Head of Sports Talent Pathways

Role Objectives:· To create a talent identification system for Olympic sport that contributes to establishing a world-leading performance pathway across India, and to organise it in such a way that it ensures clarity alongside simplicity of application.· We shall be the elite athlete development and support programme of choice for all Indian athletes aspiring to win Olympic Gold medals within the sports that the IIS supports.· Create partnerships with focused Junior and Cadet supported academies that use informed training syllabuses related to Improving your Probabilities of success (IPOS) in the athlete’s chosen sport.Key Role Responsibilities:Pathway Strategy and Leadership· Design and execute a comprehensive IIS talent pathway from talent identification, talent confirmation, talent transfer through to talent recruitment.· Collaborate with the JSW/IIS marketing teams to create clear marketing campaigns and social media publicity around the IIS opportunities and how to sign up for consideration/trials etc.· Actively engage in long-term strategic planning and review processes with the senior leadership team and head coaches.Talent Identification and Development· Coordinate and deliver annual talent identification programs, including multi-stage testing and profiling.· Develop sport-specific benchmarking and profiling systems in collaboration with sports scientists and national/international benchmarks performance standards.· Drive new initiatives such as talent transfer and special scouting projects to fill critical talent gaps i.e. female heavyweight athletes in combat sports or judo to wrestling.· Implement Teamwork’s Athlete Recruitment Management Systems (ARMS) to ensure a comprehensive talent database is maintained within all IIS’s chosen sports.Program Design and Delivery· Oversee annual planning, marketing and scheduling of creative talent identification campaigns which create pathways across all IIS sports.· Ensure every athlete is supported throughout any talent recruitment campaign, and all communication is simple and clear to understand.· Establish through modern video mediums and publish on a frequent basis a ‘How to’ participate in IIS talent identification and recruitment campaigns.· Create a clear modern graphical IIS prospectus which outlines the offer to each athlete who we are looking to recruit to the program or to take part in a talent recruitment day.· Create a payment and reward system for athletes which attracts the best talent to the IIS but enables an elevation of the importance to prioritise an Olympic Medal winning athletes over the Indian National title. National titles targeted/prioritised towards the final years of an athlete’s career.Staff and Stakeholder Management· Lead the pathways team to build and develop relationships with key stakeholders, club coaches, parents, national federations and any required stakeholders.· Ensure the departments performance is annually assessed against the departments Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s)Data, Review & Insights· Track and monitor athlete talent using real-time performance analytics, benchmarking tools, and regular reviews.· Lead pathway reviews and work to elevate the club structure with annual CPD opportunities for club coaches who maintain a positive relationship with the IIS.· Use national and international performance trends to inform talent recruitment strategies, selection, and long-term investmentsEducation and Welfare Integration· Collaborate with IIS educational pathways team for athlete welfare, and dual career programs (with a particular focus on the JSW recruitment network) to ensure they are embedded within talent development structures.· Facilitate induction, transition, and exit processes for athletes entering and exiting the pathway.Compliance and Reporting· Ensure compliance with institutional, national, and international regulatory frameworks including anti-doping, safeguarding, and any donor requirements.· Prepare program reports, athlete summaries, and budget justifications as required.Person Specification:Essential:• Proven leadership within talent development and personal recruitment with a High-Performance business.• 5–8 years’ experience in high performance sport (preferably multi-sport or Olympic disciplines).• Deep understanding of athlete/people development science, systems, and the transition needs from a developmental level to elite performance.• Exceptional formal and informal communicator and administrator with an extensive understanding of stakeholder management, and program management skills.• Experience managing budgets, staff, and complex event logistics.• Structured formalized system building experience.Desirable:• Coaching qualifications in a relevant sport.• Understanding of India’s high-performance sports ecosystem.• Previous involvement with national/international federations.• Knowledge of long-term athlete development models and international medal trajectory planning.• Experience with athlete management systems, data platforms, and performance tracking tools.• Flexibility to travel and work weekends/irregular hours.• Ability to travel domestically.

Apply Now