Executive Director of Strategic Capabilities

This is a Full Time Job

Job Title: Executive Director, Strategic Capabilities

Department: Strategy & Data Systems, Basketball Operations

Manages: N/A

Reports to: Vice President, Salary Cap Strategy

Position Summary: The Executive Director, Strategic Capabilities is responsible for advancing the organization's basketball strategy by leading the development and implementation of strategic systems, processes, and tools that enhance decision-making across Basketball Operations. This role serves as the bridge between salary cap strategy, legal and contractual expertise, and technology, ensuring the front office has best-in-class capabilities to evaluate transactions, manage roster construction, and execute long-term organizational strategy. Working cross-functionally with Basketball Strategy, Data Systems Development, Legal, Finance, and Basketball Operations leadership, this position transforms complex strategic concepts into scalable operational solutions.

Essential Functions (Duties & Responsibilities**):

Key Responsibilities
• Lead the planning, prioritization, and execution of strategic capability initiatives that strengthen the organization's basketball operations infrastructure.
• Manage project timelines, requirements, dependencies, and risk across the full portfolio of Basketball Strategy tools and systems.
• Translate complex NBA salary cap rules, collective bargaining agreement (CBA) provisions, legal considerations, and player contract structures into practical strategic frameworks and technology solutions.
• Identify opportunities to improve basketball operations through new strategic capabilities, leading projects from concept and business case through design, implementation, testing, and deployment.
• Partner closely with the Data Systems Development team to design and deliver technology solutions that support roster construction, trade analysis, contract modeling, salary cap planning, and transaction management.
• Initiate, develop, and oversee complex salary cap strategy projects that build scalable systems supporting contract evaluation, trade simulations, free agency planning, and long-term roster management.
• Collaborate with Basketball Operations leadership to ensure strategic tools align with the organization's competitive objectives across short-, medium-, and long-term planning horizons.
• Provide strategic guidance and feedback on cross-functional Basketball Operations initiatives to ensure projects support organizational priorities and future decision-making capabilities.
• Establish governance, documentation, and best practices for strategic systems, ensuring data integrity, consistency, and usability across departments.
• Monitor evolving NBA rules, CBA interpretations, and league trends, proactively incorporating changes into organizational strategy and supporting technologies.
• Foster collaboration among Strategy, Basketball Operations, Analytics, Legal, Finance, and Technology teams to ensure successful execution of strategic initiatives.

**Responsibilities subject to change based on organizational needs and direction from management.

Previous Experience:
• A minimum of seven (7) year's experience with NBA salary cap rules, collective bargaining agreement, player contracts, and roster construction strategies
• Bachelor's degree required, advanced degree in business, law, analytics, computer science, sports management or related field preferred

Knowledge, skills, abilities:
• Proven experience leading complex cross-functional projects from planning through implementation.
• Demonstrated ability to translate highly technical or legal concepts into actionable business and basketball strategy.
• Strong understanding of project management methodologies, strategic planning, and systems implementation.
• Experience working closely with software development or data systems teams.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple high-priority initiatives in a fast-paced professional sports environment.

Physical Demands: N/A

Location: El Segundo (offices M-F), downtown Los Angeles (Crypto.com Arena for all Laker home games)