Performance & Pathways Director

Role Type: Non-Executive Director

Term of Office: 3 Years (Maximum of 9 Years/3 Terms, see below)

Committees: Board of Directors (member), Performance Group (Chair) and Sports Development Group (Member)

The Performance & Pathways Director role provides an exciting opportunity to work with a governing body with a relatively new but well managed performance programme with both Commonwealth, Olympic and Paralympic involvement. STS are looking for a director to provide strategic input to the programme and support our athlete centred approach and partnership work with British Shooting. This is the perfect time to get involved with the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics not far away. It is not crucial that applicants have prior knowledge of target shooting, but expertise in performance sport and systems, combined with a willingness to throw yourself into this brilliant sport are important.

Who Are Scottish Target Shooting?

Scottish Target Shooting (STS) is a unified governing body created in 2016 to help develop the sport of target shooting in Scotland. In 2018, after the Commonwealth Games in Australia’s Gold Coast, where shooting won 6 medals for Scotland, the performance programme was transferred from the Scottish Institute of Sport to STS. Since then we have a continued to develop excellence the sport with Scotland contributing athletes to British Shooting’s programmes supporting athletes to win medals at World Cups, World Championship, Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. This role helps to ensure the programme is doing all it can to support athlete welfare and provide the best performance environment so athletes across all disciplines have the best chance to achieve success. We are looking for an individual with experience in performance sport to check and challenge our thinking and processes and bring experience and expertise from performance environments in other sports. With shooting involved at both Commonwealth and Olympic level, and with Scottish athletes performing so well on the world stage, this is a great opportunity for someone passionate about performance sport.

What Will Be My Tasks and Responsibilities?

The Performance & Pathways Director will provide strategic leadership over the development of the company’s performance programme and pathways. You will be asked to drive the following areas, supported by your fellow directors on the Board and staff:

Oversee a performance pathway enabling shooters to maximise their performance potential
Working with the STS Performance & Pathways Manager to set the agenda, chair, facilitate and plan the annual cycle of the Performance Group meetings
Support staff in bringing people of all ages and abilities into the sport and retaining them
Work with the Coaching & Officials Director to ensure strategic aspirations for coaching, participation and performance align across all disciplines
Support the STS Performance & Pathways Manager in managing the relationship with sportscotland’s Institute of Sport
Support the STS Performance & Pathways Manager in setting and monitoring clear and consistent criteria, goals and objectives for athletes on STS programmes
Understand the views of the membership directly and through fellow directors and staff
Complete any additional projects as requested by the Chair

How Long Will I Be Expected To Serve For?

The Performance & Pathways Director follows the same terms as all directors, with the exception of the Chair. The Performance & Pathways Director will serve for 3 years (or until the AGM in 2026, whichever is sooner). Following completion of the first term, there will be an opportunity to discuss whether the post holder and Board both have a desire to continue for a further term of 3 years. If the second term is completed, this process will be repeated and there will be an opportunity, both parties agreeing, for the post holder to serve a third (and final) 3 year term. Upon completion of a third term, the post holder must step down from the Board. On standing down from the role, the individual is not eligible for appointment to a Board position for a minimum period of 12 months but is still able to serve on Working Groups, if appropriate and willing to do so.

What Will Be My Annual Commitments?

The following meetings are the regular, scheduled meetings that can be planned in the diary in advance. There will be times when other meetings are required but the volunteer aspect of the role will always be respected:

4-6 STS Board meetings held for 2-3 hours every 2 months
2-3 Performance Group meetings held for 2 hours every 6 months
2-3 STS Sports Development Group meetings held for 2 hours every 3-4 months
STS AGM held on a weekend day in April

Is This A Paid Position?

This position, as with all other Non-Executive Directors on the STS Board, is unpaid. However, all reasonable out-of-pocket expense incurred on STS business will be reimbursed immediately via BACS.

What Is The Organisational Structure?

The Performance & Pathways Director is an Officer of the Board and a Non-Executive Director, appointed in accordance with the Articles of Association. The Performance & Pathways Director is also a member of the Sports Development Group and will Chair the Performance & Pathways Group that leads the review of the programme and athlete selection every 6 months.

What Knowledge, Skills & Qualities Are Required?

Applicants are not expected to fulfil all the criteria but should be able to demonstrate the majority of the following:

Knowledge & Experience:

Some experience in development pathways and working in performance development in a sporting context
Experience of performance sport and working with performance athletes

Skills:

Ability to set clear, transparent and consistent programme criteria
Experience in managing a team to work together to achieve performance targets
Good communication and partnership management skills
Good at identifying and applying for external funds to support programmes

Personal Qualities:

Uphold high standards of integrity
Support other Directors in their leadership of STS while monitoring their own conduct
Question intelligently, debate constructively, challenge rigorously and decide dispassionately
Listen sensitively to the views of others

What Is The Application Process?

Applicants are required to submit a Curriculum Vitae and a covering letter outlining why they think they would be suitable for this role, what their strengths are and any future aspirations they might have for STS.

Applications must be submitted using our Online Application Form

or

Email coo@scottishtargetshooting.co.uk **with subject ‘STS Performance & Pathways Director Application’**

By the deadline of 23:45 on 31st May

Stage 1: All applicants will receive a response confirming receipt of their application. A review will be made of all applications and each applicant will be informed if they have been chosen for stage 2.

Stage 2: Applicant selected for stage 2 will be invited for an interview with a panel appointed by STS. This panel will likely include independent individuals to help support and inform the recruitment process. All candidates will then be contacted to be told if they have been successful or not within 2 weeks of the interview. The successful candidate will begin at an agreed date and will receive a handover from the outgoing Chair, as well as induction meetings with STS staff.

I Have Questions About The Role, Who Can I Contact?

If you have any questions about the role, performance structure of the sport or anything else that will help inform your decision to apply, please speak to the STS Chief Operating Officer. Please call the STS Office on 0131 467 2489, email on coo@scottishtargetshooting.co.uk or schedule a call by following: https://calendly.com/stscoo/call