SPORTS DIRECTOR

AUSTRIAN FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION (ÖFB)

The Sports Director is responsible for the strategic, organizational, and sporting direction of Austrian football at all levels. The person in this key role actively creates the framework conditions from grassroots to elite sports, develops sustainable structures at all performance levels, ensures close integration of all national teams, talent development, all regional associations in grassroots sports, and cooperates closely with the Bundesliga and international partners.

We are looking for a modern-thinking leader with an international (football) mindset, high integration capability in heterogeneous committees and structures, and a strong focus on transformation, who will lead the ÖFB organizationally, sportingly, and strategically into the next phase of development while successfully integrating the federal identity of Austrian football.

Overall Strategic Leadership in Sport

• Overall leadership and management of the Sports Directorate and active participation in shaping a long-term sports strategy and the subsequent implementation of the derived sporting priorities

• Sporting responsibility and advising the Supervisory Board and Management by preparing well-founded decision-making bases for key sporting decisions, such as performance and talent development structures

• Aligning sporting structures for regular qualifications of all national teams for international final tournaments

• Further development of the ÖFB Campus as a performance center for all national teams, as well as the elaboration and implementation of consistent concepts for all national teams (men, women, and youth)

• Representation of the ÖFB in public, particularly regarding sporting topics

• Close cooperation with the regional associations and strategic exchange with the Austrian Football Bundesliga, as well as maintaining strong relationships with UEFA, FIFA, and national and international stakeholders

Collaboration with National Teams

• Close, collaborative cooperation with the national team coaches and acting as a professional sparring partner for overarching processes, scouting, and sports controlling

• Ensuring uniform playing principles from youth to the A-national teams

• Further development of talent promotion and establishment of sustainable development programs for youth, women's, and grassroots sports

Profile ÖFB Sports Director:

Professional Background

• Many years of management and leadership experience with comprehensive knowledge of professional football structures and in-depth knowledge of Austrian football

• Deep understanding of the processes and structures of modern sports organizations

• Knowledge of international football structures (UEFA/FIFA) and a robust national and international network

• Experience in strategy development, project management, and the implementation of cross-departmental long-term programs

• Understanding of processes in professional football, women's football, and grassroots football, coach education and training, talent promotion, and high-performance sports systems

• Professionally recognized qualifications in sports management or football-specific training (UEFA Pro Diploma) desirable, as well as profound experience in dealing with and collaborating with media

Personal Competencies

• Entrepreneurial thinking, business acumen, and strong drive to shape and create

• High integrity, loyalty, and discretion in a highly visible environment

• Strategic-analytical strength, decision-making ability, and consistent implementation capacity

• Clear, unifying communication internally and externally, confident public appearance, and genuine passion for football

• Leadership quality, team orientation combined with strong negotiation skills and assertiveness

Integrative Networker

• Building robust relationships (nationally and internationally) without dependency on existing networks of interest

• Integratively bringing together different stakeholders from professional football and grassroots sports within the ÖFB, its committees, and in the international environment

The future Sports Director shall:

• Significantly contribute to shaping the Sport Strategy 2027+ for the ÖFB• Strengthen cooperation with the Bundesliga and regional associations• Elevate talent promotion to a new level of quality with a view to the future• Establish innovation and development initiatives in Austrian football

• Promote a modern, performance-oriented leadership and communication culture

• Set visible new impulses for the sporting future of the ÖFB in all sporting areas