Director of Elite Performance

Sports Development Leader

This position is responsible for ensuring a structured, evidence-informed pathway from talent identification to elite performance.

The key responsibilities of this role include:

• Designing and executing a comprehensive talent development strategy across various sports.
• Collaborating with marketing teams to create clear campaigns and publicity around the organization's opportunities and how to sign up for consideration or trials.
• Engaging in long-term strategic planning and review processes with senior leadership team members.

Talent Identification and Development

The following tasks are crucial to this role:

• Coordinating and delivering annual talent identification programs, including multi-stage testing and profiling.
• Developing sport-specific benchmarking and profiling systems in collaboration with sports scientists and national/international benchmarks performance standards.
• Driving new initiatives such as talent transfer and special scouting projects to fill critical talent gaps.
• Implementing Athlete Recruitment Management Systems (ARMS) to ensure a comprehensive talent database is maintained across all chosen sports.

Program Design and Delivery

The successful candidate will be responsible for:

• Overseeing annual planning, marketing, and scheduling of creative talent identification campaigns that create pathways across all sports.
• Ensuring every athlete is supported throughout any talent recruitment campaign and that all communication is simple and clear to understand.
• Establishing through modern video mediums and publishing on a frequent basis a 'How to' participate in talent identification and recruitment campaigns.
• Creating a clear, modern graphical prospectus that outlines the offer to each athlete who we are looking to recruit to the program or to take part in a talent recruitment day.
• Developing a payment and reward system for athletes that attracts the best talent to the organization while prioritizing an Olympic Medal winning journey over national titles.

Staff and Stakeholder Management

The successful candidate will lead the following activities:

• Recruiting and developing a talent scouting and talent recruitment team.
• Building and developing relationships with key stakeholders, club coaches, parents, national federations, and other required stakeholders.

Data, Review & Insights

The following tasks are essential to this role:

• Tracking and monitoring athlete talent using real-time performance analytics, benchmarking tools, and regular reviews.
• Leading pathway reviews and elevating the club structure with annual CPD opportunities for club coaches who maintain a positive relationship with the organization.
• Using national and international performance trends to inform talent recruitment strategy, selection, and long-term investments.

Education and Welfare Integration

The successful candidate will be responsible for:

• Collaborating with educational pathways team members to ensure athlete welfare and dual career programs are embedded within talent development structures.
• Facilitating induction, transition, and exit processes for athletes entering and exiting the pathway.

Compliance and Reporting

The following tasks are crucial to this role:

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

Person Specification:

Essential Qualifications:

• Proven leadership experience 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 the transition needs from junior to elite.
• Strong communication, stakeholder management, and program management skills.
• Experience managing budgets, staff, and complex logistics.

Desirable 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 IIS compliance policy.

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