Contract period: Five years
Job summary:
Reporting to the Board of Directors, you will be responsible for developing Western Province Professional Rugby into an outstanding sporting organisation, by ensuring the foundations are in place to consistently win on the field while delivering a return to shareholders. Together with the Western Province Rugby Football Union, the CEO also assures Western Province Rugby’s relevance to the community and the accountability to its diverse constituents.
KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS:
● Lead and monitor the development and implementation of strategic and operational goals and plans, including working with the Board through the process of developing a new vision and strategy for Western Province Professional Rugby.
● Agree with the Board appropriate KPI’s against which to measure the performance of the organisation.
● Implement the agreed strategic priorities, driving and developing the organisation consistent with the agreed direction.
● Work with the Board Chair to develop an annual board agenda, and ensure appropriate and timely papers are prepared for all board meetings.
● Prepare, seek approval of, implement and monitor the annual business plan and budget.
● Ensure appropriate governance and operational frameworks are in place to ensure the necessary financial, administrative and organisational resources are embedded.
● Provide leadership and direction to senior management, staff and the professional rugby sector in the region.
● Develop and maintain appropriate policies, systems, processes and practices to ensure sustainable and world class business practices.
● Oversee the fiscal activities of the organisation including budgeting, reporting and audit for quality decision-making and to ensure effective and productive implementation of policies approved by the Board.
● Build strong and effective relationships with all key stakeholders, including but not limited to SARU or SAREO, other unions within South Africa and international counterparts.
● Be the face of WPPR to our rugby community and media.
● Ensure the optimal development and promotion of all WPPR activities, services and programmes while building the profile of the WPPR and DHL WP / DHL Stormers through strong brand and communications programmes and robust marketing alliances.
● Build and nurture WPPR and DHL WP / DHL Stormers brand loyalty within the stakeholder family.
● Maintain and enhance relationships with key commercial partners and sponsors to ensure timely and effective delivery of key benefits available and awareness of opportunities.
● Develop and deliver innovative commercial opportunities and partnerships, and new and diverse revenue streams to underpin the delivery of our programmes, services and activities.
● Show innovation, in particular related to technology and the changing way in which rugby is delivered to fans, both in the stadium but also virtually.
● Ensure the high-performance rugby program is appropriately resourced and structured to recruit, retain, and develop the best players available to ensure long-term success.
● Lead and manage the player contract negotiations, with the Head Coach, timeously.
● Provide guidance and support when necessary on player recruitment, including sourcing third-party funds if needed.
● Develop key strategic relationships with both local and international professional rugby clubs/structures.
● Manage the relationship with the City of Cape Town in relation to Cape Town Stadium.
● Ensure that Cape Town stadium is managed in a way that it can be the appropriate home for professional rugby and that it is always match ready for both local and international matches.
● Ensure sustainability of current revenue including suite sales, season ticket sales, match day sales and advertising.
● Continuously improve revenue from the established sources and ensure new revenue streams are secured to deliver on the strategic plan.
● Identify and establish new business ventures in partnership with commercial partners and otherwise.
● Compile and execute a Provincial Strategic transformation plan (PSTP) in alignment with the STDP 2030 (SA Rugby).
● Any other activity or business initiative that may be required or directed by the Board from time to time.
REQUIREMENTS:
● Proven experience and success as a Chief Executive Officer or at Senior Executive level
● Track record for delivering innovative growth and commercial development strategies
● Ability to manage multiple and diverse stakeholders at local, national, professional, international, player, government and stadia level
● Inspirational leadership style with ability to earn the trust of a wide range of different stakeholders and build successful win/win working relationships
● Strategic agility and excellent business acumen
● Proven skills in aligning strategy and culture to excel and deliver
● Excellent presentation, negotiation and communication skills
● High level of influencing ability and the adaptability to apply this at all levels
● Ability to deal with a high level of public scrutiny
● A passion and understanding with professional, high-performance sport, particularly rugby
● Bachelors degree at a minimum, in commerce, sports management or other related fields
● Post graduate qualification will be a distinct advantage
Equity Statement:
In line with SA Rugby’s strategic transformation plan, preference will be given to applicants from designated groups.
All applications to be sent to Nadia-Ayasha Mason of Evolution Training Solutions – nadia@nadiamason.co.za
Please note that if you have not received a response by 31 May 2021, you can assume that your application has not met the requirements.