JOB DESCRIPTION JOB TITLE: Performance Pathway Manager REESPONSIBLE TO: RESPONSIBLE FOR: MEMBER OF: TYPE OF CONTRACT: HOURS OF WORK: SALARY: Performance Director (PD) Performance Pathway Co-Ordinator Talent Coaches World Class Programme (WCP) Performance Team Full Time Such hours as are necessary to fulfil the duties. This will involve a minimum of 36 hours per week and may include evenings, weekends and public holidays Competitive LOCATION: Lee Valley High Performance Centre NB: The successful candidate will be expected to undertake such travel as is necessary to fulfil the duties of the job JOB PURPOSE The Performance Pathway Manager will be responsible for managing all aspects of the World Class Programme (WCP) Talent Pathway. They will contribute to the achievement of the WCP aims, objectives and targets through the following: Manage the delivery of a systematic and evidenced-based fencer performance pathway in the context of Fencing s 2013/17 World Class plan, resulting in an oversupply of fencers making the required benchmarks at Talent (2024) and Podium Potential (2020) level programmes Provide accelerated coaching, training and focussed competition opportunities, measuring individual progress against medal winning trajectories for fencing s most promising 2020/2024 medal prospects Foster closer working partnerships with Home Nation Programmes to define the strategic and technical framework of a seamless performance pathway, reaching from Home Nation activity through to the WCP Define and implement a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) framework that effectively and accurately measures the impact of the performance pathway reaching from Home Nation activity through to the WCP Podium Potential squads 1
Operate as a member of the WCP Performance Team, ensuring trends, gap analysis and technical input is continually considered and that intelligence and insights at Podium level is continually cascaded down the performance pathway through a suite of effective solutions KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 1. Tracking and Monitoring Working with the WCP Performance Analyst, design and implement a National Tracking and Monitoring System that captures the key development markers of identified fencers progressing through to WCP Podium Potential squads. Utilise this information to understand and communicate to the wider sport the discriminating factors that predicts success at an elite level Undertake discrete research projects (retrospective or real-time) that provide a greater evidence-base to understanding the improvements required to win in 2020 and 2024 Undertake regular gap analysis of the international sporting environment pinpointing threats and opportunities, ultimately informing the timing and targeting of future events and recruitment opportunities Design and implement National benchmarking practices that allow an athlete s individual progression to be objectively quantified against a medal winning trajectory 2. Talent Identification and Confirmation Work in partnership with the WCP Performance Team to develop and validate fencing specific talent profiles With the WCP implement a National TID system that proactively locates and flags emerging talent for the WCP and objectively describes and quantifies the characteristics of a future elite level fencer 3. Home Nation Alignment To facilitate closer alignment between the WCP and Home Nation activity with a particular focus on a consistent approach to Talent Profiles, Competition Strategies, understanding Performance Gaps and Technical Models of Development In collaboration with key members of the WCP Performance Team develop and publish a National Curriculum of Performance Development that defines the precise skills, competencies and abilities required at each stage of development In collaboration with key members of the WCP Performance Team facilitate the development and implementation of a KPI framework that quantifies the impact of the performance pathway 2
Ensure coherent and appropriate SS/SM services to fencers along the performance pathway in accordance with protocols established by the WCP Actively publish and disseminate in user-friendly formats relevant findings and/or insights into talent and expertise for key stakeholders operating on the performance pathway i.e. home nations, strategic agencies, coaches, parents, clubs 4. Implementation of the WCP Performance Pathway Provide leadership and line management to the Performance Pathway Co-ordinator and WCP Talent Coaches working with identified fencers, ensuring there is a consistent approach to the technical standards developed and delivered to identified 2020 and 2024 athletes on the pathway Manage regular monthly squad sessions that aim to accelerate the development of 2020 and 2024 identified fencers Monitor the development of individual Performance Plans for identified 2020 and 2024 fencers, regularly reviewing progress against targets and actively supporting resourcing action plans where weaknesses become evident Actively engage in UK Sport s Talent Health Check (THC) process, regularly reprofiling and quantifying pathway effectiveness and Sport England s Talent programme Actively engage and where appropriate, seek direct support from the Talent Teams (UK Sport/Sport England/EIS) to refine key components and/or respond to challenges identified in fencing s THC PERSON SPECIFICATION Qualifications Educated to degree level in sports science or elite level coaching Experience Experience of planning, implementing and managing successful talent identification and development programmes within elite sport environments Minimum of five years working in high performance sport. This experience should include extensive frontline work with junior international, U21/U23 team Demonstrated ability to analyse the effectiveness of sports performance pathways and identify system and technical interventions to increase promotion rates of fencers within it Experience of developing and implementing innovative ideas and putting them into practice, including working in an applied and integrated manner 3
Experience in collecting, analysing and explaining complex data associated with talent identification and performance prediction to performance sports programmes Knowledge and experience of elite level Coaching or detailed knowledge and understanding of international fencing A proven ability to communicate complex information, orally and in writing, in terms that are easily understood by a range of audiences and stakeholders Demonstrated ability to scientifically validate the methodology of test protocols in relation to performance prediction, talent profiles, pathway analysis and other relevant scientific data Experience in performance modelling Knowledge Applied knowledge of the UK World Class Performance system Knowledge and understanding of the needs of elite coaches, in particular those working at the Olympic Podium Potential and Podium level preparing athletes for the international level competition A thorough technical understanding of the principles that underpin effective Talent Identification, Confirmation and Development within a performance environment An understanding of the various coaching, sports science, medicine and performance lifestyle disciplines as they relate to the talent identification and promotion of exceptional sporting talent in fencing Knowledge and understanding of the issues faced by Performance Directors and those responsible for developing athletes for Senior international success A strong awareness of published models of performer development, their potential application and/or limitations within the context of the GB World Class system Skills and Abilities Excellent problem solving and decision-making skills Strong statistical abilities A creative thinker with the tenacity and confidence to see things through to implementation and completion The ability to effectively manage up, out and downwards with an array of critical stakeholders An ability to work under pressure, and to balance conflicting demands and meet tight deadlines Use of technological systems for creation, storage and dissemination of information 4
Proven use of IT systems and high level of competency in the use of MS Office, Excel, Access and power point Personal Disposition Demonstrates great judgement, diplomacy and creative approaches to challenge traditional paradigms and assumptions and provide evidenced based solutions Exceptional interpersonal skills such as the ability to influence, persuade and present compelling cases for improved practices amongst relevant stakeholders Strong desire to excel at whatever task is at hand, seeking to achieve world-class levels of professionalism and quality standards Actively identifies new areas for learning whilst regularly creating and taking advantage of opportunities provided by the role. Uses newly gained knowledge and skill on the job and learning through their application. Personal integrity and the ability to invoke trust and respect from others Personal commitment to continuous professional development Highly motivated with a passion for high performance sport A positive attitude to Information Technology in carrying out the responsibilities of the post The Performance Pathway Manager post will ideally have a specialism in one or more of the following areas: Statistical performance modelling to predict athletic performance A broad understanding of Performance IT, software management and data mining approaches to support the development of athlete tracking systems / trend analysis Applied researching skills, report writing and impact assessments Prince II Project Management certification 5