Deputy Performance Director - Head Of Performance

British Cycling; Manchester; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Cycle to Work Scheme

Generous Holidays (25 days + bank)

Holiday purchase scheme

Life Assurance

Pension

Job summary

British Cycling is seeking a world-class leader to become Deputy Performance Director – Head of Performance. You will helm the performance strategy for GBCT, aligning coaching, athlete development, data and equipment to medal objectives.

You will manage a ~£38 million investment plan for Olympic/Paralympic success through 2028, leading ~140 riders and directing strategic priorities with senior leaders.

Qualifications

• Significant experience as a high-performance leader contributing to Olympic or Paralympic medal-winning performance.
• A demonstrated ability to develop, execute and review performance strategy with measurable outcomes.
• The ability to analyse elite sport, assess medal competitiveness and allocate resources accordingly.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development, execution and review of GBCT’s performance strategy.
• Oversee coaching, athlete development, athletic performance, data and innovation.
• Set investment priorities within a £38m portfolio toward LA 2028.
• Provide strategic direction in absence of the Performance Director.
• Collaborate with senior stakeholders to drive performance outcomes.
• Lead the Performance Department for ~140 riders across Olympic/Paralympic teams.
• Ensure alignment with GBCT’s overall strategy and Games-first approach.
• Manage stakeholder relationships and influence with external partners.
• Model GBCT principles: excellence, preparation, collaboration, and integrity.

Skills

World-class leadership

Strategic capability

Performance judgement

High-performance expertise

Leadership & influence

Decision-making

Qualifications

Education

Relevant degree or equivalent qualification in sports management/sports science/finance

Job description

Organisation British Cycling Salary Competitive Location Manchester Contract type Permanent (Full time) Closing date 4 November 2026 Job Description About British Cycling

British Cycling exists to bring the joy of cycling to everyone.

We have embarked on an exciting new journey, with a modernised commercial and events offering grounded in social impact and storytelling, harnessing the spotlight and inspiration of our athlete’s performance on the world stage, and our growing portfolio of major events.

We are working towards our three key priorities outlined in our strategy; to support and grow the sport to make cycling more inclusive and accessible, to lead on the world stage by winning and winning well, and to drive social impact by tackling inequalities through providing opportunities.

Great Britain Cycling Team

The Great Britain Cycling Team (GBCT) is the country’s most successful Olympic and Paralympic team in history, with high ambitions to continue this legacy at LA 2028 and beyond.

We are a highly driven and motivated team of skilled and passionate individuals working together to support athletes across seven cycling disciplines, to achieve their full potential and deliver world-beating performances on the biggest stages.

We work hard to support delivery of British Cycling’s vision which includes striving to inspire Britain to be a great cycling nation and sharing the joy of cycling with everyone.

Now is an incredibly exciting year to join the Great Britain Cycling Team, fresh off the back of winning 11 Olympic and 22 Paralympic medals at the most recent Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris, as well as having recently celebrated 20 years of the GBCT pathway.

The Opportunity

We are seeking an exceptional world-class performance leader to become Deputy Performance Director - Head of Performance. Reporting to the Performance Director, you will lead the development, execution and review of GBCT’s Olympic and Paralympic performance strategy, aligning coaching, athlete development, athletic performance, equipment and apparel, data and insight, and performance innovation to annual and quadrennial medal objectives.

You will lead the GBCT Performance Department across approximately 140 Olympic and Paralympic riders and help shape performance investment priorities within an investment portfolio of approximately £38 million to LA 2028. When the Performance Director is unavailable, you will act with formally delegated strategic and performance authority, while escalating matters reserved to the Performance Director or wider organisational governance.

What will you be doing?

• Performance strategy
• Performance leadership
• Performance support
• Athlete pathway
• Evidence and decisions
• Investment priorities
• Funding opportunities
• Stakeholder leadership
• Games and partnerships
• Senior leadership

What we’re looking for:

• World-class performance leadership: Significant experience as a high-performance leader contributing to Olympic or Paralympic medal-winning performance, or equivalent success in professional sport.
• Strategic capability: A demonstrated ability to develop, execute and review performance strategy and translate strategic objectives into measurable performance outcomes.
• Performance judgement: The ability to analyse elite sport, assess medal competitiveness and athlete progression, and recommend the prioritisation of resources against performance need.
• High-performance expertise: A strong understanding of the needs of elite athletes and coaches and the relationships between coaching, performance support, innovation, equipment, data and athlete development.
• Leadership and influence: The credibility to lead specialist teams, build trust with athletes and coaches, communicate complex or sensitive matters, and influence senior internal and external stakeholders.
• Decision-making: The judgement and composure to make evidence-informed decisions where information may be incomplete and organisational, legal or reputational risk may be significant.
• Qualifications: A relevant degree or equivalent qualification or experience in sports management, sports science, finance or a related field.

How you will lead

You will model the GBCT guiding principles: performance focused and Games first; excellently prepared; courageously innovative; working together and sharing responsibility; and taking pride in the jersey. You will combine high standards with curiosity, collaboration, reflection and a commitment to winning in the right way.

What are the perks?

• Competitive Salary
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Generous Holidays (25 days + bank holidays)
• Holiday purchase scheme
• Life Assurance
• Pension

Deputy Performance Director - Head of Performance • Manchester