Job Description
WheelPower – British Wheelchair Sport, the national disability sports organisation for wheelchair sport is seeking a National Sports Director who possesses the commitment, drive and enthusiasm to lead and make a tangible contribution to the development and delivery of our sports and physical activity programmes.
Working in collaboration with the English Federation of Disability Sport and other National Disability Sport Organisations the National Sports Director will help to get wheelchair users active in sport and physical activity through the development of opportunities with National Governing Bodies of sport, County Sports Partnerships, Local Authorities, and Disabled People’s Organisations. A key priority is to provide advice and technical expertise to support NGBs to deliver their Whole Sports Plan targets for disabled people in sport and increase the participation of wheelchair users.
Role:
• To provide National Governing Bodies (NGBs) and wider sports sector with up to date knowledge and technical expertise relating to wheelchair sport.
• To develop and maintain engagement pathways with disabled people and Disabled Peoples Organisations (DPOs) with a physical impairment focus to support NGBs and other mainstream sports organisations to promote opportunities.
• To manage, develop and expand a project within Spinal Injury Centres to increase the range of sports and activities and provide advice on sport and physical activity to patients.
• To manage the sports team to ensure the effective delivery of sports programmes.
• To develop and distribute resources to support the development of physical impairment sport and physical activity.
Key Responsibilities
Advice, support and guidance: NGBs and wider sports sector
• To be the first point of contact for advice and to educate the sport and health sectors on wheelchair sport
• To provide impairment specific advice and expertise to NGBs and wider sports sector
• To support the development of new NGB opportunities
• To ensure NGBs, sports and health sector are connected into WheelPower activities
• To support the quality and provision of sport and physical activity used in the rehabilitation of spinal cord injured patients
• To attend relevant national meetings to support the development of wheelchair sport
• To provide advice and support to develop WheelPower’s member sports associations
• To develop bespoke sport and physical activity resources
Engagement with people with a physical impairment
• Develop relationships with DPOs and health sector to increase WheelPower engagement to people with physical impairments
• Develop and maintain relationships with relevant Health Professions, for example Physiotherapy to provide sport and physical activity expertise
• To increase WheelPower’s individual membership to enable the direct promotion of opportunities
• To utilise non sport focussed exhibitions to engage with people with a physical impairment
• To manage a project focussed on engaging with young people via wheelchair slalom
Insight and innovation: developing understanding and sharing expertise
• To conduct an annual survey with WheelPower’s membership
• To investigate the benefits of sport and physical activity as part of the rehabilitation of spinal cord injured patients
• To explore the barriers to participation for patients when they are discharged form spinal injury centres
• To support a collaborative insight project into the transitional period of disabled young people from structured physical education to community engagement in sport
• To collate physical impairment focussed insight on WheelPower’s website
Administration, Communication and Line management
• To line management seven members of the WheelPower sports team
• To provide regular reports and monitoring figures for WheelPower’s Board and Sport England
• To ensure the project budget is effectively managed
Person Specification
1. Extensive experience of working in sport development with preferably experience within disability sport
2. Demonstrable understanding and experience of current issues in the promotion and development of wheelchair sport
3. Experience in a role where providing advice and consultancy is central
4. Experience and understanding of building and servicing partnerships at all levels
5. Working knowledge of the structures and agencies involved in the provision of sport at local, regional and national level
6. An in depth understanding of disability issues e.g. self advocacy, empowerment, and policy in particular in relation to sport
7. Proven communication and interpersonal skills and an ability to motivate, enthuse, persuade, negotiate and influence through both spoken and written word
8. Proven ability in strategic planning delivery and monitoring.
9. Effective staff management skills
10. Proven organisational, administrative and IT skills.
11. An understanding of and commitment to equal opportunities and sports equity issues as they relate to the participation of disabled people in sport
How to apply
Please send your CV and accompanying letter of application to:
Martin McElhatton
Chief Executive
WheelPower
Stoke Mandeville Stadium, Guttmann Road, Stoke Mandeville, Buckinghamshire HP21 9PP
By Email info@wheelpower.org.uk