Technical Director (Multisport Academy)

Job Title: Technical Director Grassroots & Multi-Sport Development

Reporting To: Head of Academies

Role Overview

The Technical Director Grassroots & Multi-Sport Development will serve as the custodian of the organisations grassroots sporting philosophy and technical standards. This role is responsible for designing and embedding a best-in-class, age-appropriate development framework for children aged 315 years across multiple sports.

The incumbent will provide strategic leadership across curriculum design, youth development pathways, coach education, and program quality assurance, assuring that all grassroots offerings are safe, inclusive, engaging, and developmentally sound. This is a high-impact leadership role requiring the ability to operate seamlessly between long-term strategy, system building, and on-ground execution at scale.

Key Responsibilities

1. Technical Strategy & Curriculum Ownership

• Define, implement, and continuously refine a unified technical philosophy and age-specific curriculum across all grassroots sports programs.
• Design structured long-term development pathways spanning early initiation (U4U8), foundational recreation (U9U12), and pre-competitive preparation.
• Embed a sport-for-all philosophy that prioritises enjoyment, skill acquisition, participation, and long-term retention.
• Ensure rigorous documentation and governance of player development records, program evaluations, and incident reporting.

2. Coach Education, Capability & Standards

• Lead the recruitment, onboarding, training, and performance evaluation of coaching staff and volunteers.
• Design and deliver internal coach education frameworks, workshops, and mentoring systems aligned with organisational philosophy.
• Identify and facilitate external certification and professional development opportunities.
• Ensure full compliance with safeguarding policies, background checks, and safety certifications across the coaching ecosystem.

3. Program Quality & Operational Excellence

• Oversee planning and delivery of training programs, leagues, festivals, and tournaments, maintaining consistent quality standards.
• Implement standardised, data-led player assessment and feedback systems to support development tracking and program improvement.
• Partner with schools, community organisations, and local authorities to expand outreach and participation.
• Drive operational discipline across scheduling, facilities, equipment utilisation, and program execution.

4. Leadership, Governance & Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as the primary technical interface between coaches, parents, operational teams, and senior leadership.
• Present regular performance updates to the Executive Team and Board, covering participation, retention, satisfaction, and program outcomes.
• Own program budgets, ensuring prudent resource allocation and alignment with strategic priorities.
• Serve as a visible leader and role model, reinforcing organisational values on and off the field.

Candidate Profile

Experience & Background

• 1218 years of experience within elite sport systems or large-scale academy operations.
• Design structured pathways covering:

Grassroots / Foundation programs

Development & competitive programs

Advanced/elite identification pathways

• Demonstrated success in curriculum development, coach education, or national/institutional youth sports programs.
• Prior exposure to federations, schools, government bodies, or elite sports institutes strongly preferred.
• Proven ability to build scalable systems without compromising technical integrity or participant experience.

Education & Certifications

• Masters degree in physical education, or a related discipline (or equivalent professional experience).
• Active coaching certifications/licenses relevant to grassroots or youth development (e.g., C/B License, Child/Youth License, or equivalent).
• Deep working knowledge of Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) frameworks.

Technical & Professional Skills

• Strong grasp of youth pedagogy, motor learning, and age-appropriate training methodologies.
• Comfortable using sports technology platforms and data tools (e.g., athlete tracking, evaluation, scheduling systems).
• High proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel and PowerPoint, for reporting and presentations.

Leadership & Personal Attributes

• Strategic, systems-oriented thinker with strong execution discipline.
• Credible leader capable of influencing coaches, parents, and senior stakeholders.
• Excellent communication, mentoring, and conflict-resolution skills.
• Equally effective in boardroom discussions and on-field delivery environments.