Director of Women's Sports Research and Innovation

Job Purpose:

To lead the development and execution of research and innovation agenda by generating evidence, fostering strategic partnerships, and translating insights into programs, policies, and solutions that advance women's sport, participation, performance, health, and wellbeing.

Key Result Areas:

Lead the development of the women's sport research and innovation strategy priorities.

Establish priority research themes related to participation, performance, health, wellbeing, leadership, and system development.

Lead, commission, and oversee research studies, pilot projects, and applied insights relevant to women's sport.

Ensure research outputs are methodologically sound, relevant, and actionable.

Translate research findings into programs, frameworks, tools, policy recommendations, and innovation initiatives.

Foster the adoption of evidence-informed practices across relevant internal and external stakeholders.

Establish and manage partnerships with universities, research institutes, sport entities, public institutions, and innovation partners locally and internationally.

Ensure research governance, ethics, data integrity, and intellectual property considerations are applied appropriately.

Establish standards, processes, and quality assurance mechanisms for research and innovation activities.

Plan budget activities, identify grants and funding opportunities, and ensure efficient use of research resources.

Define and monitor KPIs related to research output, partnerships, innovation uptake, and strategic impact.

Minimum Knowledge, Skills & Experience:

Bachelor's degree in sports science, public health, research, innovation, policy, social sciences, or a related field. A Master's degree is strongly preferred; a PhD is an advantage.

Minimum of 8–10 years of progressive experience in research, innovation, strategy, or evidence-based program development, preferably within women's sport, sport policy, health, wellbeing, or related sectors, including at least 3 years at a supervisory level.

Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional initiatives, strategic partnerships, research portfolios, or multidisciplinary teams.

Strong analytical, research, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret data and translate evidence into strategy, policy, and program design.

Experience in commissioning or managing external research, consultants, or institutional collaborations is desirable.

Familiarity with research methods, innovation tools, data analysis approaches, and emerging technologies relevant to sport, health, and women's participation.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, with the ability to develop high-quality reports, briefs, and strategic communications; Arabic proficiency is an advantage.

Strong stakeholder management and partnership-building skills.