Director of Sport

Loughborough University; Loughborough; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Join an established university as the Director of Sport, leading a championship-winning team in a unique multi-sport environment. This role offers the chance to shape the future of sports at all levels, from high-performance training to inclusive community programs. You will provide strategic leadership, engage with key stakeholders, and drive commercial success while fostering an equitable and inclusive culture. If you have a passion for sports and a proven track record in performance management, this is an exciting opportunity to make a significant impact in the world of university sports.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Family-friendly policies

Support for work-life balance

Qualifications

• Proven track record in leading performance sport and driving commercial opportunities.
• Experience in supporting students and engaging with stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead the championship winning Loughborough Sport team and oversee sport operations.
• Drive national and global success in performance sport and student-athlete recruitment.

Skills

Leadership in performance sport

Strategic thinking

Collaboration

Coaching

Commercial sport revenues

Education

Experience in higher education

Knowledge of university sport

Job description

The job requirements are detailed below. Where applicable the skills, qualifications and memberships required for this job have also been included.

The University is dedicated to supporting an equitable, diverse, and inclusive environment – to create better futures, together. The diverse backgrounds, characteristics and opinions within our community are our great strength and are key to our pursuit of delivering educational excellence, enterprise, research and professional services. We welcome applications from people from diverse backgrounds and minoritized groups as they are currently under-represented within our community.

We recognise the value of a fulfilling and balanced work and personal life which promotes wellbeing. We seek to support colleagues in achieving this balance and have family-friendly policies, flexible working arrangements and many roles can be suitable for dynamic working arrangement. This includes considering applications to work on a part-time, flexible and job share basis wherever possible.

Loughborough University is a UKVI Sponsor. Some individuals may require sponsorship to enable them to apply for a visa to provide them with the right to work in the UK. Please note certain roles are not eligible for sponsorship. For further information and eligibility please visit the UKVI website.

Job details

Job title: Director of Sport
Job reference: REQ250042
Date posted: 28/01/2025
Application closing date: 16/02/2025
Location: Loughborough
Package: Management and Specialist grade 9. Starting salary to be confirmed upon appointment.

Loughborough University is looking for an outstanding individual to lead our championship winning Loughborough Sport team in our unique multi-sport eco-system. This diverse role includes responsibility for our performance sport (including our Loughborough Lightning Franchises), providing an outstanding student experience, overseeing our sport operations and generating commercial revenues for sport at the university. We present an unrivalled opportunity for the advancement of sport at all levels, from our high-performance training centres, inclusive para and disability sport programmes, and recreational community offers - embedding a winning and successful sports mindset.

The successful postholder will take a central role in working with our key stakeholders to drive continued national and global success, inspired by the incomparable Loughborough spirit. By providing strategic and operational leadership for the University’s performance sport and operation of sport, Loughborough Sport is critically important to delivering the University’s Sporting Excellence and Opportunity core business objectives as defined by our institutional strategy.

You will engage directly with the Pro Vice-Chancellor for Sport and senior leadership team, and report to the Chief Operating Officer. As an experienced sport professional, your strategic leadership will deliver measurable success in supporting our world-class ecosystem and partners, continued success in the British University Championships, student-athlete recruitment, driving new business and commercial opportunities, delivering on our professional Loughborough Lightning franchises.

With experience of leading performance sport and at least one of the following additional areas: professional sport or Olympic Sport, university sport, interdisciplinary working, sports science, coaching, or commercial sport revenues. You will encourage and empower the individuals and teams you lead to think strategically, work creatively and collaboratively, and build a supportive, equitable and inclusive workplace culture.

A successful, proven track record in delivering results in the world of sport, and experience of supporting students is highly desirable, but candidates without prior higher education experience, who demonstrate knowledge and affinity for university sport and an awareness of the higher education environment, are encouraged to apply.

We can’t wait to meet you.

Informal enquiries should be made in the first instance to Megan Cox, [e-mail], Recruitment and Resourcing Manager.

Application and Interview

• The closing date for applications is midnight on Sunday 16 February 2025.

• Shortlisting will take place week commencing 17 February, and interviews will be held on Tuesday 11 March 2025.