Job advert for VAR replay operator appears online with surprising salary and qualifications revealed
HAWK-EYE are hiring for a VAR Replay Operator to join their team and assist in the use of VAR in the Premier League.
The controversial technology continues to divide opinion in England‘s top flight and the company behind it all are looking for someone new to join their ranks.
Hawk-eye, who provide the VAR tech used by the Prem, have listed their job opening online – leading fans to have a nosey at what qualifications they would need to be part of the team.
The job, which would be based out of Stockley Park, would cover the Premier League, Uefa and FIFA competitions including the World Cup and Champions League.
While the candidate’s responsibilities would include “operating systems during matches” and “setting up Hawk-Eye technology in the Replay Centre”.
That would effectively mean that the new hire would be the person showing the referees and VARs replays of the incidents.
And according to the job advert that role will earn £25,800 per year – around £10,000 less than the average salary in the UK.
But before you start readying your CV and marching it straight to the Hawk-Eye offices, there’s a lengthy list of qualifications that any potential candidate is supposed to have.
Hawk-Eye want their new employee to hold a full driving licence, have a strong technical grounding, a proactive attitude, attentive listening skills and excellent problem-solving skills amongst a myriad of other requirements.
However, there’s no requirement to have had any experience refereeing or officiating at any level.
VAR Replay Operator job in full
Here's a look at the key responsibilities and required qualifications to become a VAR Replay Operator...
Key Responsibilities
- Pre-match planning and administration in the days building up to your games
- Setting up Hawk-Eye technology in the Replay Centre
- Conducting pre-match checks of the systems in accordance with standard procedures
- Liaising with all members staff, match officials and supervisors on-site
- Operating the systems during the match
- Monitoring hardware and software performances, being able to troubleshoot and report encountered issues
- Taking full responsibility for our system on-site and being an ambassador for Hawk-Eye
- Completing post-match reports for client delivery and improving future operations
- During the off-season, building and maintaining our hardware and equipment
- Assisting with installation and testing of new products and services
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
Essential:
- A strong technical grounding, with an interest in technology
- Bright and enterprising with excellent problem-solving skills and an inquisitive mindset
- Proactive attitude and ability to work on your own initiative
- Time management skills and ability to work in a high-pressure, live broadcast environment
- Ability to liaise with clients and customers in a professional and approachable manner
- Strong attentive listening skills, particularly under extreme pressure
- Full valid driving licence required, willingness to drive our vans
- Willingness to travel domestically and to work overseas
- Flexible and adaptable to a schedule that is dedicated by the fixture list and can change at short notice
- Acceptance that the nature of our business means that work will be carried out over weekends/bank holidays
Preferred:
- A keen interest in football; an understanding of the laws of the game is preferred
- A degree in a science, technology, mathematics or engineering course or relevant equivalent experience
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While a “keen interest in football and understanding of the laws of the game” is only listed as “preferred” for the job.
The surprising revelation would mean that someone could be operating the Premier League VAR systems without prior knowledge of the rules of football.
That’s perhaps less shocking when remembered alongside last season’s biggest VAR error being spotted by another Replay Operator – who wasn’t a qualified referee either.
The Replay Operator for Tottenham’s win over Liverpool last September appeared to be the only person at Stockley Park to realise that Luis Diaz was actually onside when his goal was ruled out for offside.