Director Operations

The PJL is a global showjumping competition redefining the sport through elite team competition, record-breaking prize money, and a sustainable professional model for riders. Backed by McCourt Global and its Executive Chairman Frank McCourt, and shaped by leaders from equestrian sport, international competition, and entertainment, the PJL brings together the world’s top riders and horses to compete across fourteen iconic venues in Europe, North America, and the Middle East. With sixteen teams, an innovative rider selection process and a guaranteed $300 million prize pot, the PJL combines world-class athletic performance with premium entertainment, opening the sport to new global audiences while honouring its heritage. Our Mission Our mission is to elevate jumping to its rightful place as a premier global sport – championing riders and horses with a merit-based, financially sustainable league that celebrates elite athletic performance, unlocks new opportunities, and brings fans closer to the power, precision, and beauty of jumping. We are committed to raising standards, advancing welfare, innovating through technology, and honoring the heritage of the sport while creating an accessible, world-class experience for a new generation of global fans. About the Role: We are looking for a Director, Sporting Operations, which is a key operational role: ensuring that every aspect of the PJL is FEI-compliant, market leading, and delivers exceptional standards to horse owners, riders, grooms and support personnel. The role spans two distinct phases. Through the pre-launch period the emphasis is on design and readiness — rules, formats, calendar, venues and operating partners. From the 2027 launch onwards the emphasis shifts to delivery, and to building the permanent in-house team that will run the sport as the PJL scales. This is a hands-on senior role. Key Responsibilities will include: Governance and competition compliance Support the maintenance of the PJL’s FEI approval, and act as a senior point of contact for federation correspondence and committee queries. Contribute to the drafting and ongoing revision of series rules, ensuring the calendar, schedules, prize money, invitation criteria, order of go and world ranking points remain fully compliant. Contribute to ensuring that every aspect of physical competition meets FEI standards — officials, stabling, veterinary and anti-doping procedures, disciplinary process, safety and welfare protocols. Oversee post-event reporting and submissions to the relevant federations and national bodies. Calendar and competition format Shape and maintain the season calendar: reviewing date conflicts, liaising with national federations and venues, and applying for additional or amended dates. Refine the competition format and weekend structure over time, using operational experience and rider, official and broadcast feedback. Work with technology and data colleagues on scoring across both the individual event and the full season, and on the integration between operational systems and competition data. Venues Maintain day-to-day venue relationships, acting as the PJL’s operational point of contact and providing information as required. Support the negotiation, review and renewal of venue agreements, and contribute the sporting and technical requirements that sit behind them. Operating partners and event delivery Manage the relationship with the PJL’s third-party event operators, holding them to scope, budget and standard, and resolving issues before they reach the field of play. Commission and review post-event summaries and drive the improvements they identify into the next event. Identify and help recruit operators and suppliers for future seasons and new territories. Logistics, riders and stakeholders Support the team in ensuring riders, owners, horses, grooms and officials have everything they need to travel to, stay at and compete at PJL events — including transport, customs, accommodation and on-site care. Support the onboarding of team managers, and act as a senior escalation point for rider, owner, team and groom queries. Represent the League at industry events and gatherings, building relationships across the sport and gathering market feedback. Horse welfare and internal advisory Act as an internal authority on equestrian standards, advising wider team on best practice. Ensure welfare considerations are built into commercial, broadcast, marketing and venue decisions. Required Skills and Experience: Substantial senior operational experience, preferably within an international sporting series. A demonstrable track record of delivering complex live events across multiple countries. Experience managing third-party operators, contractors and venues, including holding them to contractual scope and standard. Credibility, and the judgement to know when to escape and when to decide. Strong commercial literacy: comfortable with budgets, agreements and cost control. Willingness to travel. Working knowledge of FEI rules and the practical realities of staging compliant competition — officials, veterinary and anti-doping procedure, stabling, safety and disciplinary process. Experience of building an operational function from a standing start, including hiring and structuring a team. Premier Jumping League is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, genetics, disability, age, familial, caregiver or veteran status, or any other status protected under applicable law. #J-18808-Ljbffr