Power the World's Most Critical Sports Data Operations
The Challenge We're Solving
In the sports betting industry, milliseconds matter. A sportsbook's entire business depends on data that's accurate, lightning-fast, secure, and comprehensive. For over a decade, we've been the gold standard: 12,600 scouts collecting more live data than anyone in the industry, across 35 data applications covering 900,000+ events in 32 sports annually. This is Sportradar's Live Data Service—the beating heart of live sports data that our clients rely on.
Ready to power the future of live sports data? If you're someone who sees operational excellence as a competitive advantage, who thrives on building systems that perform under pressure, and who wants to make an impact in the sports industry—we want to hear from you.
The Role
We're looking for a Senior Operational Lead to serve as the operational backbone of our Live Production unit—the team responsible for delivering this mission-critical data to clients worldwide. Reporting directly to the SVP of Live Production, you'll ensure operational excellence across every touchpoint: from scout recruitment and training to data validation and entry, to client delivery.
Why This Role Matters
You'll be operating at the center of an industry where precision and speed directly impact our customers and millions of users worldwide. When you optimize a process, improve scout training, or shave milliseconds off delivery time, it has immediate, tangible business impact. This is a high-visibility role within a market-leading organization. You'll work alongside passionate sports and data professionals, leverage AI-powered collection systems that set industry standards and help shape the operational foundation of the world's most comprehensive live sports data service.
THE CHALLENGE
- Operational Excellence: You understand that in live sports data, "close enough" doesn't exist. Every detail must be accurate, every delivery lightning-fast, every process bulletproof. You know why this matters and how to make it happen.
- Integrity & Quality: You're the guardian of our KPIs and quality standards. You build systems that prevent errors, not just catch them—because our clients' businesses depend on the data we provide.
- Strategic Execution: You’ll free up leadership to focus on the big picture by owning the day-to-day operational rhythm, ensuring nothing falls through the cracks while keeping the unit running like clockwork.
What You'll Own
Operational Command Center
- Drive weekly operational syncs, KPI reviews, and action tracking across the entire business unit.
- Support quarterly planning cycles, OKR reviews, workflow health checks, and retrospective sessions.
- Identify bottlenecks before they become problems and establish clear escalation pathways.
- Pull together executive-level operational insights, synthesizing performance trends, risks, and opportunities for senior leadership.
Quality & Process Excellence
- Oversee scout onboarding and training programs ensuring consistency and continuous improvement.
- Manage new rights-deal workflows end-to-end, ensuring cross-functional alignment, timely execution, and clear documentation.
- Establish and maintain governance frameworks, reporting standards, and operational documentation.
- Drive improvements in operational reporting, dashboards, and insights generation.
- Pull together high-level operational insights for the Unit lead and top management, synthesizing performance trends, risks, and opportunities.
Cross-Functional Leadership
- Serve as the central coordination point for the leadership team and key stakeholders.
- Break down silos between scouts, validation teams, data entry, freelancers, and admin units.
- Maintain structured communication channels across units and leadership team.
- Help break down silos and strengthen cross-functional ways of working.
- Manage operational escalations with clarity and speed, ensuring timely resolution and transparent updates.
- Strengthen the leadership team's operating model, helping them function as a unified, high-performing unit.
Strategic Partnership
- Act as an Operational partner to the SVP, designing and implementing operational improvements and scaling frameworks.
- Absorb coordination and operational load to free up leadership time for strategic initiatives, partnerships, and long-term planning.
- Proactively surface issues requiring leadership attention before they impact clients.
ABOUT YOU
What You Bring
- Successful background in operations, program management, or operational leadership—with demonstrated success in fast-paced, high-stakes environments.
- Strong ability to run recurring workflows, syncs, and KPI-driven processes with discipline.
- Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills—you can influence without authority.
- Highly organized and detail-oriented, yet comfortable navigating ambiguity and changing priorities.
- Demonstrated ability to drive process improvements and lead cross-functional initiatives.
- Financial acumen—comfortable reading reports, tracking budgets, and managing cost controls.
- Genuine passion for sports—you understand why live data matters and the context in which it's used.
The Difference-Makers
- You've built something from scratch or initiated transformational change in complex operational environments.
- Experience working with C-level or senior stakeholders.
- Background in media, betting, content rights, or other workflow-intensive, time-sensitive industries.
- Track record of working effectively with global teams across multiple time zones.
- Proactive mindset—you don't wait for problems to come to you; you hunt them down.
Communication skills
- Exceptional communication skills with the strategic awareness to navigate a global organization—you know how to tailor your message and approach across time zones, cultural contexts, and organizational levels from operational teams to executive leadership, understanding that effective communication is what drives operational excellence.
OUR OFFER
- A collaborative environment with colleagues from all over the world (Offices in Europe, Asia and US) including various social events and teambuilding.
- Flexibility to manage your workday and tasks with autonomy.
- A balance of structure and autonomy to tackle your daily tasks.
- Vibrant and inclusive community, including Women in Tech and Pride groups which welcome all participants.
- Global Employee Assistance Programme.
- Calm and Reulay app (leading well-being apps designed to support focus, quality rest, mindfulness, and long-term mental resilience).
- Online training videos.
- Flexible working hours.
While we appreciate the flexibility and benefits of working from home, we strongly believe that coming together in person fosters stronger connections, encourages collaboration, and drives innovation—both as individuals and as a company. The energy, shared ideas, and team support we experience in the office strengthen the foundation of our success and culture. For this reason, we are an office-first business operating on a hybrid model, with team members working in the office three days a week to build relationships, exchange ideas, and grow together.
OUR RECRUITMENT PROCESS:
- Initial Screening: A quick chat with our Talent Acquisition Partner to understand your background and expectations.
- Two Hiring Team Interviews: Meet with the Hiring team and Hiring Manager to dive into your expertise, as also discuss team fit.
- Onsite Interview: Meet with the local team and take a tour of our office for a final meet-and-greet.
- Final Steps: Receive feedback and, if successful, an offer!