Head of Pathway Program

The Head of Pathway 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 Pathway athlete cohort is made up of male & female U21 athletes from pre-emerging to WSL Qualifying Series level with the focus on becoming WT and Olympic ready with World Class support to achieve individual goals and priorities.

ROLE PURPOSE

• Execute the Pathway program plan with excellence
• Support Pathway program athletes, coaches & relevant network to achieve individual goals and priorities.
• Enhancing the ability of the Pathway team to contribute to the SA HP Program KPI's and meet benchmark events targets.
• An integrated approach with SA's Performance Support team to enhance the Pathway athletes and team in achieving performance targets.
• Support activity related to relevant benchmark events including ISA World Junior Championships and WSL World Juniors
• Win & foster partnerships for Surfing Australia to support the organisation & improve the Pathway program
• Responsible for the Pathway Program HPP brand & outcomes
• Design & implement the School to BRC to regional to State High Performance annual plans
• Deliver the Northern Beaches HP program & develop future sustainable hubs in Australia
• Lead & ensure annual delivery of U18/U16/U14 State body High Performance programs
• Ensure the Pathway Program is maximising growth opportunities through efficient planning, processes, budgeting & reporting

KEY CHALLENGES

• 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
• Tough sales market & challenged surf industry
• Large playing field with surfers all over Australia & the locations all over the world
• Worldwide competition is growing & fast

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
• Pathway 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), State bodies, AOC, and WSL: To enhance collaboration within the National system
• Surf Industry: To have strong working commercial partnerships, trust & credibility
• Media & Owned/SA Marketing: To work collaboratively to maximise outcomes in HPP brand, SA & surf performance marketing
• P&C Group: To have a strong working relationship with SA BRC managers & learning & development for best outcomes in HP Pathways
• Sport Australia / Professional Network: To support the achievement of system and Surfing Australia HP Program outcomes and to maintain current best practice and learnings.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Lead, Facilitate and Drive Strategy

• Champion the SA HPP culture of Athlete focused, Coach led integrated performance teams
• Develop a plan, identify tasks, resources and accountabilities to support successful realisation of program objectives
• Establish mutually beneficial, long-term relationships with athletes, coaches, HP key stakeholders, other providers, States, teams and admin staff.
• Provide expert advice to internal or external stakeholders directly or by facilitation.
• Drive a culture that fosters and develops innovative processes, communications and accountabilities that result in process improvements.

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 Pathway coaches and Network Coaches with providing direct athlete service
• Promote/support a 'performance focused culture' and commit to continuous learning
• Regularly attend DPE training sessions, camps and competitions to identify and understand opportunities and challenges and support an integrated approach

Performance Management & Recruitment

• Meet monthly with direct reports to discuss performance, monitor progress and consider future requirements
• Commit to developing a professional development plan
• Identify, recruit and develop Pathway staff
• Provide technical leadership and guidance & mentorship to other performance support staff and coaches, including professional development, where appropriate
• Supervise or assist in the supervision of staff to ensure high quality services are met.

Operations and Reporting

• Ensure relevant qualifications are met and updated by Pathway staff and Network providers
• Ensure quality data is captured, and analysis and reporting requirements using any required system/sport platforms have been met as outlined by NHPD.
• Lead effective financial and administrative requirements for Pathway program and staff as applicable.
• Attend and where appropriate lead formal meetings
• Ensure all stakeholder and SA reporting requirements are met
• Report quarterly on results vs KPIs for all surfers & programs

General

• Represent SA with best intentions
• 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 holistic 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.