Director of Sport

Glasgow will host the 23rd edition of Commonwealth Games between 23 July and 2 August 2026. Approximately 4,000 athletes and team officials from up to 74 nations and territories across the Commonwealth will come together in a 11-day celebration of sport and culture. Events will take place across Glasgow, entertaining around 500,000 ticketed spectators and reaching a global broadcast audience of more than one billion.

Glasgow 2026 Limited, the Organising Company (the OC), is organising the Games along with the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) and Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS). Each has key parts to play in the planning and delivery of the Commonwealth Games – individually and collectively – to ensure that Glasgow 2026 is a huge success.

We have an exciting opportunity available to join the team!

We are looking for an experienced and passionate Director of Sport. This is a senior appointment in the integrated Games Delivery team, leading the OC’s sport function and working directly with the Commonwealth Games Federation.

The Director of Sport will undertake the strategic planning, development, management and delivery of the sport competition for Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. This includes the delivery of the sports and competition programme, working in cooperation with other OC departments such as Overlay, Technology, Commonwealth Games Associations (CGA) Relations, Event Delivery Partners, and venues.

Sport underpins the unique connections and friendships that bring together a third of the world’s population as citizens of the Commonwealth. For more than eight decades the CGF has taken a global leadership role in uniting the Commonwealth’s athletes, citizens and communities through the transformative and connecting power of sport.

Glasgow 2026 represents a new milestone in the development of Commonwealth Sport, with an innovative and inspirational approach to delivering the Games in a more sustainable format that is accessible to more host countries globally.

Acting as the OC’s representative on all sport matters, the Director of Sport, will lead a team of Sport Competition Managers and work closely with Technical Delegates and Technical Officials, International Federations (IFs) and National Governing Bodies (NGBs) to develop an optimum Competition & Training Schedule that will deliver world-class sport at the Commonwealth Games.

This is a unique opportunity to be at the heart of a world-class event, working with passionate professionals and visionary leaders who are committed to showcasing Glasgow on the international stage as well as delivering an event of excellence to athletes and the local community.

Sport Competition Programme:

Glasgow 2026 will feature a 10-sport programme concentrated across four venues within an eight-mile corridor, ensuring an action-packed broadcast schedule across each day of competition and making the event accessible and appealing to spectators looking to enjoy the multi-sport environment and festival feel. Para sport will be fully integrated as a key priority and point of difference for the Games, with six Para sports included on the sport programme.

The sports programme will include Athletics and Para Athletics (Track & Field), Swimming and Para Swimming, Artistic Gymnastics, Track Cycling and Para Track Cycling, Netball, Weightlifting and Para Powerlifting, Boxing, Judo, Bowls and Para Bowls, and 3×3 Basketball and 3×3 Wheelchair Basketball.

The Games will take place across four venues: Scotstoun Stadium, Tollcross International Swimming Centre, Emirates Arena – including the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, and the Scottish Event Campus (SEC). Athletes and support staff will be housed in hotel accommodation.

Job Summary:

The Director of Sport will be accountable for implementing the strategic aims and ambitions of Commonwealth Sport across all aspects of OC planning relating to sport and anti-doping matters. They will act as the OC’s subject matter specialist in all sport related matters.

Responsibilities will also include the recruitment, development and leadership a team who will effectively manage all sport deliverables including sport competition, sport services, sport policy, operations, sport entries and anti-doping functions.

They will also ensure Athletes are at the centre of Games planning, by working strategically across all levels of the OC and in close collaboration with the Glasgow 2026 Athlete Advisory Commission and other athlete bodies appointed specifically for Glasgow 2026 to ensure delivery of an excellent athlete experience

In addition, this role requires close collaboration with stakeholders, Event Delivery Partners, and external partners, to deliver a seamless sports programme that meets operational and strategic objectives.

Education:

The Director of Sport should have more than 7 years’ experience in planning and delivering sport competition management for a multi-discipline and multi-venue major global sporting event. In addition, a sound understanding of the Commonwealth Games, Commonwealth Sport and a strong political acumen is essential.

Key Skills and Experience:

We are looking for a Director of Sport who has specialist Commonwealth Games knowledge and can provide advice and an internal critical review of the Glasgow 2026 operating model ensuring it is fit-for-purpose and designed to deliver successful Games outcomes.

In addition, the successful candidate should also display strong technical, site management and operational skills. Relationship building is key for this role and experience of influencing senior internal and external stakeholders essential.

If you have experience in delivering a shared vision, challenging, supporting and leading people to deliver excellence in a sustaining and productive environment, we would love to hear from you!

For more detail, please see the full job description on our website: Director of Sport, Glasgow 2026 Ltd.