Job Pack Director of Paddlesport December 2020 Welcome Letter

Dear Candidate,

Thank you for your interest in the position of We are looking for an ambitious and Director of Paddlesport. This is a new senior experienced leader. The successful candidate role, created to provide strategic leadership will need to share our values and will almost for the development of our Olympic, certainly have a distinguished track record Paralympic and non Olympic disciplines within performance sports management. within British Canoeing. We are already You will come to us with genuine passion successful on the international stage in many for performance sport, exceptional strategic of our paddlesport disciplines, but we want to planning and management skills and a proven build on this strength and become even more ability to drive a vision, deliver against goals, successful in the future. build successful teams and to successfully manage stakeholder relationships at a senior The organisation has been through a positive level. transformation since 2016. We are enjoying a period of growth and are on track to deliver If you are excited by this opportunity and have many of the ambitious goals that we set the ambition to help us to achieve success, within our strategic plan Stronger Together we would be delighted to hear from you. 2017-2021. British Canoeing has UK wide and English responsibilities and our wide ranging ambitions reflect the very diverse interests of our members and the breadth of our work.

The Director of Paddlesport will report to our CEO David Joy, and assume some of the responsibilities that he has been carrying out over the last four years. Professor John Coyne CBE Chair, British Canoeing

2 Our Organisation

British Canoeing is a membership organisation There are 384 clubs spread throughout England and a company limited by guarantee. The Board is with around 30,000 active club members. accountable to the members for the management Over 12,000 coaches are registered with of the organisation. The Board consists of 12 British Canoeing. There is an excellent base of members including an independent Chair and four volunteers at club, regional and national level. other independent members. British Canoeing There are strong competition pathways in most has UK wide and English responsibilities and disciplines. We have a growing network of trails Directors nominated from each of the four National and an increased focus on challenges, social and Associations also sit on the Board. participation events.

Our main offices are at The National Water Sports Great Britain finished top of the combined Olympic Centre in Nottingham and we also have high and Paralympic canoeing medal table at the performance centres at Lee Valley White Water Rio 2016 Games, winning four Olympic and five Centre (Slalom) and Dorney Lake (Sprint). We Paralympic medals. We are one of the most employ around 100 staff and our turnover was circa successful countries in international competitions, £8.5m in 2020. winning around 80-90 medals across the disciplines in European and World Championships Over two million adults and children in the UK each year. We compete internationally in the will take part in some form of paddling each year, following disciplines; Slalom, Sprint, Canoe Polo, with around 200,000 core participants paddling at Marathon, Surf, Freestyle, White Water Rafting, least twice a month. The breadth of paddlesport Wild Water Racing, Ocean Racing. includes canoeing, kayaking, rafting and stand-up paddleboarding and this breadth makes it very attractive.

Today there are over 62,000 members of British Canoeing and this has grown from 32,000 over the last 4 years. 34% of members are family members, 33% are female and more than 85% are recreational rather than competitive paddlers.

3 Our Strategy, Purpose, Vision & Values

One of the key roles of the Board is to approve Stronger Together sets out a clear Purpose and and oversee the successful delivery of the Vision and presents 11 significant Ambitions strategic plan. with 20 indicators of success. The strategic plan is understood by staff and key volunteers and Our strategic plan is entitled Stronger Together work is aligned to its delivery. As a result, we and was launched in March 2017. are making excellent progress towards each of these Ambitions which are set out on pages Progress is reported annually. 13-15. With so much voluntary effort and with so many people contributing to the success You can see the strategic plan here of the organisation, a quality plan which has clear targets and that brings clarity to roles and responsibilities is essential.

Work is underway to develop the next strategic plan to 2025. This will be launched in March 2022.

The Purpose of British Our Vision through to 2022 is; Canoeing is to;

“Inspire people to pursue “A united British Canoeing, a passion for paddling; for focused on our people and health, enjoyment, friendship, ambitions and excellent in challenge and achievement” delivery”

Our Values are;

Every Person Matters Striving for Excellence Always with Integrity Enjoying the Journey Individually Committed Stronger Together

4 About The Role

Role Title: Director of Paddlesport

Reports to: Chief Executive

Department: Senior Management Team

Line management reports: Performance Director of World Class Programme,

Head of Events and International Affairs,

Head of England Talent

Location: National Water Sports Centre, Nottingham

Working pattern: Full time, evening and weekend work required

Terms and Conditions and Benefits

A competitive salary and benefits package is on offer, commensurate with the skills and responsibilities of a role of this significance.

5 The Role Profile

The Director of Paddlesport will be accountable • Act as Vice Chair and a Director of British to the CEO and operate as a member of the Canoeing Events Ltd Senior Management Team of British Canoeing, providing leadership and management to • Provide strategic leadership and ensure the World Class Programme, England Talent excellent stakeholder relationships as Chair Programme and Events team. The role will to the Stakeholder Boards for international provide direction and strategic leadership to events hosted in the UK, the first of which are enable delivery of the British Canoeing long term the ICF World Freestyle Championships in vision and strategy. 2021 and ICF World Slalom Championships in 2023 Key responsibilities: • Ensure that robust operational delivery plans • Provide strategic oversight, executive support that underpin the strategy are developed, and scrutiny of the World Class Programme agreed and implemented and England Talent policies and programmes • Ensure that policies and procedures • Act as a member of the Performance are regularly reviewed and effectively Leadership Team implemented, including the identification and monitoring of legal and other risks to the • Represent British Canoeing on the British organisation, and implementation of mitigation Olympic Association National Olympic measures identified in the Risk Register Committee (BOA) Decision-making • Represent British Canoeing on the British Paralympic Association National Paralympic • This is a senior management role within British Committee (BPA) Canoeing and will operate with delegated authorities to manage the responsibilities • Provide strategic oversight and support to outlined above. This work often involves the the talent and performance policies and consideration of complex issues requiring programmes of the non-Olympic competition excellent decision making on matters of disciplines company-wide significance

• Chair meetings of the Discipline Committee Management of Resources Chairs Group and provide executive leadership to the work to support the strategic • Provide excellent leadership and planning within each of the discipline management of the Paddlesport team and committees support their development in order to ensure the effective delivery of the objectives within • Provide oversight of the domestic and the 4 year strategic plan and annual plans international events strategy and the development work with the Olympic and non- • Provide effective oversight of departmental Olympic disciplines within British budgets of more than £5m per annum Canoeing (2020/2021)

• Provide executive leadership around the work of British Canoeing Events Ltd

6 Working relationships • Work closely with the non-Olympic disciplines • As a member of the Senior Management Team within British Canoeing in all aspects of their play a full part in the collective responsibility work, but with a particular focus on supporting for setting the strategic direction for the whole their performance planning and talent organisation through the strategic plan and development annual plan delivery • Line management of the Head of Events • Work closely with UK Sport, English Institute and International Affairs to provide executive of Sport, BOA, BPA, Sport England and Home oversight of the British Canoeing International Country National Associations and other key Events and serve as Vice Chair and a Director of stakeholders working alongside the World British Canoeing Events Ltd Class Performance Programme • Work closely with direct reports to develop the • Work positively with key individuals, clubs and skills and capabilities of staff and volunteers committees that make a contribution to the within these teams talent pathways and performance environment within the sport (eg. coaching and competition) • Personal commitment to working in line with the values of British Canoeing in developing • Develop a strong working relationship with the others International Canoeing Federation in relation to the development of Olympic/Paralympic • Highly developed leadership and management disciplines and major events skills with a proven record of establishing a culture of collaboration, team working, • Build effective relationships and drive innovation and support collaboration with other British Canoeing departments including coaching, governance Knowledge and expertise and compliance, marketing and communications in order to maximise • A background and considerable recent performance and other business wide experience of successfully leading a team objectives operating in the area of talent and performance development in sport • Work positively with key individuals within each of the competition disciplines within British • An understanding of coaching, sport science Canoeing to develop and deliver improvement and medicine, international competition and plans around talent pathways and performance talent pathways environments • A management, sports science or business • Provide regular progress updates to the Board studies qualification or equivalent of British Canoeing • An experienced leader and successful team builder Developing others • A broad understanding of governance and a • Line management of the Performance proven commitment to operating within Director and the Head of England Talent to a strong policy framework provide executive oversight of the World Class Programme (WCP) and the England Talent • A commitment to and deep understanding of Programme the issues around safeguarding young people and athlete welfare in the sports performance environment

7 The Person

Education & Qualifications • Ability to manage budgets and maximise resources • Educated to degree level or equivalent, with preferably a management, sports science or • A broad understanding of governance and business studies qualification or equivalent a proven commitment to operating within a strong policy framework Experience • Resourceful, resilient and innovative, with the • Strong track record of providing strategic ability to manage a range of different priorities, leadership and direction at a senior level within understand a wide range of activities and the performance sport environment effectively manage a diverse team

• High level analytical skills to inform decision • A proven ability to engage and inspire others in making in complex issues or on matters of the development and delivery of a shared vision company-wide significance and purpose

• Significant experience of working at a senior • Ability to balance a strategic overview with the level with multiple partners, stakeholders attention to detail which is necessary to manage and volunteers to achieve success including a wide range of activities working with public funding agencies • Clear understanding of the needs and demands • Ability to formulate objectives and plans which of competitive sport up to the highest levels are aligned with the organisation’s strategic plan Personal Qualities • Senior level experience of line management, with an ability to improve team and individual • Strong commitment to aligning ways of working performance supported by a strong consistent with the organisational values and understanding of employment practices that behaviours support effective people management • Interpersonal skills and judgement which • Experience of building and managing a high- inspire confidence and trust in staff, volunteers, performing team and leading and delivering stakeholders and other organisations complex change in teams and organisations • Strong commitment to self- development and • Experience of working at senior level in a the development of others national governing body of sport • Inspirational, with a highly developed and • Experience of leadership at the highest levels of adaptable leadership style competitive sport • Innovative, and fresh thinking with ideas to Skills and Knowledge make a big difference to the success of the organisation • Highly developed communication skills including the ability to present complex Other information at the highest level, engaging the team in continuous improvement • A full driving licence, willingness to travel and • Excellent planning and organisation skills adapt to a work environment consistent with elite sport including work occasional evenings and weekends 8 How To Apply

Applications should consist of a full curriculum vitae, detailing career and achievements, as well as a covering letter outlining personal qualities, skills and experience in relation to the role profile and person specification.

Candidates should send a covering letter, CV and details of current remuneration to Kit Taylor at: [email protected]

Recruitment Timelines

Closing Date for applications: Friday 22 January 2020 at 17.00.

Further information can be found on the British Canoeing website. www.britishcanoeing.org.uk/about/jobs

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of everyone taking part in our sport, including children and young people, and expect the same commitment from all staff and volunteers.

This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, British Canoeing is only permitted to ask an individual information about ‘unspent’ cautions and convictions. This will be carried out through completion of a DBS Basic Check.

British Canoeing is an equal opportunity employer.

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