Administration Assistant:
Usually offered as an entry-level type role with a strong emphasis on providing generalist administrative support to the coaching staff. Great role to get your foot in the door. Some of these roles are offered as a Traineeship, therefore have a very different salary structure.
Key skills: Thorough working knowledge of Microsoft Office including the basics or Word, Outlook, Excel and Power Point. Typing speed of 35-40 minimum (good accuracy), strong customer service skills, IT knowledge, team worker, ability to work unsupervised.
Education: Qualifications range from HSC/VCE equivalent through to Degree. Candidates with a broad skill base are usually preferred. Business College qualifications are often acceptable.
Sportspeople Tip: Candidates with broad skill and experiences are usually highly regarded for general Administrative Assistant roles. Think about upgrading your skills in IT, learning some basic accounting software (MYOB) and developing your database management skills.
Salary Range: Usually in the range of $27,000 to $35,000 per annum, plus superannuation. Traineeships will usually be at a lower "adult-wage" while some employers pay above market to get the best candidates.
Similar roles: Receptionist; Administrative Coordinator.
Coach:
Sports coaches operate on a professional or voluntary basis. They usually specialise in a particular sport. The degree of personal proficiency required to coach a sport varies widely and can include a voluntary junior coach through to an elite coach of a highly commercialised sport.
Skills: A considerable amount has been written on the skills required to be a coach. A coach plays a vital role in the development of a participant?s skills and knowledge and therefore has a major impact on the outcomes of this involvement. Communication, motivation and planning are integral elements of any coaching role.
Education: There are no specific education requirements to become a sports coach; however it goes without saying most coaches have a broad knowledge and experience of the sport in which they are involved. For senior salaried coaching roles there has been a growth in formal qualifications including Bachelor degrees, Certificate III or IV, and at the more community based level, Certificate I or II.
Salary Range: Salaries range from voluntary through to what is considered some of the most lucrative packages available in the sector. Some national coaches earn in excess of $500,000 per annum including performance bonuses. General coaching positions typically range between $35,000 to $60,000 per annum, plus superannuation.
Sportspeople Tip: Visit the Australian Sports Commission website http://www.ausport.gov.au/coach/how.asp
Development Officer:
Usually offered with a specific development emphasis such as coaching, participation or membership. Depending on the role most employers require experience of 2-3 years minimum.
Key skills: Sound administration, organisation and finance skills; strong communication skills - both verbal and written; thorough working knowledge of Microsoft Office including Word, Outlook, Excel and Power Point; good understanding of the structure of sport; team worker, ability to work unsupervised; time management skills.
Education: Qualifications are usually specific to the development emphasis. For example a Coaching or Participation Development Officer might require a background in the specific sport and possibly some playing experiences, possibly with a sports sciences or coaching qualification. Degree or equivalent is usually highly regarded and commonly requested.
Salary Range: Usually in the range $35,000 to $40,000 per annum, plus superannuation.
Similar roles: Development Coordinator.
High Performance Manager:
High Performance Managers are commonly employed at national and state level, although some local or regional roles do present from time to time. Many of these roles require a senior level coaching background within the specific sport, while others require a good working knowledge of elite athlete programs without a deep knowledge of the specific sport. High Performance Managers usually work in conjunction with a Coaching Director or Coach.
Key Skills: Strong strategic planning skills, with experience working to medium term objectives; experience in writing and managing high performance operational (business) plans; budgetting experiences, including funding acquittal and allocation of athlete grants; strong communication skills, both written and verbal; ability to represent the organisation at stakeholder level; high level organisation skills along with superior time management ability; solid understanding of the application of sports science as it relates to enhanced athlete performance; good understanding of anti-doping regulations; understanding of event schedules and timetabling.
Education: An undergraduate degree would be considered minimum, possibly with a sports sciences or coaching emphasis. A background in the specific sport via coaching or playing/participation is usually well regarded.
Salary Range: There is a substantial range of salaries for High Performance Managers with some roles over the past 12 months exceeding $250,000 per annum. The typical salary range for a High Performance Manager in a State Sporting Organisation is $50,000 to $70,000 and for a National Sporting Organisation is $80,000 - $100,000 per annum.
Similar roles: Coaching Director.
