The Opportunity…
The British Olympic and Paralympic family are looking for an exceptional system leader to join them as Director of Athlete Services for the UK Sport Institute (UKSI).
The UKSI purpose is to drive competitive advantage through world leading innovation and expertise, adding tangible performance value to Olympic and Paralympic athletes, coaches and programmes.
Following an extensive review on the system wide performance support required to power future British Olympic and Paralympic success, a new strategy for System Performance Support has been created that will see the British high performance system reinvent itself. To maximise the delivery of this new strategy the UKSI is restructuring to ensure its dedicated team of experts and practitioners are able to impact where it matters most and we are looking for a leader who, as part of it’s Senior Leadership Team, is capable of inspiring and delivering the change needed.
As part of the UK Sport and UKSI Group, working hand in glove with Olympic and Paralympic sports and bodies, the UKSI will ensure that the team behind the team dial up specialist services and expertise that raise the standard of athlete support.
We are looking for a Director of Athlete Services to continue to raise the standard of support for GB funded athletes. This rolewho will hold accountability for the quality, integrity and impact of athlete services across Olympic and Paralympic programmes, influencing competitive advantage, athlete health, wellbeing and system performance across the entire UK high-performance landscape.
This is a strategic, system-shaping appointment requiring; credibility that comes from direct performance leadership experience, knowledge and expertise to challenge performance assumptions, and the judgement to balance innovation, assurance and athlete-centred decision-making at scale.
The Director of Athletes Services will play a key role as part of a team of leaders across Olympic and Paralympic sports and organisations who are creating a cultural shift that is writing the next chapter of British sporting history.
You will be passionate about Olympic and Paralympic sport and champion the role performance support plays in driving competitive advantage for British athletes. You will understand that in high performance sport, success is built on high standards delivered consistently, and that the tiniest margins affect experiences and outcomes.
In order to do something which has never been done before, athletes need a support network which will go above and beyond and focusses on the things that matter most. You will have experience of demonstrating impact in a high-performance context, and will have been operating in an agile manner, making difficult decisions around prioritisation in order to seize opportunities and add value.
Why This Role Matters
Athlete Services sit at the heart of performance success and reputational risk. This Director will shape how the UK supports athletes from induction to exit, how services perform under pressure, and how the system evolves to meet the needs of contemporary athletes ethically, inclusively and sustainably.
If you feel you can bring the expertise we require to help us shape our future, we very much look forward to hearing from you.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
At the UKSI we aspire to have a workforce that is diverse and representative of all sections of society, not only by characteristic but by thought and perspective. We believe a diverse workforce enables growth and creates a sustainably inclusive workspace for all employees.
If there is something we can do to help make the recruitment process or the job more accessible, let us know!
Key Dates for Applicants
Closing Date: 1 March 2026
Shortlisting Date: We will aim to complete our shortlist by 6 March 2026
Interview Phase: 9 -16 March 2026
*UK SPORT IS SUPPORTING UKSI WITH THE RECRUITMENT CAMPAIGN
Any information relating to UK Sport on this page are not relevant to this role (i.e/ employee benefits, locations, etc). Please refer to the Recruitment Pack for the job details and the link below for the UKSI employee benefits.
Why Work For the UK Sports Institute? - UK Sports Institute