World Surf League

Director, Analytics & Business Operations

World Surf League$150K — $175K *
Business Services
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5-10 years in strategy or business operations, analytics, or consulting
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint or Google Suite
  • Experience directly collaborating with executive leadership
  • Proven ability to lead and develop high-performing teams
  • Strong analytical skills; translating data into actionable insights
  • Experience with designing executive dashboards or performance frameworks
  • Familiarity with managing complex cross-functional initiatives
  • Understanding of SQL and modern data ecosystems is a plus
  • Bachelor's degree in a relevant field

Responsibilities

  • Collaborate with executive and cross-functional leaders to advance strategic priorities
  • Oversee and enhance the company-wide OKR process for departmental alignment and accountability
  • Lead the analytics function and provide strategic insights for decision-making across various teams
  • Develop reporting tools and analytical frameworks to enhance visibility into business performance
  • Manage relationships with third-party vendors and align their performance with WSL's objectives
  • Oversee WSL's sports betting and prediction market initiatives
  • Identify and implement improvements to processes and organizational effectiveness

Benefits

  • Hybrid work environment with in-office requirements Tuesday through Thursday
  • Opportunity to work on high-impact strategic initiatives
  • Reporting directly to C-level executives
  • Engagement with a dynamic and fast-paced industry
  • Exposure to cross-functional leadership and decision-making processes
Full Job Description
The Director, Analytics & Business Operations will work closely with the World Surf League executive team to drive strategic initiatives, enhance organizational performance, and support data-informed decision-making across the WSL. This role will serve as a key partner to leadership, translating business priorities into actionable strategies and insights that drive growth and success across the organization.

The ideal candidate is a highly autonomous, entrepreneurial, and strategic thinker with exceptional problem- solving, communication, leadership, and organizational skills who thrives in a dynamic environment.

This role will report into the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer and will be based at the WSL Headquarters in Los Angeles, California, in a hybrid working environment with 3 days per week in office (Tuesday - Thursday).

Responsibilities include (but not limited to):
  • Partner with the executive team and cross functional leaders to drive strategic priorities, develop long-term plans, and lead key initiatives that enhance organizational performance
  • Develop, manage, and continuously improve the company-wide OKR process, ensuring alignment across departments, clear accountability, measurable outcomes, and consistent progress toward organizational priorities
  • Lead the WSL analytics function and serve as a strategic insight partner to the organization, translating date and complex business questions into actionable insights that inform decision making across product, marketing, partnerships, social media, content, and other key areas
  • Establish and evolve reporting, dashboards, KPIs, and analytical frameworks that provide leadership and cross-functional teams with clear visibility into business performance, audience behavior, operational trends, and opportunities for growth
  • Oversee key third party vendors and external partners, ensuring strong relationships, effective performance management, and alignment with WSL's business objectives and operations needs
  • Lead the strategic and operational oversight of WSL's sports betting and prediction market initiatives, working cross functionally and with external partners to support the development and execution of these programs
  • Identify opportunities to improve processes, productivity, and organizational effectiveness while working across teams to connect strategy, operations, and analytics and support informed, high impact decision making

Qualifications & Experience:
  • 5-10 years of relevant experience in strategy, business operations, consulting, analytics, corporate development, IB/PE, or related fields
  • Expert in Microsoft Excel and Powerpoint or Google Suite
  • Demonstrated experience partnering directly with executive leadership
  • Experience building, leading, and developing high-performing teams
  • Strong analytical capabilities with experience translating complex data into actional business insights and executive-level recommendations
  • Experience designing executive dashboards or performance management frameworks
  • Experience managing complex, cross-functional strategic initiatives from concept through implementation
  • Experience managing external vendors, agencies, or strategic partners
  • Exceptional project management and organizational skills, with the ability to prioritize multiple initiatives in a fast-paced environment
  • Working knowledge of SQL and modern data ecosystems is preferred
  • Bachelor's degree in business, economics, finance, statistics, data science, or a related field

Personal Attributes:
  • Above all, integrity and honesty
  • Entrepreneurial; willingness to work independently with the best business practices in mind
  • Excellent communication and presentation skills, including the ability to influence senior stakeholders and simplify complex topics
  • Incredibly proactive and action-oriented
  • Enjoys working in a fast-paced environment and willing to take on a challenge
  • A high degree of self-awareness of one's own personal style, strengths and weaknesses and motivational triggers.
  • Intellectual curiosity and enthusiasm for learning
  • Passion for surfing is a plus

Base Salary Range: $150,000.00 - $175,000.00 based on relevant experience

About World Surf League

The World Surf League (WSL) is the governing body for professional surfers and hosts the annual Championship Tour (CT) competition. The WSL was founded in 1976 and is headquartered in Santa Monica, California. The organization is responsible for organizing and promoting professional surfing events around the world. The WSL also operates a digital platform that provides live streaming of competitions, highlights, and other surf-related content. The WSL is committed to sustainability and has implemented several initiatives to reduce its environmental impact.
Learn more about World Surf League
Size
200 employees
Industry
Founded
1976

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