Job based at: Loughborough, with regular domestic and international travel – this role will involve extensive domestic and international travel, with regular presence required at the 2 x World Class Programme (WCP) training centres in Leeds and Loughborough, and at overseas training camps and competitions. Our head office is also based in Loughborough and the post-holder should therefore expect to spend regular time with the performance/pathway teams and wider organisation at this location.
Reporting to: Chief Executive Officer
Salary: £90,000 - £115,000 (depending on experience), plus comprehensive benefits
Read the full Candidate Pack here - https://www.britishtriathlon.org/britain/documents/about/job-vacancies/2026/performance-director/performance-director---candidate-pack.pdf
POSITION OVERVIEW
To provide overall strategic leadership to the British Triathlon Olympic and Paralympic World Class Programmes (WCP), the Olympic and Paralympic pathways, professional/multisport disciplines and the domestic elite competition programme. The role also fulfils a key leadership position across the wider organisation, ensuring the Performance directorate proactively contributes to the organisation’s wider purpose and wider strategic ambitions of opening up triathlon so athletes and communities can go further than they ever thought possible.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Drive a safe, supportive and performance focussed culture across the World Class Programmes and associated training environments that drives the development of people and delivery of excellence.
- Provide overall strategic leadership of the Olympic and Paralympic World Class Programmes. Including:
- Develop and implement a world-leading cycle/multi-cycle performance strategy that is aligned to the global performance standards required to deliver consistent medal winning performances at the Olympic and Paralympic Games and which is aligned to the wider culture of the organisation.
- Oversee and lead the UK Sport Olympic/Paralympic cycle investment submissions and associated reporting/management.
- Ensure alignment of athletes and staff with the strategy and continually measure, review and refine the performance impact.
- Provide and oversee the framework for the development and delivery of both national and individual athlete plans across the Olympic and Paralympic programmes. In doing so, ensure the identification and delivery of world leading technical, science and medicine interventions that drive athlete development towards global podium standards (aligned to What it Takes to Win ‘WITTW’).
- Oversee strategic alignment of the British Olympic and Paralympic pathways to the WCP’s, ensuring:
- That the highest standards of safeguarding and best practice are maintained throughout.
- That the activities and interventions throughout the pathway are effectively identifying and developing the next generation of globally successful triathletes/paratriathletes.
- That the Home Nation (England, Scotland, Wales) pathway programmes are strategically and operationally aligned to deliver a consistent and effective athlete development experience.
- The development and delivery of the Sport England Olympic/Paralympic cycle investment process (and subsequent reporting/management).
- That the domestic elite competition programme (Super Series) is fit-for-purpose and aligned to the developmental needs of the pathway.
- Provide authentic leadership to the team of coaches, sports science/medicine, operational and pathway staff, including direct management of a senior leadership team of 7 and responsibility for the delivery of a formal coach development within the WCP and pathway.
- Lead the overall Olympic Games Project and provide oversight of/alignment to the Paralympic Games Project. Includes overseeing the development/delivery of robust and clear qualification/selection processes, liaison with the BOA on all matters pertaining to Games’ delivery and acting as the Team Leader for the Games themselves.
- Oversee the overall Olympic/Paralympic annual competition programme, including selection policies for all major World Triathlon competition series and acting as the Team Leader at key international events throughout the year.
- Provide robust financial management of the WCP and pathways budgets (circa £11m and £2.8m respectively), including effective management of the 4-year UK Sport and Sport England grant funding and ensuring the most effective and cost-effective deployment of resource.
- Proactively contribute to the delivery of the wider British Triathlon strategy and wider organisation leadership as an active, approachable and visible member of the executive team.
- Facilitate the link between the Performance directorate and key internal stakeholders, including the British Triathlon Board, the Triathlon England Board, the Sport Integrity team, the British Triathlon Athlete Commission (including Olympic and Paralympic Board representatives) and other department directors.
- Manage key domestic stakeholders, including UK Sport, Sport England, Home Nation federation partners, UK Sports Institute, the British Olympic Association, British Paralympic Association, university partners, agents, sponsors and media.
- Proactively contribute to the international relations agenda, developing impactful and trusted relationships with key World/European Triathlon and PTO personnel, and driving the continual international development of the sport.
- Ensure the highest standards of safeguarding, anti-doping and health & safety practices across all high-performance triathlon/paratriathlon environments.
- Provide operational oversight of professional and multisport teams.
- Act as the public spokesperson for all performance matters, positively advocating for British athletes and the federation as a whole.
RELATIONSHIPS
The Performance Director will report into the British Triathlon Chief Executive and will lead a Senior Leadership Team currently consisting of the Olympic Head Coach, Head of Paratriathlon, Head of Olympic Pathway, Paratriathlon Pathway Manager, Head of Performance Operations, Head of Performance Support (HoPS) and Major Event Manager. Critically, the Performance Director must be adept at building relationships with the country’s best Triathletes and Paratriathletes (and their support teams, including agents) that are simultaneously supportive and challenging. The role will also need to develop strong working relationships with the British Triathlon and Triathlon England Boards of directors, as well as key Triathlon Scotland and Welsh Triathlon staff. As a key member of the British Triathlon Executive team, that reports to the Chief Executive the Performance Director will also need to form trusted relationships and work closely with the other department directors to ensure the delivery of the wider organisational strategy, culture and objectives.
ABOUT YOU
Our values are important to us. Therefore, it is critical that the successful candidate:
Is Inclusive:
- Habitually collaborates;
- Seeks the opinions of others and proactively asks for feedback;
- Treats everyone with respect, integrity and honesty.
Is People Centred:
- Is an excellent communicator;
- Can quickly build (and maintain) effective relationships with a broad range of people;
- Has high emotional intelligence.
Is Ambitious:
- Is self-motivated and proactive;
- Is creative, innovative, and continually looking to improve;
- Sets challenging targets and is willing to be held accountable for them;
- Isn't afraid to fail and be vulnerable to try new things to Develop People or to Deliver Excellence.
Believes in doing what is right, not what is easy:
- Thrives on making decisions;
- Is an authentic and impactful leader;
- Is willing to tackle challenging issues or personalities head on, in the right way;
- Understands and protects confidentiality.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & EXPERIENCE
Outstanding leadership and relationship management skills.
Demonstrable ability to make decisions in high-pressured environments and communicate them effectively.
Ability to think strategically and can establish a vision, provide direction, translate plans into operational delivery and inspire followship.
Comprehensive experience of operating within senior elite Olympic, Paralympic and/or professional performance environments.
A strong track‑record of leading high performance, multi-disciplinary teams (coaches/operations/science & medicine staff) to support the formation and delivery of individual/team performance plans.
Experience of working within a multi‑discipline sport or one of Triathlon/Paratriathlon’s constituent parts (i.e. swimming, cycling or running).
A broad understanding of endurance sport (coaching, science, medicine and technology)
Understanding of long‑term athlete development and pathway design.
Experience of delivering a major‑Games project and acting as a Team Leader at Olympic, Paralympic or Commonwealth Games level.
ESSENTIAL BEHAVIOURS & COMPETENCIES
- Good self‑awareness, emotional intelligence and political instincts
- Motivated and able to lead a culture of high‑performance with the desire to continuously raise the bar and achieve targets
- Ability to convey an image that is consistent with organisational values and behaviours, demonstrating qualities, traits and demeanour that encourage the best in people
- The ability to challenge existing practices constructively
- A team player with an open and consultative style and optimistic approach
- A considered decision maker, not afraid to take tough decisions
- Effective interpersonal skills with the ability to maintain strategic relationships, building trust and confidence with stakeholders
If you’re inspired and excited about working at British Triathlon and believe you have the skills and experience for this key leadership role, we’d love to hear from you!
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