The Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS) was set up to assist the development of Victoria’s best athletes. It was established in 1990 by the State Government as a private trustee company, with its Board of Directors appointed by the Victorian Minister for Sport.
The VIS is located at Lakeside Stadium, Albert Park. The VIS headquarters completed a renovation in February 2023, providing a brand new workspace for athletes and staff. It is a non-residential institute, which utilises Melbourne’s outstanding sporting facilities, to allow high performance athletes to live and train in Melbourne, the sporting capital of Australia.
The VIS operates in partnership with National Sporting Organisations and State Sporting Associations to deliver high performance daily training environments (DTEs) for sports and athletes in support of the National High Performance Sport Strategy outcomes. Our facility and staff help prepare and support future and current Olympic, Paralympic, Commonwealth Games and World Champion athletes.
Employee Benefits:
The Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS) provides a support work environment for you to be your best whilst supporting Victoria's best athletes. In addition, all employees have access to:
2XU gear to proudly represent the VIS brand
Friday Staff Sport - to get that competitive energy out and socialise with all staff
Heavily subsidised access to St Ali barista coffee and Albert Park parking
Professional development opportunities
Newly renovated office with ergonomic sit/stand desks and plenty of natural light & open windows
Free access to gym, boxing classes and pool/recovery facilities
Job Description
The VIS Para Sport Unit Manager will play a pivotal role in fostering pathways for pre-categorised and emerging para-athletes to increase the number of categorised and medal winning para-athletes in Victoria.
The role will require collaborating with partners to drive medal-winning performances for Los Angeles 2028, Brisbane 2032, and beyond. The role’s primary purpose will be to:
Lead the development and delivery of a para sport unit that optimizes para-athlete identification, development, and progression in alignment with VIS and HP 2032+ strategic national objectives.
Foster collaboration between athletes, coaches, and support teams to ensure para-sport pathways are robust, inclusive, and aligned with the national high-performance system.
Establish and maintain partnerships with key stakeholders, including Paralympics Australia, National Sporting Organisations (NSOs), State Sport Organisations and Associations and the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), to enhance para-sport opportunities.
Job responsibilities may include but not limited to:
Leadership and Unit Development:
Provide strategic leadership for the VIS Para Sport Unit, ensuring alignment with the VIS Strategic Plan and national high-performance priorities.
Develop and implement athlete-centric talent identification and development initiatives, including para-sport classification processes.
Lead the design and delivery of athlete plans in collaboration with NSO’s, coaches and performance support staff.
Team and Athlete Support:
Coordinate integrated performance support services (e.g., sport science, medicine, and wellbeing) to optimize athlete performance.
Monitor athlete progression and implement evidence-based strategies to address gaps in development.
Advocate for para-athlete inclusion and support the professional development of coaches and staff working within para-sport pathways.
Stakeholder Engagement:
Cultivate relationships with NSOs, State Sport Organisations and Associations, Paralympics Australia, AIS, and community partners to align efforts and resources for para-sport growth.
Represent VIS at national forums and workshops as well as SIS/SAS activities that support a national approach which are focused on para-sport development.
Operational and Risk Management:
Ensure adherence to safety, child safeguarding, and anti-doping policies within the unit..
Manage budgets, resource allocation, and reporting for the para multi-sport unit.
Facilitate a safe, inclusive, and respectful team culture aligned with VIS and Paralympic Australia values.
Desired Skills and Experience
Experience in para sport with a good understanding of classification and para-athletes and Para sport-specific matters (highly desirable).
Demonstrated knowledge and thorough understanding of key drivers in high-performance sport and athlete development, including the ability to identify athletes and to develop, monitor and assess athlete progression
Experience working with athletes, coaches and integrated performance support teams to support the training and development of athletes across areas including technical, tactical, physical, physiological and skill development
Exceptional interpersonal communication skills and emotional intelligence, with a demonstrable ability to engage new stakeholders quickly and foster strategically aligned partnership that are mutually beneficial
Advanced analytical, planning, and organisational skills to effectively design and deliver a varied work program, manage resources, and make ethically informed decisions to support the goals of the business
Highly developed conceptual and problem-solving skills, including demonstrated ability to quickly identify, analyse and research complex situations to devise appropriate strategies.
High performance coaching qualification or equivalent (desirable)
Relevant degree or higher qualification/s relevant to the role (desirable)
Successful completion and currency of Level 1 & 2 Sport Integrity Australia (SIA) accreditation
Successful completion of SIA "Keep Sport Honest" Anti-match fixing education components.
What you will bring to the role
A strong commitment to Para sport as a continuing, or new career path.
Possess a growth mindset- i.e. believe that their talents can be genuinely developed through hard work, good strategies, and clean, developmental feedback from others.
Demonstrated commitment to continuous improvement.
Demonstrated commitment to ongoing training and development (i.e. a life-long learner)
Willingness to ‘give back’ knowledge, expertise, and learnings to the wider Australian system as well as their own sport.
Ability to provide insights into their own character traits (e.g. adaptability; goal and results focussed; having a positive approach; consistent; motivating; and able to influence).
Conflicts of Interest
To maintain integrity in the program pathways, ideally the successful candidate will be unable to hold a coaching role with a School, Club or Association within Victoria during the tenure of this position.
The successful candidate cannot hold a Management Committee or Advisory Committee role with any School, Club or Association during the tenure of this position.
The successful candidate must disclose to the VIS as soon as possible any possible, perceived, or actual conflicts of interests that may impact on this role.
The successful candidate must adhere to and abide by all VIS policies and procedures.
