What you will be doing

• Manage the recruitment process to select the best officials in the world to officiate at The Championships.  This is to be done by working closely with the LTA Officiating Department and in consultation with the ATP, WTA, ITF and Grand Slam Chief of Supervisors. The Championships Referee will approve all selections.
• Conduct the necessary pre-tournament training of officials including review of the Rules of Tennis, the Grand Slam Tournament Regulations, the Grand Slam Code of Conduct and the Duties and Procedures for Officials.
• Prepare a List of Officials which shall include the name, mailing address and certifications, if any, of all officials used during the tournament. A copy of such list shall be delivered to the Referee and the Grand Slam Chief of Supervisors.
• Attend meetings in preparation for The Championships with the Referee, Grand Slam Chief of Supervisors, relevant AELTC departments and other Officials prior to the tournament.
• Be available for consultation with the AELTC IT team with regards to the Milestone testing weeks and either attend or organise a team member to attend the testing when required on behalf of the Chief Umpire’s team.
• Make the appointment of Chair Umpire Evaluators and Off Court Technical Advisors in consultation with the Championships Referee, the LTA and ITF.
• In consultation with the Chief of Umpire’s team, select suitable Officials to be used as Team Leaders.
• Oversee and proofread the Procedures for Officials document and all other documents to be sent to selected Officials.
• Continue communication with LTA Officiating Department and with the Chief of Umpire’s team, on day to day updates and selection of replacement Officials as required.
• Oversee the recruitment, selection and development of all members of the Chief Umpire’s Office team and provide day to day management of the Chief Umpire’s Office, during The Championships and throughout the year.
• Linked to the above, oversee succession planning of all members of the Chief Umpire’s Office, including the Chief Umpire. This should include proactive headhunting, development and mentoring where necessary and will be a priority over the next 5 years.
• The Chief Umpire will report to the Referee.
• Maintain strong working relationships with the Grand Slams, ATP, WTA, ITF and key stakeholders involved in the delivery of The Championships including (but not limited to) Championships Operations, IT, Player Relations, Security, etc.
• Linked to the above, generally be an integrated member of the business, understanding the cadence of the organisation and the interdependencies of the Chief Umpire’s Office and vice versa.
• Live the AELTC shared values and promote and support a culture of guest service through the Common Purpose, actions and behaviours of the Wimbledon Way;
• Execute additional tasks as required, in order to meet AELTC changing priorities.
• Support the Tournament Director and Championships Referee with any tennis wide strategic projects as and when required

During the Championships and the Qualifying Event, be responsible for all aspects of the management of officials at The Championships. The duties include:

• Schedule the on-court assignments of Chair Umpires for each day of the tournament, subject to the approval of the Referee in consultation with the Grand Slam Chief of Supervisors.
• Review and revise as necessary in consultation with the Chief of Umpire’s team, the on court rotations for Line Umpires, the Chair Umpire Evaluators and Off Court Technical Advisors
• Organise meetings and all other communications with Officials.
• Handle any disciplinary matters that arise, working with the LTA Officiating Department

Post Championships, duties include:

• Submission of written reports as required to AELTC, Grand Slam Chief of Supervisors, LTA and ABTO (Association of British Tennis Officials)
• Chief Umpire’s Office area to be left in suitable condition for the following year

About you

• You will have an ITF Gold Badge Chief of Umpires certification;
• You will have considerable appropriate experience of working as Chief of Umpires across a variety of high level International events;
• You will be of good standing in the sport;
• You will have good working relationships with the Grand Slam Tennis Group, the ITF, WTA, ATP and LTA;
• You will have a broad knowledge of International Officials worldwide;
• You will have excellent verbal and written communication skills;
• You will be confident in dealing with ambiguity and making challenging decisions in a timely manner;
• You will have excellent leadership skills and be able to work well under pressure

About us

• The All England Lawn Tennis Club (Championships) Limited (AELTC) organises and stages The Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships, widely regarded as the world’s premier tennis tournament and are home to one of the world’s most prestigious tennis clubs.
• Our business has grown in recent years and we expect that success to continue. We have plans to further improve our facilities and invest in our people in future years. Our success is important to us and we are guided by our key values of Heritage, Integrity, Respect and Excellence.
• The Professional Tennis Department’s role is to ensure the smooth and successful running of The Championships, conducted with the highest level of integrity. It is also there to deliver a best in class experience to the players and wider tennis family and ultimately enhance Wimbledon’s power, influence and reputation on the international stage.
• The Professional Tennis Department also oversees the management of several pre Wimbledon grass court events that the AELTC has ownership rights in. This is an important part of the strategy to ensure we protect the long term future of grass court tennis and that the players have the best possible preparation for The Championships.