Referee Operations Manager
FIFA
3 hours ago
Full-time
On-site
Brazil, Rio de Janeiro
FIFA has established a Local FIFA Subsidiary in Brazil to work together with FIFA Zurich to deliver the biggest women’s sporting event in the world, the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027™ (“FWWC2027”) that for the first time ever, is hosted in South America in Brazil. Now is your time to be part of the workforce that is creating this unique and unforgettable experience.
Please submit your CV in English, as it will be reviewed by an international team.
Under the guidance of the FIFA Refereeing (Zurich) and Team Services (FIFA27), the Referee Operations Manager will lead the planning and delivery of all referee operations during FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027™ and related refereeing events. The role is to ensure the excellence of all services required for match officials, fully aligned with FIFA’s Refereeing Requirements, and to guarantee seamless coordination between FIFA Refereeing, Local Team Services and all relevant functional areas.
The Referee Operations Manager will be based in the FIFA 27 headquarters in Rio de Janeiro during the planning stage and at the Referee Base Camp during tournament time.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIE
Pre-tournament role:
- Ensure that all operational plans, services, logistics and procedures for Referee Services fully comply with FIFA Refereeing Requirements, delivering the highest standards of service quality to match officials.
- Operationalise technical and operational needs from FIFA Refereeing into practical, efficient and integrated operational solutions.
- Lead cross‑functional coordination with all relevant functional areas (FAs) to ensure full integration of Referee Services into tournament operations.
- Represent Referee Services in operational meetings, workshops, and multi‑stakeholder sessions, ensuring alignment, follow-up of action points, and consistent internal communication.
- Coordinate closely with FIFA Refereeing, FIFA Team Services and FIFA27 Team Services for all operational and administrative matters.
- Assist in preparing and refining Referee Services operational concepts, policies, procedures and service plans.
- Drive operational readiness for all referee-related events, including workshops, seminars, test events, inspection visit or any other preparatory activities.
- Act as the dedicated Refereeing representative for stadium and training site operational planning, ensuring full integration of referee-specific requirements.
- Lead the planning and delivery of VAR referee operations at the International Broadcast Center, in coordination with Technology, Broadcast Operations and VAR leadership.
- Organize the FIFA Referee Cup and Pre-competition Seminar prior to the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027™.
- Work closely with Workforce, Volunteers and HR on planning, recruiting, onboarding and training temporary staff and volunteers dedicated to Referee Services.
- Identify, secure and coordinate local football teams to participate in daily practical training sessions with referees.
- Prepare and deliver training materials, operational manuals and readiness exercises for Referee Services staff and volunteers.
- Monitor the Referee Services budget in close coordination with Team Services, ensuring efficient and responsible use of resources.
- Lead the overall project planning for Referee Services, managing timelines, milestones and deliverables across all team members.
Tournament time role:
- Based at the Referee Base Camp, the Referee Operations Manager will transition to a Referee Liaison Officer (RLO) role and will be responsible for:
- Reporting to and assisting FIFA Refereeing, as required, with all local arrangements (matches, training sessions, meetings, spectating referees, etc).
- Cooperating with all FAs and service providers to support referees and FIFA Refereeing daily.
- Coordinating the local players requested for the practical training sessions with the referees.
- Exchanging information, in particular any last-minute changes to the daily program, with training site authorities and all FAs involved in the referees’ daily operations.
- Organizing social activities for the FIFA Refereeing delegation team during the competition, as required.
- Supervising and coordinating the Referee Services support staff, including the Venue Referee Liaison Officers and volunteers at each stadium.
- Excellent communicator with strong planning, organizational and administrative skills.
- Exceptional attention to detail and ability to consistently deliver at a high standard.
- Able to work closely and collaboratively with others, while being self-motivated and able to work independently.
- Able to manage a group of people working on the same projects and, as required, coordinate people in other functional areas to contribute to projects.
- Capable of making decisions using problem-solving skills and exercising sound judgment to achieve results.
- Be very dynamic, stress-resistant, motivated, excellent interpersonal and problem-solving skills
- Comfortable working in an international, demanding and changing environment.
- Able to adapt to and work well with people of other cultures and backgrounds.
- Able to hire, develop, coach, appraise and retain experienced and less experienced employees.
- High energy levels, exceptional planning and organizational skills, strong negotiation and facilitation skills, excellent communication and presentation skills and positive relationship management abilities.
- The right to work in Brazil.
- Portuguese and English are mandatory, and Spanish is a great plus.
- Ability to re-locate to Rio de Janeiro.
Please submit your CV in English, as it will be reviewed by an international team.
Under the guidance of the FIFA Refereeing (Zurich) and Team Services (FIFA27), the Referee Operations Manager will lead the planning and delivery of all referee operations during FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027™ and related refereeing events. The role is to ensure the excellence of all services required for match officials, fully aligned with FIFA’s Refereeing Requirements, and to guarantee seamless coordination between FIFA Refereeing, Local Team Services and all relevant functional areas.
The Referee Operations Manager will be based in the FIFA 27 headquarters in Rio de Janeiro during the planning stage and at the Referee Base Camp during tournament time.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIE
Pre-tournament role:
- Ensure that all operational plans, services, logistics and procedures for Referee Services fully comply with FIFA Refereeing Requirements, delivering the highest standards of service quality to match officials.
- Operationalise technical and operational needs from FIFA Refereeing into practical, efficient and integrated operational solutions.
- Lead cross‑functional coordination with all relevant functional areas (FAs) to ensure full integration of Referee Services into tournament operations.
- Represent Referee Services in operational meetings, workshops, and multi‑stakeholder sessions, ensuring alignment, follow-up of action points, and consistent internal communication.
- Coordinate closely with FIFA Refereeing, FIFA Team Services and FIFA27 Team Services for all operational and administrative matters.
- Assist in preparing and refining Referee Services operational concepts, policies, procedures and service plans.
- Drive operational readiness for all referee-related events, including workshops, seminars, test events, inspection visit or any other preparatory activities.
- Act as the dedicated Refereeing representative for stadium and training site operational planning, ensuring full integration of referee-specific requirements.
- Lead the planning and delivery of VAR referee operations at the International Broadcast Center, in coordination with Technology, Broadcast Operations and VAR leadership.
- Organize the FIFA Referee Cup and Pre-competition Seminar prior to the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027™.
- Work closely with Workforce, Volunteers and HR on planning, recruiting, onboarding and training temporary staff and volunteers dedicated to Referee Services.
- Identify, secure and coordinate local football teams to participate in daily practical training sessions with referees.
- Prepare and deliver training materials, operational manuals and readiness exercises for Referee Services staff and volunteers.
- Monitor the Referee Services budget in close coordination with Team Services, ensuring efficient and responsible use of resources.
- Lead the overall project planning for Referee Services, managing timelines, milestones and deliverables across all team members.
Tournament time role:
- Based at the Referee Base Camp, the Referee Operations Manager will transition to a Referee Liaison Officer (RLO) role and will be responsible for:
- Reporting to and assisting FIFA Refereeing, as required, with all local arrangements (matches, training sessions, meetings, spectating referees, etc).
- Cooperating with all FAs and service providers to support referees and FIFA Refereeing daily.
- Coordinating the local players requested for the practical training sessions with the referees.
- Exchanging information, in particular any last-minute changes to the daily program, with training site authorities and all FAs involved in the referees’ daily operations.
- Organizing social activities for the FIFA Refereeing delegation team during the competition, as required.
- Supervising and coordinating the Referee Services support staff, including the Venue Referee Liaison Officers and volunteers at each stadium.
- Excellent communicator with strong planning, organizational and administrative skills.
- Exceptional attention to detail and ability to consistently deliver at a high standard.
- Able to work closely and collaboratively with others, while being self-motivated and able to work independently.
- Able to manage a group of people working on the same projects and, as required, coordinate people in other functional areas to contribute to projects.
- Capable of making decisions using problem-solving skills and exercising sound judgment to achieve results.
- Be very dynamic, stress-resistant, motivated, excellent interpersonal and problem-solving skills
- Comfortable working in an international, demanding and changing environment.
- Able to adapt to and work well with people of other cultures and backgrounds.
- Able to hire, develop, coach, appraise and retain experienced and less experienced employees.
- High energy levels, exceptional planning and organizational skills, strong negotiation and facilitation skills, excellent communication and presentation skills and positive relationship management abilities.
- The right to work in Brazil.
- Portuguese and English are mandatory, and Spanish is a great plus.
- Ability to re-locate to Rio de Janeiro.