Group Head of Technology, Digitial & Data

Excellence is everywhere, opportunity is not.

Career opportunities offering the chance to make an impact at both a professional and societal level are rare, but if you’re an accomplished technology leader with a strong emphasis on digital and data transformation, this is one worth paying attention to.

We’re honoured to be retained by Right to Dream as they seek to appoint the company’s first Group Head of Technology, Digital & Data at an exciting time in their unique journey. Right to Dream is a company like no other in the world of football with an unerring commitment to giving life changing opportunities to young people through their world-class academies, clubs and partners. A critical new addition to the executive team, the Group Head of Technology, Digital & Data will be a key strategic enabler to aspirational international growth plans, leading the strategic vision, architecture, delivery and operational management of the technology estate across their football clubs and academies.

A passion for football is not necessary, but a passion for the purpose is non-negotiable!

About the role

Reporting directly to the Group CEO, you’ll be the organisation’s most senior technology leader, combining big-picture thinking with a practical mindset. You’ll bring technology capabilities together into a single group support function, driving common efficiencies, clear roadmaps and toolsets. A central priority is data transformation, connecting information across the group and using AI, data and analytics to deliver tangible business value. You’ll lead a significant transition in the technology operating model, driving change while remaining hands-on when required.

Notable responsibilities will include:

• Technology Strategy & Architecture: define and own the 3–5 year Technology, Digital & Data Strategy aligned with Right to Dream’s strategy and transformation agenda. Assess emerging technologies and lead innovation and investment prioritisation.
• Digital & Data Transformation: lead automation, cloud adoption, mobile workforce enablement and data-driven decision-making, including player models. Integrate IT, digital and data into a coherent capability, improving data capture, quality and integration alongside culture, capability building and governance.
• Leadership, Team & Capability Building: build, lead and develop a high-performing technology organisation spanning digital, IT operations, data and insights. Manage vendor and partner relationships, including procurement, service levels, contract governance and performance.
• Governance & Programme Delivery: own transformation programme governance and report progress, risks, dependencies and milestones to the executive team. Ensure programmes are delivered on time, within budget and aligned with business outcomes and benefits.
• Technology Operations & Infrastructure: implement the new operating model through stakeholder engagement and common standards. Oversee deployment, maintenance and continuous improvement of the technology estate, ensuring availability, performance, scalability and security as the business grows.
• Cybersecurity & Data Governance: own cybersecurity strategy, cyber-risk management and compliance. Establish data governance and insights capabilities, providing reliable, intuitive and secure access to key data so that decisions can be made closer to the business.

About the person

Right to Dream is an extraordinary organisation, and we’re looking for a senior technology leader to play an instrumental role in its next phase. You’ll bring a demonstrable record of impact in technology leadership, whether as a CTO, CIO or Director/Head-level leader, navigating complex international operations. You’ll be strategic, practical, culturally intelligent and adaptable. With integrity and sound judgement, you’ll build influential relationships and become a trusted member of the leadership team.

Among the key experiences we’ll also hope to see will be:

• Track record of delivering technology strategy and transformation: aligned with organisational goals, within budget, risk and timescales.
• Data is paramount in football. Sports-sector experience is helpful, but we’ll equally consider leaders from sectors with a comparable emphasis on complex data management.
• Demonstrated experience of managing and developing multi-discipline teams: (IT operations, infrastructure, digital, data, cybersecurity).
• Excellent communication skills: able to bridge technical and business audiences, present to executive leadership, produce board-level reporting and dashboards.
• Broad understanding of enterprise technology architecture (infrastructure, applications, data, cloud/hybrid, security).
• Experience of digital transformation, automation, data & analytics, cloud migration.
• Ability to translate technology, digital, and data opportunities into practical business outcomes
• Understanding of technology operating models and service delivery, with the resourcefulness to work effectively in a smaller organisation.

About Right to Dream

“Everyone should have the opportunity to realise their dream” is the Right to Dream vision. Founded in 1999, the group now has locations in Denmark, Ghana, Egypt and North America, with flourishing academies and three football clubs. It is committed to developing young talent on and off the pitch, creating pathways into professional football or higher education. Recognising that talent is everywhere but opportunity is not, its scouting reaches marginalised communities where opportunities are less abundant.

Right to Dream is a high-performing football organisation with a philanthropic purpose, now wholly owned by Man Capital and employing approximately 450 people. The organisation scouts more than 150,000 boys and girls across over 180 communities for its academies, building a reputation as one of the strongest sources of world-class footballing talent, some of whom represented their countries at the 2026 Men’s World Cup. FC Nordsjælland has become one of the top clubs in Denmark’s men’s and women’s leagues, while FC Masar is enjoying similar success in Egypt. In 2025, the group became the lead partner in San Diego FC, the most recent expansion team in Major League Soccer. Its approach goes beyond football, with three pillars of holistic development: Football, Education and Character and 120 student-athletes graduating from world-renowned institutions such as Stanford, Duke and Brown.

With ambitions for further international growth, including potential acquisitions, this is an exciting time to join an organisation where you’ll make a difference. You’ll join a leadership team with exceptional operational pedigree, aligned around a purpose centred on people.

How to apply

Please send your CV/Resume and a short supporting statement outlining your motivation and key credentials to the team at The Highfield Partnership, preferably as a single document with the statement at the beginning.

We’re also happy to arrange a discreet informal conversation with Tom Godber or Lise Marie Birk to help you decide whether to apply. A fuller information pack is available on request.

We kindly request that all applications are presented in English.

Working arrangements

This role we require a strong presence at FC Nordsjælland so having the right to work and living in Denmark (or Europe) is preferable.

There will also be the expectation for international travel (likely to be more significant in the earlier stages of employment).

The company operates a hybrid work arrangement.