Sports Performance Pathways Director

Role Overview:

We are seeking an experienced Elite Talent Development Leader to oversee the development and implementation of a comprehensive athlete pathway from talent identification through to elite performance.

• The successful candidate will be responsible for designing, executing and reviewing the athlete pathway, ensuring alignment with our mission to produce world-class athletes achieving major event podium finishes.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Pathway Strategy and Leadership

• Develop and implement a structured evidence-informed pathway for athletes, incorporating talent identification, recruitment, and confirmation processes.
• Collaborate with key stakeholders to create clear marketing campaigns and social media publicity around our opportunities and how to sign up for consideration/trials etc.
• Lead strategic planning and review processes with senior leadership team members.

2. 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 i.e. female heavyweight athletes in combat sports.
• Implement Teamwork's Athlete Recruitment Management Systems (ARMS) to ensure a comprehensive talent database is maintained across all chosen sports.

3. Program Design and Delivery

• Oversee annual planning, marketing, and scheduling of creative talent identification campaigns creating pathways across all sports.
• Ensure every athlete is supported throughout any talent recruitment campaign and all communication is simple and clear to understand.
• Establish a 'How to' participate in IIS talent identification and recruitment campaigns using modern video mediums and publish on a frequent basis.
• Create a clear modern graphical prospectus outlining the offer to each athlete we are looking to recruit to the program or to take part in a talent recruitment day.
• Design a payment and reward system for athletes attracting the best talent while prioritizing an Olympic Medal winning journey over the Indian National title. National titles targeted/prioritised towards the final years of an athlete's career.

4. Staff and Stakeholder Management

• Recruit and develop a talent scouting and talent recruitment team, working alongside the HR team.
• Build and develop relationships with key stakeholders, club coaches, parents, national federations and other required stakeholders.

5. 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 maintaining a positive relationship with us.
• Use national and international performance trends to inform talent recruitment strategy, selection, and long-term investments.

6. Education and Welfare Integration

• Collaborate with educational pathways team for athlete welfare and dual career programs ensuring they are embedded within talent development structures.
• Facilitate induction, transition, and exit processes for athletes entering and exiting the pathway.

7. Compliance and Reporting

• Ensure compliance with institutional, national, and international regulatory frameworks including anti-doping, safeguarding, and donor requirements.
• Prepare program reports, athlete summaries, and budget justifications as required.

Person Specification:

Essential Skills and Qualifications:

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

Desirable Skills and Qualifications:

• 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 weekends/irregular hours.
• Ability to travel domestically.
• Subject to police verification and background checks as per our compliance policy.