Job Description
The 2016 School Games is a multi-sport event for the UK’s elite athletes of school age. The School Games seek to create an inspirational and motivational setting that not only provides our elite young sports people with the opportunity to thrive and perform at the highest levels, but encourages more young people to take part and succeed in sport. Responsibility for the development and organisation of the School Games lie with the Youth Sport Trust.

• The School Games is a multi-sport event taking place on 1 – 4 September 2016 at Loughborough University.
• The competition re-enforces the experience of multi- sport events such as Commonwealth Games, Olympic and Paralympic Games complete with Opening and Closing Ceremonies.
• The School Games predecessor the Sainsbury’s 2012-2015 School Games and UK School Games (2006-2011) have a strong track-record of providing a springboard for athletes who then go on to compete at a national level. Several School Games alumni went on to be part of London 2012, Sochi 2014 and Glasgow 2014 GB and Home nation’s teams.
• Around 1,500 of the nation’s finest young sports stars are expected to attend.
• Competition is planned to be held in twelve current and future Olympic and Paralympic sports: Fencing, Rugby 7s, Gymnastics, Hockey, Athletics, Cycling, Judo, Swimming, Table Tennis, Volleyball, Wheelchair Basketball and Wheelchair Tennis.
• There are disability events integrated in five sports programmes: Athletics, Fencing, Swimming, Table Tennis, Cycling plus two Paralympic only sport; Wheelchair Basketball & Wheelchair Tennis.

The role is contracted by Sport Event Solutions (SES) and will focus on managing the final planning and delivery of Games Services during the 2016 School Games. The role is contracted for an estimated 30 – 35 days from the start of June and will involve a handover from the Athlete Village and Volunteer Manager (AVVM). The role also requires involvement prior to June in the planning and delivery of the School Games Orientation day, the platform to brief Single Points of Contacts and all team managers on plans and process’s during the Games.

The School Games welcomes over 90 different teams across 12 different sports to Loughborough University campus. The Games is designed to deliver a world leading experience for every young athlete attending, therefore requires a well planned, effective Games services platform to ensure all team managers understand process and responsibilities before and during the Games. The Games services hub covers a range of team logistics including accommodation, transport, catering, safeguarding and medical and it is important all these areas are coherent come event time, so any information that a team may need can be obtained via Games Services.

To ensure the successful delivery of Games Services, SES will appoint a Games Services Manager to plan and manage the team of staff and volunteers come event time. This will involve supporting the SES Athlete Village and Volunteer Manager (AVVM) in completing final pre-event planning, leading on communications with Single Points of Contact (SPC) and Team Managers (TM) and organising/delivering all briefs before and during the event to the Games Services team. This will include implementing the pre planned systems and attending an informative SGO day prior to the event.

The successful candidate will:
• lead the coordination and delivery of the Games Services project plan including inclusion of final campus plans such as security.
• Implement the plans already constructed by the AVVM onto the Loughborough Campus and liaise directly with each of the relevant workstream leads including accommodation, catering, accreditation and transport.
• Manage the Games Services team, providing regular communication to all those that will be part of the team at the event, while providing clear communication with campus staff surrounding all expectations and requirements. During event time will lead all start of day briefings and end of day debriefs.
• Demonstrate knowledge and experience of best practice in safeguarding young people in a large event and how safeguarding will be integrated in to all aspects of delivery.
• Conduct a handover from the AVVM & Volunteer Manager at the start of June, to understand and take control of the systems and plans that have been implemented.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
• From the start of June to lead and coordinate the Games Services workstream, working closely with each of the Games services area leads.
• For final sign off of the Athlete Village project plan in August. This document will be a work in progress when the position starts in June and will involve working closely with the AVVM for completion.
• To chair Games Services meetings both pre-Games and during the Games. This will include early morning team daily briefings and debriefs at the end of each day.
• Lead on communicating with SPC’s and TM’s across the event when required. This maybe for a specific issue or to coordinate a generic message out to all team managers and may include printed, digital and text based services.
• Responsible for the duty phone through the night (as part of a Rota).
• Be responsible for the coordination of shift patterns for all Games services team members including contracted staff and volunteers but excluding the safeguarding and medical teams.
• Be responsible for overall leadership of the Games services area setup and delivery including management of relevant service desks and availability times of staff for accommodation, travel, catering and accreditation.
• Completion and circulation of all Games services related documents including final Team Manager checklists, any updates to the final Games Services Manual and the Athlete Village project plan.
• Involve and update any developments within Games Services with the Safeguarding Manager from the Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU) to make sure all objectives are achieved as documented in the School Games Safeguarding Plan.
• Model best safeguarding practice at all times.
• Be part of the Triage group that will meet and review any incident reports received that day and make sure appropriate action has occurred or action where required.
• To feed into the planning of the SGO day and be aware of the Games Services plans and objectives before this day. This will include a short presentation introducing yourself.
• Be part of a highly effective team to deliver the very best event experience for all young people attending the event whether athlete, official, staff or volunteer.
• During the week prior to the Games to be onsite in Loughborough along with the SES Senior Team for final onsite organisation.
• To attend event time briefings with SPC’s and Team managers.
• Work partnership with the Safeguarding Manager and the Chief Medical Officer to ensure effective communication of all services both prior to and during the event.
• Deal with any incidents that involve Games Services team members breaching their Code of Conduct and ensuring all actions are recorded and shared (where appropriate).
• Provide a full post event report to the AVVM, outlining any issues, suggestions and conclusions from the 2016 School Games.

PERSON SPECIFICATION:
• Be over 18 years at the time of the 2016 School Games (September 1st 2016)
• Be self employed.
• Be able to provide their own mobile phone and laptop to use for work purposes.
• Be able to work from home or similar and be available Monday to Friday.
• Have experience of working within a Games services environment or similar at a major sporting event. Ideally to have experience of leading a successful team in this environment.
• Have experience of working with young people in a sports based setting, including residential trips.
• Have completed the relevant checks and safeguarding training in accordance with the 2016 School Games Safeguarding Plan. (The Safeguarding Plan will be provided.)
• Be young people focussed and prepared to share all concerns that you may have related to young people and/or adults involved in the event.
• Effectively communicate with team managers, volunteers and Games Services Team members.
• Be able to follow instructions as directed by the SES senior management team.
• Have excellent communication and listening skills and experience of chairing meetings.
• Be able to work on own initiative and also able to work effectively within a team.

This is not a definitive role description/person specification.

How to apply
To apply for this role please send a covering letter outlining why you suit this role along with a copy of your CV to tim@schoolgames.org.uk