Volunteer Operations Senior Manager, Volunteer Program

The FIFA World Cup 26™ will mark the first time that the tournament features 48 teams and will be hosted by three countries: Canada, Mexico, and the United States. This new format redefines excellence, generating unique opportunities for greater participation and engagement from fans and players in North America and all over the world. Volunteers are at the heart of FIFA events, impacting all that experience the Tournaments, and represents a critical component to the successful delivery of FIFA World Cup 2026™. As football unites the world, the Volunteer Program provides a unique opportunity to unite and connect with individuals and communities across North America.

THE POSITION

Reporting to the Head of Volunteer Management, the Volunteer Operations Senior Manager will play a leadership role in mobilizing one team of thousands of volunteers across North America and the 16 Host Cities.

The Volunteer Operations Senior Manager will help spearhead operations of the Volunteer Program notably the vital attraction and recruitment efforts. This critically entails the effective building and management of stakeholder relationships with the three Host Countries and sixteen Host Cities. The successful candidate will take a day-2-day tactical lead in planning and coordinating efforts with delivery partners, and joint working with internal departments.

Key responsibilities of the role include supporting the execution of the overarching Volunteer Strategy ensuring the delivery of core objectives. Line management of a centralized team, supporting on the ground operations across North America, including numerous Volunteer Recruitment Center’s. National and local stakeholder management proactively engaging communities across the Host Countries supporting diversity, and inclusivity goals.

The Volunteer Operations Senior Manager will further manage key projects that align with the scope and scale of the overarching Volunteer Program including applicable planning to help realize a sustained impact from the FIFA World Cup 2026™.

We are looking for an experienced Volunteer Program operator who understands the challenges and opportunities of such a unique global event and will work in close collaboration with FWC26 Functional Areas, FIFA Zurich, Host Countries and Cities. Key responsibilities and accountabilities include:

• Successfully drive Volunteer Program operations alongside the delivery of a number of key projects.
• Support the Head of Volunteer Management in the design and execution of applicable strategies and operational plans.
• These projects will vary over the life of FWC26, but will cover most areas of the volunteer journey including: attraction, recruitment, and Tournament operations.
• Coordinating pre-World Cup volunteering requirements to support recruitment and training logistics and operations.
• Lead the planning and support on the ground delivery in Host Cities of the Volunteer Selection Centre operations, as part of ambitions to drive one united Volunteer Program across North America.
• Lead the development of centralized program components which can support a consistently high experience for all client groups, while remaining flexible to local market needs.
• Stakeholder and relationship management across the Volunteer eco-system.
• Work across the broader FWC26 team, including Volunteer and Workforce colleagues in Workforce Planning, Volunteer Training, Uniforms to ensure effective integrated working.
• Participation in venue operation planning and assisting in the central coordination of volunteer data capture and management.
• Development of FIFA World Cup 2026™ volunteer policies and procedures

YOUR PROFILE

ACCOUNTABILITY: Demonstrate commitment to responsibilities and objectively analyze one’s behavior, while assuming consequences of one’s own actions and/or decisions and learning from one’s mistakes.

INCLUSIVITY: Achieve shared organizational objectives by sharing information with colleagues across all levels and divisions, tangibly influencing others, and maintaining a network of support contacts.

VISION: Ability to perceive the organization's global environmental impact, anticipate decision consequences, grasp organizational missions, and formulate strategic plans.

Education & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (or similar level of higher education) preferred but not required

Work Experience

• Proven experience in the facilitation of large scale/high-volume Volunteer programmes including fit for purpose attraction, recruitment and engagement tactics.
• Knowledge of effective volunteer management.
• Thorough understanding of project management techniques and methods.
• Skilled in MS Office Suite of products including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to engage and foster beneficial working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Proven multi-tasker and ability to meet deadlines.
• Ability to be flexible, adaptable, and able to respond to changing and conflicting requirements and priorities.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Excellent problem-solving ability.
• Effective in working in complex multi-organizational environment and managing relationships.

About FWC2026

The FIFA World Cup 26™ will mark the first time that the tournament features 48 teams and will be hosted by three countries: Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

This new format redefines excellence, generating unique opportunities for greater participation and engagement from fans and players in North America and all over the world. Now is your time to be a game changer and join the workforce that is planning and delivering this unique and unforgettable experience.