Director of Sport

Candidate Brief

Background

Millfield School is based in Somerset, approximately 2 hours South West of London. The school occupies a 240 acre site with significant grounds. The Preparatory School is located in Glastonbury, approximately 5 miles away. There are 1220 pupils from 13 to 18; 950 of these are boarders and 270 day pupils. Millfield is academically non-selective and has a diverse mix of pupils, with 65 nationalities represented.

The school has outstanding sporting facilities which include: numerous playing fields; an award winning cricket pitch; year-round covered cricket nets; an indoor tennis centre; judo dojo; fencing salle; pistol range; climbing wall; equestrian centre with stables for 50 horses; 6 squash courts; a 50-metre swimming pool; tartan athletics track; weight training and fitness suites; dance studios; 3 water based astro-turfs; a 9 hole Par 3 and an 18 hole golf course; golf analysis suite and driving range.

Millfield’s sporting philosophy centres upon individuals finding a sport or

activity they can be passionate about and providing engaging programmes to meet their needs. Over 140 members of staff are involved in delivering the sports and activities programme, including 20+ professional coaches. Major sports include athletics, basketball, cricket, dance, football, hockey, netball, and rugby. Other performance programmes thrive in fencing, golf, modern pentathlon, riding, squash, swimming and tennis. Electives include clay shooting, karate, sailing, skiing and triathlon.

Sport, therefore, spans the Millfield community. Showcase events have drawn crowds of hundreds to watch rugby, football and dance. Millfield regularly hosts community events such as the Somerset School Games.

Pupils’ performance achievements are routinely outstanding. We enjoy partnerships and staff relationships with Bath Rugby, British Swimming, British Fencing, England Hockey, England Squash, Pentathlon GB, Somerset Cricket, Somerset Netball and the LTA.

Key Responsibilities

General

• Provide leadership and development for all areas of sporting activity, including strategy, coaching, operations and facilities

• Provide leadership and development for all areas of sporting activity, including strategy, coaching, operations and facilities

• Ensure provision of appropriate sports and activity programmes to engage all pupils in sports and other recreational opportunities

• Oversee an effective Sports Scholarship programme and ensure provision of programmes to cater appropriately for Millfield’s high performers

• Maintain and further develop links with the surrounding community and external sporting bodies

• Encourage Preparatory School links with Millfield through tournaments, festivals, coaching courses and seminars, with specific reference to fostering a contiguous relationship with sport at Millfield Prep

• Attend and contribute to the Senior Management team

• Enhance Millfield’s local, national and international reputation for sport

• To develop opportunities for sport related holiday programmes that draw on the richness of the physical and human resources at Millfield

• Teaching/coaching as required

Key Responsibilities

Staffing

• Oversee the delivery of sports psychology, nutrition, drug awareness, digital analysis and strength and conditioning, through the Head of Physical Education

• Advise the Headmaster on senior games appointments

• Line manage the Heads and Directors of Sport, Assistant Director of Sport and Sports Administrator

• Have overall responsibility for the staffing and management of the school’s programme of games

• Responsible (with Heads of Sports) for the appointment of non-teaching coaches

• Liaise with the Deputy Head (Pastoral) on INSET for specialist sport staff

• Establish in-house instruction for all teachers and coaches that ensures best practice by all practitioners

Key Responsibilities

Administration

• To chair the sport Disciplinary Committee

• Maintain an excellent working relationship with the Director of Sport at Millfield Preparatory School

• To support the Assistant Director of Sport in developing the House matches/competitions programme (which are administered by teachers in charge of sports)

• To liaise with the Headmaster, Bursar and tutors in charge of games on games budgets and other matters related to capital expenditure

• To identify and develop possible income streams related to sport, including corporate events, high performing cultures and conferences

• Liaise with Millfield Enterprises

• To chair the Heads of Sport meetings

• To ensure Millfield’s provision of medical coverage for athletes follows best practice guidelines

• To provide timely reports to the Board of Governors on progress against the agreed strategy and other matters of interest

Key Responsibilities

Facilities

• To allocate facilities among games staff, with the Assistant Director of Sport

• To liaise with the Head of Grounds and Gardens, with the Assistant Director of Sport

• To ensure that risk assessments are completed and Health and Safety standards are monitored and maintained

Communication and Publicity

• To ensure good communication with the Marketing Department and the timely publication of all matters pertaining to sport on the school website

• Assist with the organisation of All Rounders’ Days and attend Open Days

• To sanction, monitor and develop sporting tours

• Ensure articles are written for the Windmill, Headmaster’s Newsletters and the Annual Review

• Ensure outstanding opportunities and delivery for all pupils

• Ensure all pupils represent the school (different per year level)

Person Specification

Requirement Essential Specification

QualificationsDegree or similar level qualification in sports or management-related discipline

Professional qualification in managementHigh level coaching qualification

Experience

Experience as a senior manager within a sport related environment

Demonstrable ability to create and implement strategies

Experience of commercial sports facility management

Experience of working with National Governing Bodies of sport and/or similar or related organisations

Experience of preparing budgets, delivering these against agreed programmes, and monitoring their expenditure

Experience of working with the media

Experience of managing staff teams, both salaried and volunteer

Experience of generating revenue from commercial partnerships and other external sources and successfully growing such relationships

Demonstrable track record of implementing change programmes

Knowledge Extensive knowledge of the sport and leisure industry Knowledge of school sport and academic processes

Behavioural competencies and

qualities

Ability to build trust and work in partnership with colleagues at all levels of the school

Ability to think ‘outside the box’ and recognise potential

Excellent team leadership skills with the capability to manage and inspire all employees

High-level communication skills

Well-developed active listening skills showing an ability to take direction as well as to direct

Outstanding commitment to the development of sport

Dynamic and enthusiastic leader with vision and ability to develop strategic goals and implement them

High level drive and determination to succeed

Commitment to equity and diversity

How to Apply

SRi is the leading firm dedicated to the constant and growing demand for executive and management talent in sports, media and entertainment. Our expert advisers provide search and consulting services operating as a global team, combining deep sector knowledge with world-class and cutting edge talent acquisition and management practice.

With offices in London, Switzerland, Munich, Singapore, Beijing, Tokyo, Sydney, Melbourne, Toronto, Los Angeles, Boston and New York, we can justifiably claim to be the largest search firm specialising in sports, media and entertainment.

To apply, candidates should send an up to date CV and a covering letter highlighting relevant experience to:

Alistair Milner

amilner@sriexecutive.com