Athlete Identification and Development Lead

The Australian Sports Commission is embarking on the Green and Gold decade. An exciting time filled with international sporting competitions on home soil, including the Men’s and Women’s Rugby World Cup, and culminating in the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. We have an ambitious new Strategic Vision and we need the best players on our team to help us deliver real results for the sporting sector and all Australians.

Are you up for the challenge?

About the team - The Performance Pathways and Programs Branch supports the development, coordination and delivery of contemporary and sport-relevant athlete pathways and performance programs. The Performance Pathways team aims to improve the effectiveness of Australian high performance pathways to successfully identify, develop, support and progress talented athletes to achieve medal winning performances in the future.

About the role - Working as part of the AIS Performance Pathways team, the Athlete Identification and Development Lead will provide strategic leadership and support to National Sporting Organisations (NSOs) and the National Institute Network (NIN) to optimise the talent identification and development of Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games athletes to facilitate medal-winning performances in the future. Key responsibilities of the position are to:  

1. Develop and implement a National Talent Identification and Development (TID) Strategy that supports and augments existing initiatives through innovative, evidence-based practice to increase the quality and quantity of athletes in Australian performance pathways. This will include: 
   • Providing technical advice and expertise to enhance athlete recruitment, identification, confirmation, and development processes and outcomes.  
   • Facilitating networking and professional development experiences, and the growth of shared expertise through leadership of a National TID network for NSO and NIN TID practitioners. 
   • Unearthing national and international best and next practice in TID and disseminating the learnings throughout the Australian TID network. 
   • Analysing opportunities for talent selection, detection, transfer and amnesty, and leading the delivery of national TID programs. 
   • Conducting and advising on profiling and gap to podium analyses. 
   • Collaborating with the AIS data team to provide advice on monitoring of TID programs and athlete progression. 
   • Promoting the integration of system and parent education, athlete induction, athlete and coach wellbeing, performance support, case management, and program sustainability into TID programs. 
2. In consultation with the NSO Performance Pathway Lead, support the development, implementation and review of the NSO High Performance and Pathway strategy to improve the effectiveness of the Pathway and optimise the identification, development, support and progression of athletes towards future podium performances.
3. Actively promote and role model the AIS values of Excellence, Integrity, Respect and Teamwork and contribute to positive organisational change, effective communication, and continuous improvement at the AIS. 
4. Work collaboratively as part of a high performing team/organisation to establish and maintain effective partnerships with key internal and/or external stakeholders to deliver high quality business outcomes. 
5. Assist in the delivery of quality advice and reporting on relevant issues to senior management. 

About you - We are looking for an experienced practitioner with comprehensive knowledge and expertise in talent identification and development, and a keen interest in Performance Pathways. 

The successful candidate will have:

• Tertiary qualifications in Sport or Exercise Science/Human Movement Studies. 
• Experience working in designing, implementing and reviewing talent identification and development programs in collaborative, high performance pathways environments. 
• Proven analytical, strategic planning and organisational skills.
• Strong and adaptable communication skills with the ability to drive network engagement and to gain confidence and respect with key stakeholders. 

The following capabilities are desirable:

• Demonstrated experience working in high performance sport or with high performance athletes and coaches in an inter-disciplinary environment. 
• An understanding of Paralympic pathways and TID will be well regarded. 
• Research, problem-solving and analytical skills. 
• Demonstrated ability to contribute to cohesive, collaborative and outcome driven cross organisational project teams. 
• Experience delivering cultural change through influence and using innovative techniques. 
• Demonstrated capacity to provide timely, compelling and concise advice to inform senior management to support decision making. 

This position is offered as a maternity leave backfill position, FIXED-TERM for 9 months.

Why work with us?

We have offices located in Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney.  Across all locations, we offer:

• Options for flexible working arrangements.
• Annual allowances towards training based on individualised career goals.
• Access to a customised ASC L&D calendar for ongoing professional and career development.
• Generous superannuation scheme with up to 15.4% employer contributions.
• Corporate discount on AIS Shop merchandise.
• Access to Clearinghouse for Sport, an information sharing platform for Sporting professionals.

Additionally, our Canberra campus offers:

• Free onsite parking
• Onsite facilities including café, dining hall, gym, and swimming pool.
• Priority placement for your children to access the award winning, onsite AIS Caretaker’s Cottage Childcare Centre.

Acknowledgement of Country  

The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands where its offices are located, the Ngunnawal people and recognises any other people or families with connection to the lands of the ACT and region, the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people of the Kulin Nation, the people of the Yugambeh Nation and the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. The ASC extends this acknowledgment to all the Traditional Custodians of the lands and First Nations peoples throughout Australia and would like to pay respects to all Elders past and present. The ASC recognises the outstanding contribution that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples make to society and sport in Australia and celebrates the power of sport to promote reconciliation and reduce inequality.