Posted: August 14, 2017

Company Operating Name:  Rugby Canada

Business Address: 10-30 East Beaver Creek Road, Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada L4B 1J2

Location of work: Canadian Rugby Centre of Excellence, 3024 Glen Lake Road, Langford, British Columbia, V9B 4B4                 

Title: Director of Rugby Performance, Fifteens (NOC 0513)

Terms of Employment: Full-Time

Wage Range: $120,000 - $140,000 per annum (commensurate with experience and qualifications); eligible for salary increases and discretionary, performance/results-based bonuses

Hours of work: 40 hrs/week; may be required to travel and work extended hours including weekends and evenings

Benefits: Health / Dental Benefits Plan / Bonus Structure

Reports to: General Manager, Rugby Operations & Performance

Rugby Canada (RC) is the national sport organization committed to the domestic development and international success of Rugby for Canada.

OBJECTIVE OF DIRECTOR OF RUGBY PERFORMANCE, FIFTEENS

The Director of Rugby Performance, Fifteens is responsible for the leadership and enhancement of all of Rugby Canada’s Fifteens programs and staff, national team pathways, and high performance coach and referee development.  

ROLE OF DIRECTOR OF RUGBY PERFORMANCE, FIFTEENS

The Director of Rugby Performance, Fifteens, is responsible for improving Canada’s international success and status, positively influencing Canadian rugby’s performance landscape, supporting national teams to achieve their respective goals, and supporting the Men’s National Fifteens Team performance and competitiveness at the Rugby World Cup.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES AND PRIORITIES

The Director of Rugby Performance, Fifteens will be responsible for performing the following functions and/or delivering the following outcomes:

National Team Performance Leadership

• Providing performance leadership to the male and female Fifteens programs
• Leading the performance planning and review of National Teams
• Working with program Head Coaches and related management staff to design and deliver the optimal Daily Training Environment in both centralized and non-centralized environments
• Assisting General Manager, Rugby with the development and delivery of High Performance Strategic Plans; initiating long term planning strategies to ensure Rugby Canada’s success in pinnacle events, particularly Rugby World Cups
• Ensuring High Performance plans are integrated into Rugby Canada’s Long-Term Rugby Development Plans
• Leading rugby research and innovation program for Rugby Canada, keeping up-to-date with the latest high performance research and providing support and advice to all our performance staff
• Together with the General Manager, Rugby and program leaders, prepare and monitor high performance budgets
• Liaising with Provincial Unions and other key Canadian stakeholders to enhance relationships and improve high performance standards throughout Canada   

Leadership of the Rugby Canada Centralized Program – Fifteens

• Managing the day-to-day operations relating to the Rugby Canada Centralized Programs, ensuring each program runs to budget
• Ensuring staff and players are supported with the appropriate environment focusing on staff and player welfare
• Ensuring performance stakeholders and partners are appropriately informed of the program’s schedule and long-term plans
• Securing as and when appropriate, fixtures and tours for the program
• Ensuring players and staff are provided with regular and appropriate performance reviews and feedback
• Ensuring transparency in the selection of players to the program

Leadership of the Talent Identification Pathways, National Academy and Related Programs

• Providing leadership oversight to national talent identification and national development strategies, ensuring their implementation into all National Age Grade and National Senior Fifteens programs
• Ensuring the National programs based in Victoria are all integrated into the high performance talent development player pathway for Fifteens
• Overseeing the delivery of the Rugby Canada Academy, ensuring the appropriate support personnel and pathway initiatives are in place

Elite Coach and Referee Development Program Management

• Assisting and supporting the professional development of all coaching, referee and management staff and volunteers operating within the high performance programs
• Supporting the Manager, Performance Refereeing to ensure high performance pathway referees are taken care of and driven to secure international appointments
• Ensuring high performance coach pathways are integrated into Rugby Canada coach education policies, programs and initiatives.

Required Education and Experience

• The Director of Rugby Performance, Fifteens must have demonstrated experience in delivering elite international/professional club rugby programs
• Must have at least ten (10) years of experience in a high performance Rugby role, in a professional club/international capacity
• Must have understanding of the needs and challenges of establishing elite Rugby programs in developing Unions, and unique challenges of the Canadian and North American Rugby landscape
• Must have knowledge and experience of elite international sporting team management
• High level of organizational and management skills, and sound personnel, financial and administration skills, required
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and a high level of operational IT competency, required
• A degree in Sports Science, Human Movement, Sports Administration or other relevant field is highly desirable
• Extensive professional network in the High Performance and/or elite sports industry, an asset
• Experience in working with a national rugby union, an advantage
• The ability to work in the French language, an asset.

Required Key Competencies

The Director of Rugby Performance, Fifteens will demonstrate a high level of knowledge, skill and abilities in the following areas:

• Ability to lead a robust Rugby talent identification system and high performance athlete development pathway leading to international success
• Management and education of development and high performance staff ensuring that they contribute to the achievement of overall strategic goals of the organization
• Establishment and delivery of best practice development and high performance systems for players, coaches, match officials and administrative staff
• Ability to develop effective working relationships with external stakeholders, consultants and Union personnel
• Preparation, implementation and monitoring of development and high performance plans
• Excellent financial management skills with demonstrated experience in managing significant budgets.

Required Personal Attributes

The Director of Rugby Performance, Fifteens will be a person who has:

• In-depth knowledge and experience of international/high performance Rugby
• Connection to the international Rugby community on a professional level
• Thorough understanding of development and high performance programs (Rugby and other sports) around the world
• Background that incorporates people management, department leadership, strategic planning, performance reviews and report writing to a high standard
• Thorough understanding of financial management and budget monitoring systems
• Ability to be a strong, effective and successful collaborator
• Ability to create a positive high performance culture of accountability and excellence, driven on the values of Rugby.

Guidelines for Applicants

The selection emphasis will be based upon the applicant’s knowledge, skills and attributes to drive Rugby Canada to future international success and to strongly influence the rapidly developing Rugby culture in the country.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Apply in confidence by sending your cover letter and resume to the Selection Committee by email: highperformance@rugbycanada.ca

Subject: Director of Rugby Performance, Fifteens

**Rugby Canada would like to acknowledge World Rugby’s support of this position**