Head of Sport

Job Specification

Robert Gordon University is an innovative, inclusive and impactful University, with an established track record of success in teaching and research, student satisfaction and graduate employability, set amidst one of the most prosperous and beautiful areas of the country.

We are passionate about the role sport and physical activity plays in providing the best possible student, staff and wider community experience. As Head of Sport, and a senior member of the Student Life team, you will be responsible for the development and implementation of an ambitious vision, ensuring the University provides opportunities which enhance wellbeing, physical activity and University sport at all levels. You will have strategic responsibility for the University's sport facility, RGU SPORT, as well as all (non-academic) sport activities, and programme development for our students, staff and the wider community.

An established and effective leader you will have experience of managing a significant facility and/or sport development programmes. As such, we expect you to have experience of managing high performing teams and financial resources to deliver a commercially successful and customer focussed facility. A relationship builder and influencer, you will develop internal/external links and embrace opportunities to forge new partnerships for the benefit of the whole University sport community.

In keeping with RGU's commitment to work/life balance you will have the opportunity to work from home for a portion of the working week and also benefit from a generous pension scheme, 46 days annual leave (including statutory days) an onsite nursery and sports centre, as well as a range of voluntary health and travel benefits.

RGU's ultra-modern campus, located on the outskirts of the vibrant and prosperous city of Aberdeen, offers a superb place to live, work and develop your career. A relocation package is available to assist with your transition to RGU, where you’ll enjoy working in one of the most impressive university settings in the UK, with first-class educational infrastructure and outstanding sporting and leisure facilities, all set against a stunning rural backdrop on the banks of the river Dee. More information can be found in our Relocation Policy

This post is subject to the individual being required to join the PVG scheme. For more information, visit: https://www.mygov.scot/pvg-scheme/

For an informal discussion about the post, please contact Filippo Antoniazzi f.antoniazzi@rgu.ac.uk

When submitting your CV, please include a cover letter (no more than 2 sides of A4) which details:

• An overview of your current situation

• Your motivation for applying for this role

• Your experience of facility and people management

• Your experience of sports development

• Financial management experience

The current salary range is £64,946 to £66,890, rising to £66,857 - £68,857 from 1st August 2023.

Job Description

RESPONSIBLE TO: Director of Student Life

RESPONSIBLE FOR: Operations Development Manager, Programme Development Manager, Administrative Assistant

PURPOSE OF POST: To lead the strategic development and operational management of the sport and physical activity services at the University, which includes programmes and facilities, and ensure that these services are high quality, customer focussed and commercially successful.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES:

1. Lead the strategic development of the non academic sport and physical activity services at the University, ensuring services deliver against University wide strategy.

2. Strategically lead the operations of the University’s sport facilities as well as the development and planning of future facility development and investment needs.

3. Be an effective and visible leader of the RGU SPORT staff team, who embodies the University’s values in all that they do and encourages others to do the same.

4. Provide excellent line management, including mentoring,& coaching, to the RGU SPORT management team, empowering and motivating all to deliver against objectives whilst promoting a culture of continuous performance improvement as well as promoting equality & inclusion.

5. Provide effective leadership which ensure that RGU SPORT continues to deliver an excellent customer focussed facilities and services to the communities it serves.

6. Be responsible for the departmental budget which includes preparation of annual budget, quarterly forecasts, maintenance of appropriate records to ensure audit trail in line with University procurement and financial procedures, implement robust controls to ensure membership, usage and programme targets are met, if and when required implement cost control measures in specific areas.

7. Ensure and manage compliance of health and safety standards and statutory requirements.

8. Provide strategic leadership of RGU Sports Clubs in partnership with RGU Union to continue to deliver an excellent club sport offering, which includes achieving agreed performance targets and objectives in SSS and BUCS competition as well as ensuring providing opportunities to engage the wider student body in social sport and physical activity.

9. Work in partnership with academic schools to maximise the relationship between sport development, teaching and research­­.

10. Liaise and partner with a range of external organisations to ensure the university’s integration of RGU SPORT and the programmes it delivers with external organisations such as local authorities, sports clubs, other HE/FE institutions and Sporting Governing Bodies.

11. Identify, establish and manage local and national sporting community partnerships that deliver shared business objectives and enhance sport and physical activity provision across the region and nationally.

12. Work as part of the wider Student Life management team to strategically develop, implement and appraise student life services with the goal of enhancing the student experience of all RGU students.

 

13. Build effective working relationships with staff across the University and external organisations as well as represent the University’s interests in a range of internal and external forums.

 

Person Specification

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

Qualifications and Professional Memberships

- Degree or equivalent in relevant subject; significant relevant experience may be considered as an alternative.

Knowledge

- A detailed understanding of the governance of sport, it’s structures and institutions at a local and national level.

- Knowledge of Health and Safety legislation relevant to sport & physical activity and facility management e.g COSHH, risk assessment, manual handling, Health and Safety at work act 1974.

- Sound knowledge of the role of sport and physical activity ; including but not limited to the provision of high quality facilities, and the positive impact on physical, social and mental health, academic performance, attainment, retention and employability.

- A detailed understanding of core management practices and policies as well as an awareness and understanding of equality, diversity and inclusion legislation and best practice.

Experience

- Experience in leading, or involvement at a senior level, significant facility and/or sport development programmes.

- Experience of budget management including preparation, management and implementation of control measures.

- Experience of sport facility management.

- Experience of leading and managing high performing staff teams within a similar sport & exercise environment to ensure the delivery of excellent, high quality, customer focussed services. This includes responsibility for line management and staff development.

- Experience of working with, negotiating with and influencing those in a senior position and or to collaborate on joint ventures.

- Experience of successful project management.

- Experience of developing commercially successful, innovative services and programmes, which includes production of high-level business plans and proposals linked to strategy.

- Experience of using appropriate IT solutions, including Leisure Management Systems, to access business data and analyse accordingly to ensure data driven decisions making.

- Experience of developing clear and insightful report and proposals to a range of stakeholders by utilising exceptional written and verbal communication skills.

- Experience of representing an organisation externally with credibility and of establishing exception working relationships to achieve results.

- Experience of utilising excellent interpersonal, negotiation, influencing and communication skills to build effective professional relationships and work collaboratively across an organisation.

DESIRABLE REQUIREMENTS

Qualifications and Professional Memberships

- Relevant health and safety qualification e.g IOSH managing safely

- Relevant health and fitness professional memberships e.g. CIMSPA senior manager member

- Relevant health and fitness industry qualifications - Recognised First Aid qualification e.g. First aid at work, Sports First Aid.

Knowledge 

-Knowledge and understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the HE sector and how these benefit/impact Sport.

-Knowledge of sport and physical activity trends.

Experience

-Demonstrable track record of leading and managing a large and complex sports organisation at a senior level.

-Evidence of individual Continuing Professional Development.

-Experience of delivering sport and exercise e.g sport and exercise coaching, officiating, volunteering or fitness instructing.

-Experience of strategic management skills including strategy development and implementation, policy development, change management and continuous improvement.

Behaviours

Behaviours

Team Development - Experience of providing advice or guidance to new starts, delivering training or instruction to others on specific tasks or activities and identifying the training and development needs of the team and carrying out performance appraisals 

Planning and Organising Resources - Experience of being responsible for the operational planning and organisation of large projects or the coordination of a number of teams or projects, including setting performance standards and monitoring procedures 

Communication - Ability to receive, understand and convey information requiring careful explanation and information of a complex or conceptual nature, in a clear and accurate manner

Service Delivery - Experience of exploring and adapting a service to meet customers’ expectations and also identifying ways of improving standards 

Team Work and Motivation - Experience of being an overall team leader for one or several sections, setting the goals, and directing to effectively meet team objectives.

Decision Making - Experience of using own judgement to make decisions, making collaborative decisions with others to reach conclusions and providing advice or information that will influence the decisions of others