and strengthen competitive advantage.

Our Commitment

Team Saudi is committed to creating a safe, supportive, and empowering environment for its athletes and employees. We welcome applicants who demonstrate integrity, professionalism, and a commitment to maintaining a safe and respectful workplace where everyone is protected, valued, and given fair opportunities to thrive.