Director of Elite Athlete Pathways

Senior Leadership Role for Athlete Development

This position plays a crucial role in creating and implementing structured pathways to identify, recruit, and confirm talented athletes, aligning with our mission to produce world-class athletes.

The successful candidate will be responsible for:

Pathway Strategy and Leadership

• Design and execute a comprehensive athlete pathway from talent identification through to recruitment.
• Collaborate with marketing teams to create clear campaigns and social media publicity around opportunities and sign-up processes.
• Engage in long-term strategic planning and review processes with the senior leadership team.

Talent Identification and Development

• Coordinate and deliver annual talent identification programs, including multi-stage testing and profiling.
• Develop sport-specific benchmarking and profiling systems in collaboration with sports scientists and national/international benchmarks performance standards.
• Drive new initiatives such as talent transfer and special scouting projects to fill critical talent gaps.
• Implement an Athlete Recruitment Management System (ARMS) to ensure a comprehensive talent database.

Program Design and Delivery

• Oversee annual planning, marketing, and scheduling of creative talent identification campaigns across all sports.
• Ensure every athlete is supported throughout recruitment campaigns and communication is simple and clear.
• Establish a 'How to' participate process through modern video mediums and publish on a frequent basis.
• Create a clear graphical prospectus outlining the offer to each athlete we are looking to recruit or take part in a talent recruitment day.
• Create a payment and reward system that attracts top talent while prioritizing Olympic Medal winning journeys over national titles.

Staff and Stakeholder Management

• Work alongside HR to recruit and develop a talent scouting and recruitment team.
• Lead the pathways team to build relationships with key stakeholders, club coaches, parents, national federations, and other required parties.

Data, Review & Insights

• Track and monitor athlete talent using real-time performance analytics, benchmarking tools, and regular reviews.
• Lead pathway reviews and elevate the club structure with annual CPD opportunities for club coaches who maintain a positive relationship with us.
• Use national and international trends to inform talent recruitment strategy, selection, and long-term investments.

Education and Welfare Integration

• Collaborate with educational pathways teams for athlete welfare and dual career programs.
• Facilitate induction, transition, and exit processes for athletes entering and exiting the pathway.

Compliance and Reporting

• Ensure compliance with institutional, national, and international regulatory frameworks.
• Prepare program reports, athlete summaries, and budget justifications as required.

Person Specification:

Essential Requirements:

• Proven leadership in talent development and pathway management in Olympic or elite sports settings.
• 5–8 years' experience in performance sport (preferably multi-sport or Olympic disciplines).
• Deep understanding of athlete development science, systems, and transition needs from junior to elite.
• Strong communication, stakeholder management, and program management skills.
• Experience managing budgets, staff, and complex logistics.

Desirable Requirements:

• Coaching qualifications in a relevant sport.
• Understanding of India's high-performance sports ecosystem.
• Previous involvement with national/international federations.
• Knowledge of long-term athlete development models and international medal trajectory planning.
• Experience with athlete management systems, data platforms, and performance tracking tools.

Additional Requirements:

• Flexibility to travel and work irregular hours.
• Ability to travel domestically.
• Subject to police verification and background checks as per compliance policy.

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