Reports to: National High Performance Director

Roles that report to this role: Coaches (internal & external), Filmer, operations manager, judge expert & contracted surfers

PROGRAM CONTEXT

The Head of Podium Program role within the Surfing Australia (SA) High Performance Program works as an integral lead of our team supporting Australian athletes to become the world’s best surfers and people. The athlete cohort is made up of male & female WSL World Championship Tour Surfers & WSL Challenger Series surfers each year.

ROLE PURPOSE

• To lead the Podium program, it’s athletes, coaches, activities, staff and contractors to win world tour events, World titles, Olympic Games, ISA World Surfing Games to be the dominate surfing nation.
• Execute the Podium program plan with excellence
• Support Podium program athletes, coaches & relevant network to achieve individual goals and priorities.
• Enhancing the ability of the team to contribute to the SA HP Program KPI’s and meet benchmark events targets.
• Win & foster partnerships for Surfing Australia to support the organisation & improve the podium program
• Support activity related to relevant benchmark events including Olympic Games, World Surf League (World Championship Tour and World Qualifying Challenger Series) and ISA World Surfing Games & ISA World Surfing Championships Para & Masters.
• Integrated approach with SA’s Performance Support team to enhance the Podium athletes and team in achieving performance targets.

KEY CHALLENGES

• Global competition getting better quickly
• Rising costs
• Working in a fast-paced, complex multi-discipline high performance environment. 
• Working within a restricted resource environment.
• Working collaboratively with multiple stakeholders and varying agendas. 
• Adapting to ways of working that includes cross discipline delivery of performance support requiring close liaison with discipline expertise

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

• Athletes: To connect, listen and understand athlete needs
• National HP Director: To ensure performance is aligned for sustainable success
• HP Program staff: To work collaboratively to support, enable and impact optimal performance together
• Podium Coaches & Coach Network: To support the delivery of sustainable high performance, athlete progression, and wellbeing
• Performance Team (s) and Preferred Provider networks: To support an integrated performance approach and collaboratively prepare our athletes to become world’s best surfers and people.
• NIN (AIS & SIS/SAS), States, AOC, and WSL: To enhance collaboration within the National system
• Sport Australia / Professional Network: To support the achievement of system and Surfing Australia HP Program outcomes and to maintain current best practice and learnings.
• Surf Industry: To ensure alignment & greatest outcomes together

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Lead, Facilitate and Drive Strategy

• Champion the SA HPP culture of Athlete focused, Coach leading integrated performance teams
• Establish mutually beneficial, long-term relationships with athletes, coaches, HP key stakeholders, other providers, teams and admin staff.
• Provide expert advice to internal or external stakeholders
• Drive a culture that fosters and develops innovative processes, communications and accountabilities that result in process improvements.
• Get results from leads and working groups; sets performance expectations and holds people accountable for getting results.

Champion Performance Planning Support

• Ensure prioritisation of athlete performance planning
• Where applicable, assist within performance teams, work collaboratively with coaches / performance support providers to analyse needs of athlete, and set appropriate performance goals, develop plans, monitor and implement these plans and review periodically. 
• Draw conclusions and makes recommendations based on qualitative or quantitative information

Delivery of Daily Performance Environment

• Manage Podium coaches and Network Coaches with providing direct athlete service
• Promote/support a ‘performance focused culture’ and commit to continuous learning 
• Support an integrated approach to performance support needs by attending DPE training sessions, camps and competitions.

Performance Management & Recruitment

• Meet monthly with direct reports to discuss performance, monitor progress and consider future requirements
• Commit to a professional development plan
• Identify, recruit and develop Podium staff

Operations and Reporting

• Ensure relevant qualifications are met and updated by Podium staff and Network providers
• Ensure quality data is captured, and analysis and reporting requirements using any required system/sport platforms have been met.
• Lead and Manage Podium budget
• Attend and where appropriate lead formal meetings
• Ensure stakeholder and SA reporting requirements are met

General        

• Represent SA as required
• Work collaboratively with other SA Departments towards organisational outcomes
• Adhere to all the SA policies and procedures, particularly the Code of Conduct
• Reflect the SA values in everyday work environment
• Comply with WHS legislation, company WHS policies, objectives and procedures. Contribute and participate in the health and safety of all staff, visitors and contractors.

SUCCESS PROFILE

Experience

• Expertise in surfing
• 7 + years in high performance sport environments 
• Proven success in planning, periodising and managing athletes across multiple seasons/campaigns to support medal-winning performance (or equivalent) at an international level. 
• Proven experience in using a wholistic approach to planning and monitoring athletic performance in individual athletes to achieve performance progression.
• Demonstrated ability and commitment to work in a multi-disciplinary/sport team environment with high performance athletes / coaches. 
• Experience in developing and supervising staff to achieve performance outcomes.
• Experience in operating and managing quality control and quality assurance programs to meet compliance standards.
• Experience in reporting to a variety of stakeholders, investment management & negotiations
• Design and delivery of strategic planning and systems / processes to deliver improved business performance
• Demonstrated ability to analyse data, interpret results and produce reports for influencing athletic training programs.
• Proven experience in presenting to coaches related information for enhanced performance.
• Proven sales & marketing experience

Knowledge

• Relevant tertiary qualification is desirable
• Progression Surf Coach or equivalent Coaching qualification
• Demonstrated understanding of theory and modern coaching philosophies and the application for the development of high-performance training programs
• Knowledge and understanding of Australian High Performance sport systems
• Knowledge of the current trends, structure and dynamics in international level Surfing in the areas of coaching and Performance support
• Understanding the requirements of High Performance athletes and coaches
• Intermediate/Advanced knowledge of MS Office and other sports specific computer programs
• First aid and resuscitation certificate
• Working with children check
• Current driver’s license
• Understanding of the Surf Industry & athlete sponsorships

Competencies

• Strategic planning 
• Leading in complexity
• Athlete marketing
• Compelling Communication
• Facilitating Change & results
• Aligning Performance for Success
• Coaching and Developing Others
• Operational Decision Making
• Delegation and Empowerment
• Building partnership proposals
• Monitoring Information
• Building Partnerships
• Building Teams
• Creating a Culture of Trust
• Sound financial and administrative skills

Personal Attributes

• Strong ambition for athletes
• High-involvement leader 
• High responsibility/accountability 
• Organised & Detail oriented
• Innovative 
• Practical 
• Continuous learner 
• Energy
• Respectful

Note: This position requires a clearance/s to work with children which is an essential component of this role and therefore to continuing employment. PLEASE NOTE: It is your responsibility to obtain the appropriate licence.

This position is required to travel domestically and/or internationally.

This position requires/may require weekend work, & outside ordinary work hours.

The successful candidate for this role will be subject to a National Police Criminal History Check prior to appointment.

The successful candidate for this role will be required to undertake a Security Clearance.

Citizenship/Visa

You must be an Australian citizen, have permanent residency status or a visa permitting you to work in Australia. You are required to notify surfing Australia if your right to work in Australia ceases.

APPLICATIONS CLOSE 18 NOVEMBER 2024