JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title: Performance Director
Location: Stirling, Scotland
Department/Team: High Performance
Last Reviewed: March 2014
DEPARTMENT/TEAM DESCRIPTION
The World Class Curling Programme has been created through a partnership between British Curling, UK Sport,
sportscotland and the Royal Caledonian Curling Club. Over the last four years it has been managed as an
integrated British and Scottish Performance Programme and has been extremely successful on the world stage.
Notable achievements by athletes in the programme during the last four years have been:
 2014: Sochi Winter Olympics: Men’s Silver and Women’s Bronze
 2014: Paralympic Bronze
 2013/14: Womens European Silver, Men’s European Bronze, World Uni Men’s Silver
 2012/13: Women’s World Gold, Mens World Bronze, Women’s European Silver
 2011/12: World Men’s Silver
 2010/11: World Men’s Silver, World Wheelchair Silver
There are ambitious plans in place for the next Olympic/Paralympic quadrennial with commitment from the
partners indicating continued investment that will build on the recent success to create a world class sporting
system.
The programme is based at the sportscotland Institute of Sport in Stirling, Scotland and draws upon the excellent
training and competition facilities in Stirling and Scotland. International teams regularly compete throughout the
world.
JOB PURPOSE
To direct and lead the strategic delivery of the World Class Performance Programme for Curling as agreed by the
major investors and partners; British Curling, UK Sport, sportscotland institute of sport and Royal Caledonian
Curling Club with the aim of achieving medal targets as identified in the new World Class Performance plans for
Curling in Scotland and the UK.
RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
Management responsibility for up to 6 direct reports, with total staff of up to 15 persons
Reports to: The postholder reports to the Director of High Performance & SIS and the COO of British Curling.
The postholder will also be expected to report to both the British Curling Board and the Royal Caledonian Curling
Club Board on a regular basis.
Budgetary Responsibility: The budget responsibility for this programme is approximately £7m over a four year
period.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic Management & Leadership

Provide both strategic and operational leadership to World Class Performance Curling Programme. The
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major priority of this programme is to direct personnel who will lead and strive to deliver medal winning
performances of athletes on Olympic, Paralympic, World and European teams.

Manage the delivery of programmes for GB teams to events such as the European Youth Olympics, Youth
Olympic Games and World University Games.

Be responsible for the performance of the athletes in the World Class Performance Curling Programme.

Overall responsibility for the processes and selection/de-selection of athletes into the World Class
Performance Curling Programme and the nomination of athletes to the BOA / BPA for representation at
Olympics/Paralympics.

Oversee the development of training & competition programmes for the continuous development of high
performance players in Scotland and high performance players outside Scotland qualified to play for GB.

Be responsible for all CPD of the Performance programme staff and advise on development initiatives and
training across the whole sport.

Direct an improved strategy for domestic competition ensuring GB has a world class events circuit held on
world class competition ice.
Operational Management

Lead on a programme of integrated support for the Scottish and British Curling teams and individual players
within the teams.

Overseethe training and competition programs for all Performance Programme athletes.

Regularly liaise with and monitor eligibleBritishplayers out with Scotland.

Ensure the development and implementation of the necessary sports science and sports
programs to support the high performance training and competition programs.

Continually develop, update and monitor performance criteria against which the programme and players will
be evaluated, establishing and agreeing personal player performance indicators which are to be evaluated on
a regular basis.

Report on the development of the programme and players to the Curling High Performance Group, the British
Curling board and the board of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club.

Lead the work of the High Performance Curling Group

Be responsible for exploring and searching new innovative and cutting-edge practices, which fall under the
areas of coaching interventions, tactical approaches and technical innovations.

Ensure all matters relating to Athlete Personal Awards are effectively and efficiently managed

To liaise with, inform and communicate with a range of key stakeholders at sportscotland, UK Sport, British
Curling and the Royal Caledonian Curling Club and where appropriate the Home Country Sports Council.

To liaise and communicate with the BOA/BPA on specific Olympic and Paralympic matters.

Undertake effective and regular communication with sportscotland on programme developments, athlete
support funding, facility and other requirements.
Financial Management

Manage the investment from partners, expected to be in the region of £7m for 2014-18.
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medicine

Be responsible for the effective utilisation of all resources allocated to the Curling Programme.

Report to sportscotland’s Director of High Performance and other partners on the finances on a regular
basis.
MAIN JOB REQUIREMENTS
Education:

A relevant undergraduate degree (or equivalent learning).
Specific Experience (Required)

Demonstrable high performance sport experience and a record of success as a performance specialist.

Demonstrable understanding of world class performance sport and the requirements for international
success, having worked as a successful PD/ Head Coach with international standard athletes and a proven
record of team success.

Proven experience leading and implementing successful programmes.

Experience in the world class development of athletes and teams including; auditing of strengths and
weaknesses, producing personal development plans, monitoring performance, producing feedback and
reporting effectively.

An understanding of the challenges of the Scottish/British sporting environment and a commitment to
affecting positive change and challenging the status quo where required.

Significant experience of managing people, teams and budgets.
JOB CLASSIFICATION FACTORS
1.
Knowledge and Specialist Skills – (a) Knowledge and Experience

Proven track record in developing individual athletes including; auditing of strengths and weaknesses,
producing personal development plans, monitoring performance, producing feedback and reporting
effectively.

Significant experience of managing budgets and financial resources.

A sound understanding of performance issues that may have an impact on the Curling performance
programme.

Proven knowledge of managing demands, pressure and the needs of elite athletes and coaches.

Proven leadership and decision making skills, excellent interpersonal and communication skills, sound
organisational and planning skills, which are complemented by attention to detail.
Knowledge and Specialist Skills - (b) Level of Applied Expertise

Proven understanding on the key technical issues within a High Performance programme such as Curling
– systems, people, processes and the ability to apply this knowledge effectively and build a coaching team
with recognised international level knowledge and skills.
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
Seen as the sportscotland leader in this area (which represents a key sport in terms of achievement
potential), referred to by senior management and senior contacts with partners such as British Curling and
the Royal Caledonian Curling Club.
2.
Resource Management

Direct line management responsibility for up to 6 direct reports. This includes overall responsibility for any
coaching or technical staff appointed to the Curling Performance programme.

Responsible for overseeing the whole Curling Performance Programme budget spend on projects,
equipment and subsistence/travel. Responsibility for ensuring that best value and service performance is
obtained from relevant suppliers of goods/services to the programme.

Overall responsibility for the safety, welfare, development and coaching of all curling athletes on the
programme.
3.
Complexity- (a) Problem Solving

Ensuring effective and efficient reporting to relevant stakeholders and investors.

Provide best quality assessment of their strengths and weaknesses and lead the strategy how to beat all
international competitors at the highest level and at major events.

Continue to build and develop an overall programme in this sport taking cognisance of the British Curling
Strategy. Performance Plan and Review of the 2010-14 cycle (pending).
Complexity - (b) Creativity/Innovation

Where appropriate, should encourage creativity and innovation within coaching team – what new ideas will
give competitive edge.
4.
Delivering Results – (a) Strategic Responsibility

Role has strategic responsibility for delivering medals from major curling events in a sport where
GB/Scotland has proven track record (part of key UK Sport/sportscotland/SIS objectives).

Will be constantly looking and planning ahead to all major targeted events, such as Olympics/Paralympics
2018 and 2022,major championships at World and European level and all EYOF, Junior, WUG
championships.
Delivering Results - (b) Decision Making

Has full autonomy to run own team/area and the development of Curling programme – makes key decisions
that impact medal chances such as coach and team selection and overall tactics.

Wider decisions are around processing/analysing data and evidence generally – performance of own team,
opposition etc, looking to maximise performance gains.

Will listen to advice from specialist team and any issues that majorly impact programmes must be referred to
the Director of High Performance plus senior figures at partner level.
5.
Networks and Relationships– (a) Networking/Communication

The jobholder interacts mainly across the Curling teams, explaining desired outcomes, influencing
behaviours towards improved performance.
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
Will also work with senior discipline professionals and High Performance team members. Most interaction is
around information exchange/reporting, checking for consistency of approach and seeking specialist
advice/use of resources – needs to persuade in this area.

Additionally the jobholder is responsible to numerous partner organisations - British Curling, the Royal
Caledonian Curling Club and UK Sport at CEO/senior coach/management level, discussing and reviewing
practice/results.

Offers expert solutions to address anychanges in behaviours and performance of athletes and staff.

Contribute to the wider development of performance Curling internationally via the World Curling Federation
and particularly in coaching, competitions and athlete development.
Networks and Relationships – (b) Team Working

Full responsibility for leading, building and developing own coaching teams, sharing duties and resources as
possible towards common objectives.

Works as an expert contributor to other informal coaching teams, including those made up from partners.

Must provide direction in building a culture of support to the sport of curling both internally and externally.
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