Job Description
JOB TITLE:
Head of Performance
REPORTS TO:
Director of Sport
RESPONSIBLE FOR:
Classification Manager, Athlete Services Manager,
Performance Services Officer (and Preparation Manager, a
fixed term appointment for the Summer Paralympic Games)
TYPE OF CONTRACT:
Permanent
SALARY BAND:
D
HOURS OF WORK:
Such hours as are necessary to fulfil the duties. This will
involve a minimum of 35 hours per week, and include work
in evenings and weekends as required.
LOCATION:
BPA Head Office, 60 Charlotte Street, London W1T 2NU and
mobile based – exact split to be determined by mutual
agreement with post-holder.
This role involves significant field based activity and travel,
including attendance at domestic and overseas events
including at chosen preparation bases for summer and
winter Paralympic Games.
JOB PURPOSE:
Demonstrating the British Paralympic Association’s (BPA) core values at all times, the
Head of Performance has responsibility for the design and delivery of key elements of
the BPA’s Performance Strategy and specific Games-related services and support
whose outcomes will contribute positively to the fulfilment of the BPA’s vision, mission
and objectives through:
1. Exemplary leadership in all aspects of the BPA’s Performance and Preparation
strategies and associated programmes, people and partnerships
2. Excellence in design and delivery of the BPA’s sports science and sports
medicine strategy including recruitment, development and leadership of the
sports science and sports medicine core team
3. Provision of world class advice and support to all Paralympic sports which
contributes positively to a best prepared team at each Paralympic Games
4. Provision of other input and support as a member of the ParalympicsGB core
team in the creation and delivery of an optimal Games-time environment
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KEY RESPONSIBILITIES IN DETAIL:
Sport Directorate
Responsible for the development and on-going management of a cohesive and
collaborative Sport Team environment which proactively embraces cross directorate /
partnership working, additionally;
 To deputise for the Director of Sport in his / her absence and at key meetings /
activities on an agreed basis
 To advise and provide support to the Director of Sport in delivering identified BPA
and Sport Team organisational objectives
 To line manage identified staff within the Sport Directorate and fulfil all related
organisational processes relating to this
 To maintain an overview of the Sport Directorate Programme Plan and budgets at
all times; reporting on these as required
 To proactively identify and develop key performance partnerships both within the
UK and overseas to support delivery of organisational and system objectives
Preparation Strategy
Responsible for the leadership, management and effective delivery of the BPA’s
preparation strategy for each summer and winter Paralympic Games including:
 Development of key partnerships including UK Sport, Home Country Sport
Institutes (HCSI), Team Leaders and others
 Leadership / Management / Contribution to Paralympic specific planning groups
 Initiate Games Environment intelligence gathering on behalf of the system
 Collaboration, communication and dissemination of Games Preparation intelligence
 Development and delivery of the Paralympic Preparation Profiling Tool
 Pre-Games preparation environment project development and all reporting
 Member of UK Sport Project Para Impact Group
Games-related Performance Services
Responsible for the development of all Games-related performance services and
associated programmes, people and partnerships, supporting the creation of an
optimal Games-time environment for ParalympicsGB.
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Main point of contact for ParalympicsGB with the Organising Committee of the
Olympic and Paralympic Games (OCOG) and International Paralympic Committee
(IPC) on all performance services matters
Lead, recruit and develop the performance services team
Oversee wider aspects of Games-time performance services including
Safeguarding, Welfare, Anti-Doping and Classification
Planning and procurement of performance kit and consumables
Design and delivery of Games-time performance centre
Develop, manage and report on all associated budgets
Member of the BPA’s Games Leadership Group
Member of the BPA’s Games Planning Group
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Miscellaneous:
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To liaise closely with Paralympic sports, the IPC and OCOGs, UK Sport, HCSIs,
British Olympic Association and other partners to ensure coherence in positioning,
approach and impact of the Performance Strategy and Games-specific services and
support
To ensure processes of monitoring, evaluation and quality control, and the
observation of key performance indicators across all responsibility areas
To support and/or mentor colleagues, within the BPA / ParalympicsGB, as
reasonably required by the Director of Sport
To attend all meetings, workshops and seminars, whether internal or external,
regional, national or overseas, which are reasonably deemed to be relevant to the
fulfilment of the demands and responsibilities of the role
To fulfil any other agreed duties as required by the Director of Sport
Games-time Role
Due to the event-delivery nature of the organisation, all Games-time roles at the BPA
will be discussed and agreed for each Paralympic Games. It is likely but not confirmed
therefore that the Head of Performance will fulfil Games-time roles as follows:
Winter Paralympic Games:
Deputy Chef de Mission (Performance)
Summer Paralympic Games: Core ParalympicsGB Team Member based in Tokyo
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PERSON SPECIFICATION
QUALIFICATIONS
Essential
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First degree or similar-level qualification
Desirable
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First degree in a sport related area
Project management qualification
ROLE REQUIREMENTS
Due to its engagement with the ParalympicsGB teams at both the Summer and
Winter Games, an assessment process may be undertaken to determine whether
the post-holder requires a DBS Disclosure and Barred (DBS) List check.
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
Essential
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Experience of working within the UK high performance system
Demonstrable knowledge of the specific performance preparation needs of
elite athletes
Applied technical knowledge in elite sport specifically multi sport preparation
and the implementation of effective sports science and medicine support
Excellence in complex performance project management (including budget
planning and reporting)
High emotional intelligence and ability to effectively manage people
Excellent written and verbal communication / presentation skills
Leadership, management and development of inter disciplinary support
teams with a track record of performance impact / performance solutions
Clarity in decision making and recommendations as part of strategic thinking
and forward planning processes
Strong organisational skills and ability to successfully manage a number of
conflicting priorities
Desirable
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Knowledge of Paralympic-specific performance considerations
Knowledge of the national and international Paralympic movement
Significant involvement at Paralympic Games and / Olympic Games / other
major multi sport event as an athlete, coach, core or support staff member
Strong existing relationships across UK Sporting agencies
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BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES AND QUALITIES
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Innovative and self-assured, able to work alone and self-manage
Solutions focused, agile and responsive
Works with integrity and honesty to gain the confidence and respect of others
Ability to build strong professional relationships and work within a team
environment (lead and support roles)
Committed, enthusiastic and motivated
Willingness and desire to entertain new ideas and seize opportunities
Willingness to accept and encourage constructive challenges
Passionate about disability sport
VALUES
The British Paralympic Association is an organisation with unique responsibilities and
roles. However, we will only achieve our ambitions by working with and through
others, and by appreciation of where we fit within the wider sporting landscape.
This partnership working internally and externally is driven by three values
highlighted in the BPA Strategic Plan for 2017/21 “Inspiring Excellence”. You will
therefore adhere to:
Excellence – everything we do as the BPA should be of the highest possible standard,
and reflective of an ambition to be world leading. We are committed to a flexible,
proactive, challenging approach to all activity – recognising how our own commitment
to ‘being better’ can support the similar ambitions of our athletes and team;
Honesty – we will ensure that all engagement and communication is fair, open and
grounded in an appreciation of others and their views, seeking to set and manage
expectations of ourselves and others to ensure consistency and transparency; and
Trust - our interaction with each other with key partners and the wider community
will be characterised by respect and will seek to engender a belief in the value, ethics
and integrity of the BPA.
This job description and person specification is not to be regarded as exclusive or
exhaustive. It is intended as an outline indication of the areas of activity and may be
amended from time to time in the light of the changing needs of the organisation
through appropriate processes of consultation and the mutual agreement of both
parties.
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