By bringing together next-gen technology and the finest live data available, Genius Sports is enabling a new era of sports for fans worldwide, delivering experiences that are more immersive, interactive and personalised than ever before. Learn more at geniussports.com.

THE ROLE: 

The Lead Officiating Manager is a senior operational leadership position within Genius Sports’ SAOT programme in Brazil. Reporting to the Senior Officiating Manager, this role combines hands-on matchday authority, people leadership, and operational governance.

You will oversee live SAOT delivery across multiple fixtures, act as the senior escalation point during matches, and lead the development, performance, and professionalism of officiating operations staff. This role is critical to building long-term trust with CBF, referees, and competition stakeholders.

Technical & Operational Leadership

• Maintain hands-on involvement in live SAOT operations to retain operational credibility and situational awareness.
• Lead live match delivery, making calm, decisive real-time judgments to ensure accurate and reliable system performance.
• Act as the senior operational authority during matches, with full command of SAOT workflows, protocols, and escalation paths.
• Identify, manage, and resolve technical or operational issues rapidly to protect service continuity and decision integrity.
• Work closely with Product and Engineering teams, providing structured operational feedback to support system improvement and stability.
• Support league integration, onboarding, and operational readiness as SAOT is embedded across Brazilian football.

People Management & Performance Leadership

• Lead, manage, and develop a team of SAOT and officiating operations specialists based in Brazil.
• Foster a culture of accountability, precision, and continuous improvement aligned with elite officiating environments.
• Conduct structured 1:1s, performance reviews, and development planning.
• Mentor both senior and junior operators, supporting technical excellence, decision discipline, and professional growth.
• Support workforce planning, rota management, and capability scaling in line with competition demands.

Stakeholder & Client Engagement

• Serve as a primary operational point of contact for CBF, referees, and competition stakeholders during live operations.
• Ensure communication is proactive, professional, and aligned with agreed protocols at all times.
• Build and maintain stakeholder confidence through delivery excellence, transparency, and clear reporting.
• Uphold the highest standards of discretion, integrity, and professionalism in all interactions.

WHAT YOU'LL BRING:

• Fluency in Portuguese and English.
• Proven experience in elite football officiating operations or comparable high-pressure sports environments.
• Strong understanding of Law 11 (Offside) and how technology supports officiating decision-making within VAR / SAOT-style systems.
• Demonstrated ability to operate calmly and accurately in live, broadcast-critical environments.
• Clear leadership capability, with experience managing teams in performance-driven settings.
• Strong organisational and communication skills, with the ability to coordinate complex operations across multiple stakeholders.
• A disciplined operational mindset focused on accuracy, consistency, and continuous improvement.
• Willingness to work irregular hours aligned with the Brasileirão match calendar and travel as required.

IT WILL BE A BONUS IF YOU KNOW

• Background as a professional or elite-level Referee or Assistant Referee.
• Experience working within sports technology, broadcast technology, or performance analytics.
• Prior involvement in VAR, SAOT, goal-line technology, or comparable officiating systems.
• Experience supporting the launch or scaling of officiating technology across leagues or markets.
• Familiarity with football governance structures and federation-led competitions.

We enjoy an ‘office-first’ culture and maximize opportunities to collaborate, connect and learn together. Our hybrid working models differ depending on your role and location.

As well as a competitive salary and range of benefits, we’re committed to supporting employee wellbeing and helping you grow your skills, experience and career. Learn more about how rewarding life at Genius can be at Reward | Genius Sports. 

One team, being brave, driving change  

We strive to create an inclusive working environment, where everyone feels a sense of belonging and the ability to make a difference. Learn more about our values and culture at Culture | Genius.

Let us know when you apply if you need any assistance during the recruiting process due to a disability.