High Performance Director

Role Purpose
The High Performance Director is a senior leadership role within Hockey Ireland with responsibility for the strategic leadership, management and sustained success of Hockey Ireland’s high performance system across men’s and women’s programmes.

Reporting To:
CEO

Direct Reports
National Programme Coaches
High Performance Support Staff
Relevant operational/logistics personnel
Location
Hockey Ireland National Headquarters at the Sport Ireland Campus, Dublin
(with national and international travel)

Hours
Full-time (37.5 hours per week), including evenings, weekends and travel as required.

The role will lead the design and delivery of a world-class high performance strategy that enables international success, builds a sustainable talent pathway, strengthens coaching capability, and aligns national and regional performance environments within the resources available.

The postholder will oversee:

Senior international programmes
Junior age group pathways
Coach development
Performance services
Stakeholder relationships
Budget management
This is to ensure Hockey Ireland remains competitive on the world stage.

 
Key Responsibilities
1. Strategic Leadership, Culture & System Development
Develop, implement and regularly review a rolling 5-year High Performance Strategy aligned to Hockey Ireland’s overall strategic plan and international competition cycles.
Establish clear performance objectives, KPIs and success measures for senior teams, pathway teams and high performance functions.
Provide expert advice to the CEO, Board and High Performance Committee on all high performance matters.
Lead and embed a high performance culture aligned to Hockey Ireland values, promoting excellence, accountability, inclusion, athlete wellbeing and continuous improvement.
Create an environment in which athletes and staff can perform, develop and thrive.
Ensure Hockey Ireland’s high performance programmes are sustainable, future-focused and benchmarked against leading international hockey nations.
 

 
2. Performance Programmes & International Success
Lead all national high performance programmes including:Senior men’s teams
Senior women’s teams
Development squads
Junior age group teams
Ensure multi-annual plans are in place for all squads covering:Competition
Training
Camps
Athlete development
Performance outcomes
Work with domestic competitions stakeholders to align national team programmes with the domestic competition calendar.
Establish a cohesive performance and tactical philosophy across Hockey Ireland teams, aligning core playing principles and performance behaviours.
Support Head Coaches and programme staff to optimise preparation for major events including:Olympic qualification
World Cups
European Championships
Other FIH competitions
Monitor programme performance through robust review systems and recommend improvements where required.
Lead national selection frameworks, ensuring fairness, transparency and alignment with performance objectives.
Ensure alignment between pathway and senior programmes to accelerate athlete progression.
 

 
3. Coach Leadership, Development & Education
Lead the recruitment, management and performance review of national programme coaches and relevant high performance staff.
Design and implement a national coach development framework for performance coaches operating at regional and national level.
Lead the education, mentoring and continuous professional development of performance coaches across the Hockey Ireland system.
Create a clear coaching pathway and succession planning model for emerging Irish coaches.
Build a connected coaching community that shares:Best practice
Current trends
Technical/tactical innovation
Consistent standards
Work in partnership with Hockey Ireland’s four provinces, clubs and education partners to strengthen the overall coaching ecosystem.
 

 
4. Talent Pathway & Player Development
Oversee the identification, development and transition of talented players from provincial, club and junior environments into national programmes.
Ensure the player pathway is inclusive, transparent and accessible to all eligible athletes.
Maintain a long-term athlete development model aligned to the:Technical demands
Tactical demands
Physical demands
Psychological demands
of modern international hockey.
Work with provinces, clubs and schools to support talent identification and progression opportunities.
 

 
5. Performance Services, Welfare & Innovation
Lead the integration of:Sports science
Sports medicine
Physiology
Strength & conditioning
Nutrition
Psychology
Analytics
across all programmes.
Lead the use of data, technology and performance intelligence to enhance:Coaching
Selection
Athlete development
Competitive advantage
Ensure consistent standards, policies and service delivery models across senior and pathway teams.
Build strong relationships with:Sport Ireland Institute
Sport Northern Ireland
Other specialist providers
Promote athlete health, welfare, wellbeing and safe return-to-play processes.
Ensure athlete voice, safeguarding and welfare are embedded across all high performance environments.
 

 
6. Stakeholder & External Relations
Develop effective working relationships with:Sport Ireland
Sport Northern Ireland
Olympic Federation of Ireland
Provinces
Clubs
FIH
EHF
Other relevant bodies
Represent Hockey Ireland as an ambassador for high performance nationally and internationally.
Support communications, advocacy and profile-building of Hockey Ireland’s high performance programmes.
Collaborate internally with finance, participation, coaching, competitions and commercial functions to align organisational priorities.
 

 
7. People Leadership
Recruit, lead and develop a high calibre coaching, specialist and support team.
Ensure the consistent application of a performance management system across the high performance function.
Establish annual performance plans for staff with clear objectives and targets to be attained or exceeded.
Ensure clear communication, accountability and collaborative ways of working across all programmes.
 

 
8. Financial & Operational Management
Develop and manage annual high performance budgets in conjunction with the CEO and Finance team.
Ensure effective resource allocation, strong governance and value for money across all programmes.
Contribute to funding applications, reporting requirements and income generation opportunities linked to high performance.
Oversee contracts, service agreements and operational planning relevant to the high performance system.
 

 
Person Specification
Essential Experience & Qualifications
Relevant third-level qualification in sport, coaching, performance science, management or related discipline.
Significant leadership experience in elite/high performance team sport.
Proven experience leading multidisciplinary teams and managing staff performance.
Strong understanding of:International team sport environments
Athlete pathways
Coach development
Experience in:Strategic planning
Budgeting
Performance reporting
Experience managing relationships with:Funding agencies
Governing bodies
Key stakeholders
Demonstrated ability to build high-performing cultures and deliver results.
Eligible to work in Ireland.
 

 
Desirable
Experience in hockey or another international team sport.
Experience at:Olympic level
World Cup level
Major championship level
Experience designing:Coach education systems
Talent pathways
Experience securing public or commercial funding.
Knowledge of Irish sporting structures and funding systems.
 

 
Key Competencies
Strategic leadership
Excellent communication and influencing skills
People leadership and coach development
Decision-making under pressure
Financial and operational management
Innovation and continuous improvement
Collaboration and relationship management
Integrity, discretion and professionalism
 

 
General
This job description is intended as a guide to the main responsibilities of the role and is not exhaustive. Duties may evolve in line with the needs of Hockey Ireland