Director, HP Innovation & Science

Australian Institute of Sport; Canberra; On-site; AUD 160,000 - 195,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Up to 15.4% superannuation

Annual training allowances

Flexible working arrangements

AIS Shop discount

Onsite parking

Job summary

The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Canberra is seeking a Director of HP Innovation & Science to lead a multidisciplinary team translating sport science, technology and ideas into practical performance advantages for Australian athletes.

You will shape programs across physiology, biomechanics, recovery, sleep and environmental performance, leveraging AIS facilities and partnerships to strengthen high-performance outcomes nationally.

Qualifications

• PhD in Sport Science or equivalent in physiology, biomechanics, or related field.
• World-leading expertise and international high-performance networks.
• Proven track record of innovation in high-performance environments.
• Senior-level experience leading multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong understanding of high-performance sport.
• Ability to translate complex evidence into practical solutions and communicate to diverse audiences.
• Experience in financial management and strategic planning.

Responsibilities

• Lead a multidisciplinary team delivering sport science and performance solutions.
• Translate insights into practical programs across physiology, biomechanics, recovery, sleep and environment.
• Partner with researchers, sports and high-performance networks to maximise performance outcomes.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Communication

Analytical thinking

Finance knowledge

Stakeholder management

Education

PhD in Sport Science

Job description

Australian Institute of Sport – Canberra ACT

$159,922 - $194,743 a year

Full time, Permanent

2d ago , from Australian Institute of Sport

• $159,922 - $194,743 + 15.4% superannuation - ASC Grade 7
• Ongoing Full Time

Applications close at 11:30pm AEST 2 December 2026(late applications will not be accepted).

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 HP Innovation and Science team is a specialised multidisciplinary team of sport science practitioners delivering targeted performance support across the AIS Canberra campus and Australia’s high performance network. We combine expertise in exercise physiology, recovery, environment, sleep, travel and biomechanics with the AIS’s specialist facilities to develop practical solutions that help national sporting organisations optimise performance outcomes.

The team also manages and assures the quality of relevant AIS High Performance Centre facilities and supports the REST Hub’s national programs, providing advice and leading-practice support to athletes and practitioners. Joining the team offers the opportunity to work collaboratively with leading experts, use unique facilities and translate sport science into innovative solutions that benefit athletes and strengthen the broader high performance system.

About the role –

As Director, HP Innovation & Science, you will lead a highly specialised, multidisciplinary team that turns sport science, technology and emerging ideas into practical performance advantages for Australian athletes. You will shape innovative programs across physiology, biomechanics, recovery, sleep and environmental performance, while maximising the AIS campus’s unique facilities and expertise.

Working with sports, researchers and high-performance partners, you will identify emerging opportunities, translate complex insights into practical solutions and help build Australia’s competitive advantage through to Brisbane 2032 and beyond. You will join a collaborative, future-focused culture that values curiosity, shared expertise and measurable impact. As an inclusive and inspiring leader, you will empower your team to challenge convention, grow their capability and deliver world-leading support across Australia’s high-performance system.

About you –

You are an accomplished and collaborative sport science leader who can translate complex evidence into practical performance solutions. You will bring:

• A PhD in Sport Science, or an equivalent qualification, relevant to physiology, biomechanics or a related discipline.
• World-leading expertise and knowledge, supported by strong international high performance and domestic professional sport networks.
• A demonstrated track record of innovation in high performance environments.
• Senior-level experience successfully leading multidisciplinary teams.
• A strong understanding of high performance sport or a comparable high performance setting.
• The ability to diagnose complex performance challenges and plan and deliver integrated, multidisciplinary solutions.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to explain complex scientific concepts clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
• The capacity to provide timely, concise and compelling advice to executives and senior leaders.
• High-level experience in financial management, risk management, business planning and strategy development.

This position is offered as an ONGOING role.

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.

Contact

• Contact Officer: Robert Medlicott, GM, HP Innovation & Leading Practice
• Phone number: 02 6214 7***
• Email address: ***************@ausport.gov.au

Eligibility

To be eligible for this position applicants are required to be Australian citizens only and must be able to obtain and maintain an AGSVA Security Clearance.
As part of the Commonwealth Child Safety Framework the ASC is committed to being a Child Safe Organisation and leading the way in Child Safety across the sports sector. This position requires a Working with Vulnerable/Children People check to obtain employment.

Notes

• The ASC is committed to protecting children from harm. We require all applicants that will work with children to undergo screening processes prior to appointment.
• Should a merit pool be established for this position, it may be used to fill ongoing or fixed term opportunities as they arise within 18 months from the date advertised.
• The ASC operates under the Australian Sports Commission Act 1989 and is separate to the Public Service Act 1999. The ASC accepts most leave liability and recognition of prior service if you are currently employed at a Commonwealth agency.
• If you are experiencing issues or have any questions with the e-recruitment system, please contact the People & Culture Hub via email ******@ausport.gov.au or phone [phone]***.

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.