Senior Performance Sport Manager

Durham University; North East; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Durham University invites applications for the Senior Performance Sport Manager to lead the Performance Sport Programme, work with the Head of Sport, and drive partnerships with national bodies, clubs and community groups.

The role offers the opportunity to shape a top-tier university sport programme, lead coaches and staff, and contribute to Team Durham's strategic direction within a supportive, inclusive environment.

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level (or equivalent experience).
• Experience in performance sport environments, preferably in higher education.
• Professional practitioner with specialist knowledge to influence delivery of performance sport services.
• Experience providing specialist advice and guidance to stakeholders, including more senior colleagues.
• Experience participating in internal or external networks to share good practice and influence the University’s strategy for performance sport.
• Experience implementing policies and procedures supporting service improvements.
• Track record of management and development experience across teams.

Responsibilities

• Oversee delivery of the Performance Sport Programme.
• Develop partnerships with external stakeholders including national governing bodies and professional clubs.
• Provide line management for Head coaches and other delivery staff.
• Support leadership of the Team Durham programme.

Skills

Communication skills

Education

Degree or equivalent experience

Job description

We welcome applications from candidates with disabilities, neurodiversity and long-term health conditions, and we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process.

We will make adjustments to support the recruitment and interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, adjustments will be made to support people within their role.

If you are unable to complete your application via our recruitment system or would like to discuss any reasonable adjustments to support you in the application process, please get in touch with us on [e-mail]

Senior Performance Sport Manager (26001327)

Open-Ended/Permanent - Full Time

Closing Date

01-Nov-2026, 11:59:00 PM

Disclosure and Barring Service Requirement : Not Applicable.

At Durham University we are proud of our people. A globally outstanding centre of educational excellence, a collegiate community of extraordinary people, a unique and historic setting – Durham is a university like no other. We believe that inspiring our people to do outstanding things at Durham enables Durham people to do outstanding things professionally and personally. Across the University we have a huge variety of roles and career opportunities, which together make us a large and successful community, which is a key hub of activity within our region and nationally.

We would be thrilled if you would consider joining our thriving University. Further information about the University can be found here .

Find out more about the benefits of working at the University and what it is like to live and work in the Durham area on our Why Join Us? - Information Page .

The Role and the Department

The Student Experience Directorate is striving to play a pivotal role in developing, delivering and transforming a Wider Student Experience that is as impactful as anything in the world. We remain steadfast in our core commitment to accelerating the growth of far-reaching and market leading programmes across performance, participation, community outreach and engagement, whilst fostering a culture that safeguards academic excellence. We are guided by the belief that an investment in the Wider Student Experience is ultimately an investment in the quality of graduates that the University produces and are motivated by the opportunity to engage and inspire the next generation of talent. In doing so, we feel confident that we are making a positive contribution to the development of rounded, global citizens.

Sport

Durham University is one of Europe’s leading sport universities and has been ranked in the top three for BUCS performance since 2013. In 2019 the University completed the construction of a £32m Sports & Wellbeing Park, adding to a prior investment, on the same site, of £8m in 2012 making it the sporting facility in the north of England. As a result of the significant work that has been carried out across our performance, participation and community networks the University was awarded the Times and Sunday Times Sports University of the Year for 2023.

Our performance sport programme supports 12 sport clubs and over 50 students who are on professional or international playing pathways each year. Additionally, the programme has won 134 BUCS National Championships since 2009 and supports National League programmes in Football, Hockey and Rugby.

Typical Role Requirements

The Senior Performance Sport Manager will be the strategic lead and oversee delivery of our Performance Sport Programme. Working directly with the Head of Sport, the Senior Performance Sport Manager will seek to develop partnerships which strengthens our performance programme with national and regional national governing bodies, professional sport clubs as well as local community relationships.

Team Durham is seeking a professional who can bring innovation to a changing landscape in Higher Education sport, strong leadership to a dedicated team and strategic thinking which values collaboration and partnerships.

This role itself has key delivery strands in which it will strategically oversee:

• Performance Sport services management
• Scholar recruitment at undergraduate and postgraduate level
• Develop new and maintain existing partnerships with external stakeholders
• Line management for Head coaches and other delivery staff including Strength & Conditioning lead and Recruitment team

This role is ideal for an experienced professional wanting to lead one of the UK’s top university performance sport programmes.

The Senior Performance Sport Manager will form part of a Management Team for Sport and will be expected to contribute to the leadership of all areas of the Team Durham programme.

Further information about the role and the responsibilities is at the bottom of this job description.

Working at Durham

A competitive salary is only one part of the many fantastic benefits you will receive if you join the University:

• You’ll receive 30 days annual leave per year in addition to 8 public holidays and 4 customary days per year – a total of 42 days per year. The University closes between Christmas and New Year.
• We offer a generous pension scheme, and as a new member of staff you will be automatically enrolled into the University Superannuation Scheme (USS).
• No matter how you travel to work, we have you covered. We have ample parking across campus, a cycle to work scheme which helps you to buy a bike and discount with local bus and train companies. You can also take advantage of our cost-effective and environmentally friendly Tusker Car Benefit Scheme, allowing you to lease a brand-new electric or hybrid vehicle with savings on tax and National Insurance.
• We have a genuine commitment to developing our colleagues professionally and personally. There is a comprehensive range of development courses, apprenticeships and access to qualifications and routes to develop your career in the University. All staff have dedicated annual time to concentrate on their personal development opportunities.
• We provide wide-ranging health and wellbeing support including discounted membership for our state-of-the-art sport and gym facilities and access to a 24-7 Employee Assistance Programme.
• Our on-site nursery is rated Outstanding by Ofsted, and you can access holiday camps for children aged 5-16.
• Our family-friendly policies, including maternity and adoption leave, are among the most generous in the higher education sector (and likely above and beyond many employers).
• We offer all staff the opportunity to take part in volunteering activities to make a difference in the local community.
• You can access exclusive discounts via our benefits portal including money off at supermarkets, high street retailers, IT products such as Apple, eating out and days out at various attractions.
• Various salary sacrifice schemes are also available to help you take advantage of tax savings on benefits.
• If you are moving to Durham, you may be eligible for help with removal costs, and we have a dedicated team who can help you with the practicalities such as house hunting and schools. If you need a visa, we cover most visa costs and offer an interest-free loan scheme to pay for dependant visas.
• Discover more about our total rewards and benefits package here .

Durham University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion

Our collective aim is to create an open and inclusive environment where everyone can reach their full potential and we believe our staff should reflect the diversity of the global community in which we work. As a University equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are a key part of the University’s Strategy and a central part of everything we do. We also live by our values and our Staff Code of Conduct. At Durham we actively work towards providing an environment where our staff and students can study, work and live in a community which is supportive and inclusive.

We welcome and encourage applications from members of groups who are under-represented in our work force including people with disabilities, women and black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. If you have taken time out of your career, and you feel it relevant, let us know about it in your application. If you are a candidate with a disability, we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process. We will make adjustments to support the interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, reasonable adjustments will be made to support people within their role.

What you need to demonstrate when you apply/Person Specification

When you apply it is important that you let us know what skills/experience you have from a similar role and/or what skills/experience you have which would make you right for this role. Further information about the role and responsibilities is at the bottom of this job description. Where a criteria has an asterisk* next to it, it may be given additional weighting when your application is considered.

Qualifications/Experience

• 1. Educated to degree level (or equivalent experience).
• 2. A track record of successfully working in performance sport environments with a preference towards higher education sector.
• 3. Professional practitioner with specialist knowledge and proven experience to influence delivery, and services in Performance Sport environments.
• 4. Experience of providing specialist advice and guidance to a range of stakeholders, including more senior colleagues.
• 5. Experience of participating in internal or external networks to share and discuss good practice, develop strong and productive working relationships and positively influence the University’s strategy for performance sport.
• 6. Experience of implementing policies and procedures supporting service improvements.
• 7. Track record of management and development experience or an enhanced management qualification applied across a range of teams.

Skills/Abilities/Knowledge

• 8. Excellent spoken and written communication skills including the ability to develop effective working relationships, both internally and externally
• 9.