At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead tech development and scale a global sports-tech platform.
- Company: Fast-growing sports-tech business transforming player engagement.
- Benefits: Join a dynamic team with strong investor backing and growth potential.
- Other info: Fast-paced environment with opportunities for innovation and impact.
- Why this job: Be a key player in shaping the future of sports technology.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in software leadership and team management.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
This is a rare opportunity to join one of the fastest-scaling sports-tech businesses at a genuinely formative stage. This consumer-facing gamification platform is transforming how sports clubs monetise their courses and engage players. With a zero-cost, zero-barrier model, the platform delivers immediate revenue uplift and enhanced player experience through a seamless, technology-enabled solution.
The business has:
- Completed successful funding rounds, oversubscribed
- The next round is imminent, already oversubscribed by existing investors, valuing the business at £40m
- Scaling to 250+ live locations across 4 continents before the end of this year
- A live pipeline exceeding 600 locations, continuing to grow at pace
- A clear path toward a £100m+ valuation in the short to medium term
The core commercial model is highly attractive, generating approximately £100,000 revenue per location for the business, fully self-operating with minimal installation and operational friction, and no meaningful direct competition in the category.
With further technology platform launches planned over the next 12 months, the business is evolving from a single product into a broader global multi-product proposition, expanding its footprint into operational and B2B solutions for its growing client base. A critical aspect of this plan is to recruit a Head of Technology/Deputy-CTO, to take an autonomous but hands-on technical leadership role as the business continues to expand and develop at an accelerated pace, building the next revenue layer for the business.
Reporting to the high-profile, US-based CTO, but working extremely closely with the UK-based CEO and COO, the appointee will take ownership of the day-to-day technology function, ensuring the current platform continues to perform, scale and evolve, while also leading the development of new product offerings designed to deepen engagement with the existing customer base. This is not a pure strategy or architecture role. It is building the backbone of the future development, responsible for delivering, scaling and evolving the technology that underpins a rapidly growing global business.
Core Objectives
- Enable the business to scale from hundreds to thousands of locations through robust, repeatable technology infrastructure.
- Ensure the stability, scalability and performance of the existing platform
- Build and lead a high-performing development function
- Develop and launch new B2B-focused technology products
- Support the business in scaling internationally at pace
- Act as the technical bridge between UK operations and the global CTO function
Key Responsibilities
- Ownership of Product Delivery
- Lead the development and release of platform features
- Manage sprint planning, delivery cadence and development workflows
- Ensure engineering output aligns with commercial priorities and timelines
- Platform Stability & Scalability
- Maintain and continuously improve platform performance
- Ensure the system scales effectively alongside rapid global growth
- Proactively manage technical debt, resilience and system architecture
- Lead, mentor and manage internal and external developers
- Establish clear standards, processes and accountability across the team
- Build a development function capable of scaling with the business
- International Scalability Support
- Ensure platform readiness for global deployment, including:
- Payments infrastructure
- Compliance considerations
- Work closely with the COO to support international rollout capability
- Development of New Product Lines
- Lead the build and delivery of two new software products within the golf ecosystem
- These products will be:
- Operational / B2B focused
- Designed to support sports club management and performance
- Translate commercial ideas into scalable, user-centric software solutions
- Ensure robust and scalable data architecture
- Support development of dashboards and reporting tools
- Enable visibility across:
- Player behaviour
- Customer performance
- Product usage and engagement
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Work closely with:
- COO (scalability and infrastructure)
- Sales Director (client and market needs)
- CEO (product vision and direction)
- Act as the interface between technical delivery and commercial execution
- Alignment with Global CTO Function
- Report into and collaborate with the US-based CTO
- Ensure alignment with global technology strategy
- Act as the local technical lead, translating strategy into execution
This is a high-velocity environment. Speed of delivery is critical, and priorities will evolve.
What Success Looks Like (12 months)
- Platform remains stable under rapid global growth
- Development cadence is consistent and predictable
- New products successfully launched
- Technology enables seamless international rollout
- Clear visibility of data and performance across the platform
Candidate Profile
Candidate profile and chemistry fit is as critical for this pivotal role as technical performance. Working within a fast-paced, innovative, highly-entrepreneurial environment, attitude is as important as aptitude. The person is everything. The Head of Technology will be instrumental in technologising both the delivery objectives and embracing the culture of this business; the gravity of success is all about having the right attitude, underpinned with demonstrable experience.
Suitable candidates will already be high achieving, experienced software leaders with a track record of personal success and success in running technical teams no matter how small. They will possess a strong ethos in objective delivery, workflow planning, project management, customer/consumer appreciation and engagement plus a background in creating a culture of success. They will ideally have come from the gamification of consumer-tech sector, but more importantly will have the ability to excel in such an environment.
Experience
- Background as a developer or engineer, now operating in a leadership capacity
- Experience managing development teams (internal and/or external)
- Exposure to B2C platforms, SaaS or marketplace environments, preferably within gamification or consumer/sporting/leisure sectors
- Experience delivering technology in high-growth, fast-paced businesses
Capabilities
- Strong understanding of:
- Development workflows and delivery management
- Architecture trade-offs and scaling challenges
- Ability to balance:
- Speed vs stability
- Delivery vs perfection
- Comfortable operating in an evolving, high-growth environment
Personal Attributes
- Pragmatic, hands-on and delivery-focused
- Strong communicator with both technical and non-technical stakeholders
- Comfortable working at pace and under ambiguity
- Takes ownership and drives outcomes
- Naturally collaborative, with the confidence to challenge where required
Why This Role
- Join a business with exceptional early traction and investor backing
- Play a key role in scaling a global technology platform
- Build new products within an established and rapidly growing customer base
- Work within a highly commercial, fast-moving leadership team
- Operate as a technical leader with real influence, not just a functional manager
Summary
The Head of Technology/Deputy CTO will build, run and evolve the platform, ensuring it scales globally while delivering the next generation of products that underpin the business’s continued growth.
Head of Information Technology employer: GARY CHAPLIN LTD
Join a dynamic and rapidly scaling sports-tech company that is revolutionising player engagement and monetisation for sports clubs. With a vibrant work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration, employees are empowered to take ownership of their projects while benefiting from extensive growth opportunities in a high-velocity environment. Located at the heart of a thriving tech ecosystem, this role offers the chance to make a significant impact on a global scale, supported by a strong leadership team and backed by enthusiastic investors.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Information Technology
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the sports-tech industry. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! If you’ve got a portfolio or any projects that demonstrate your tech prowess, make sure to share them during interviews. This is your chance to shine and prove you’re the right fit for the Head of Technology role.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for the interview like it’s a big game day! Research the company, understand their products, and think about how you can contribute to their growth. Be ready to discuss how you can help scale their technology and improve player engagement.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Information Technology
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion:When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for technology and sports shine through. We want to see that you’re genuinely excited about the opportunity to lead our tech team and help us scale globally.
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in tech leadership, especially in fast-paced environments. We’re looking for someone who can hit the ground running, so showcase your achievements that align with our goals.
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so avoid jargon and focus on how your skills and experiences directly relate to the role of Head of Technology.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity.
How to prepare for a job interview at GARY CHAPLIN LTD
✨Know the Business Inside Out
Before your interview, dive deep into the company's mission, values, and recent achievements. Understand their gamification platform and how it transforms sports clubs. This knowledge will help you connect your experience to their goals and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their journey.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
As a Head of Technology, you'll need to lead a high-performing team. Be ready to discuss your leadership approach, how you manage development workflows, and your strategies for mentoring developers. Share specific examples of how you've built successful teams in fast-paced environments.
✨Prepare for Technical Challenges
Expect questions about scaling technology and maintaining platform stability. Brush up on your understanding of architecture trade-offs and be prepared to discuss how you've tackled similar challenges in previous roles. Highlight your ability to balance speed and stability in a high-growth context.
✨Emphasise Cross-Functional Collaboration
This role requires working closely with various stakeholders, including the COO and CEO. Prepare examples of how you've successfully collaborated across departments to achieve common goals. Show that you can bridge the gap between technical delivery and commercial execution.
