Job Description
JOB TITLE: Director of Coaching & Athlete Development
SALARY: Competitive salary commensurate with skills and experience
Operationally Managed: General Secretary of Athletics Northern Ireland
Contract 3 years
REPORTING STAFF: Coaching and Athlete Development Team
Based at Athletics House (Mary Peters Track) Belfast

Key Responsibilities
The Director of Coaching and Athlete Development will have ultimate responsibility to lead the successful delivery of athlete, coach and club development within Northern Ireland. Specifically to:
• Implement and deliver the Athletics Northern Ireland Strategic Plan 2017 -2021 and associated targets.
• Develop (at the appropriate time) the Strategic Plan for the succeeding funding period (2021-25)
• Manage the Coaching and Athlete Development team of Athletics Northern Ireland.
• Provide leadership in the area of coaching and athlete development across Northern Ireland, ensuring a close collaborative relationship with British Athletics, Athletics Ireland and other Home Countries’ Athletic Federations (HCAF).
• Lead on clear communication with stakeholders, including coaches, athletes and clubs.

Key Tasks
Manage implementation and monitor outcomes of key performance indicators and report to line manager on a regular basis.
Set and manage budgets relating to Coaching and Athlete Development activities.
Lead on delivery of Performance Development, Education, Mentoring and Club Development programmes with a strong innovation and best-practice approach.
Represent Athletics NI in UK-wide activities, working closely with other HCAF to share best practice and implement connected strategies whilst reflecting on local needs.
Work in partnership with British Athletics & Athletics Ireland performance teams to ensure alignment between pre WCP development activity and WCPP funded programs. Ensure a consistent approach is taken to Performance Development and talented athlete progression to national teams.
Lead the coordination of annual Athletics NI coaching conferences– including delivery of keynote talks and presentations when appropriate.
Lead on competition strategy and implementation across Northern Ireland, including national championships and domestic competition.
Undertake the role of Head Coach to NI’s Commonwealth Games Athletics Team, and lead on pre-games requirements including athlete education, training camps and associated tasks to deliver targets.
Support athlete-coach pairs in setting and monitoring their goals along the performance pathway.
Ensure relevant policies are kept up to date.
Communicate regularly with departmental staff, identified performance athletes, their coaches and service providers.
Prepare budgets, plan resources and seek the best financial value in delivery of all planned initiatives, including budgeting and monitoring the Athlete Investment Programme.
Lead Northern Ireland team selection groups, and liaise with Ulster Athletics to select Ulster teams.
Develop the pathway for athletes with a disability working with both UK Athletics and Athletics Ireland and from both a performance and coaching perspective.
Oversee and contribute to the development and delivery of the technical event syllabus across the athlete development pathway and ensure appropriate resources are available to support coaches.
Conduct annual performance appraisals with line managed staff.
Ensure that appropriate internal and external communication links are maintained by the Performance Development Team with stakeholders, via a range of media including website, social media and face-to-face meetings as necessary.
Ensure appropriate professional development opportunities are sought and undertaken in line with budgets to help the development of staff in the Coaching and Development Department
Report regularly on the progress of the operational plan to the General Secretary, the Board, Sport Northern Ireland and other stakeholders as required.
Any other reasonable duties connected to the successful development of sport performance.

How to apply
Please visit http://athleticsni.org/About/Job-Opportunities to download an application. For further information contact Kerry Woods via email kerry@athleticsni.org or on 02890602707