About the Victorian Institute of Sport:

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 supportive 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 

About the role:

The Performance Scientist - Physiology is offered as a 12-month contract position concluding June 2026. This role is responsible for applying scientific principles and thinking to identified Programs, including the Individual Athlete Program, on specific projects. The position is primarily aimed at achieving the following goals:

• Supporting VIS scholarship athletes improve their sporting performances
• Supporting VIS coaches to achieve their program KPI’s
• Work with broader VIS performance support staff to provide an inter-disciplinary approach to making a performance impact
• Advance knowledge in identified areas of priority
• Contribute to the VIS Performance Science and Performance Support Departments, and the VIS as a whole 
• Lead the delivery of Quality Assurance practices as they relate to physiology support at the VIS

Job responsibilities may include but not limited to: 

• Demonstrate leadership in the area of performance science (physiology) to various identified Programs, including the Individual Athlete Program
• Ensuring all support is provided within an ethical framework and are based on sound quality assured, evidence-based, best practice scientific principles.
• Work with coaches to help develop their understanding and application of physiological concepts and performance science to improve performance outcomes.
• Provide athlete testing and monitoring methodologies, analysis, reporting and interpretation.
• Provide support within the daily training and competition environments.
• Monitor and critically evaluate all aspects (including safety) of the Sports Science laboratory and Environmental Chamber and taking necessary systematic actions to ensure that equipment or methods satisfy given requirements for quality.
• Actively promote, support, and implement the National Quality Standards and AIS Best Practice Guidelines, to give confidence that athlete performance data collected and used to inform decisions is valid, accurate, reliable and comparable nation-wide.
• Support compliance with relevant legislation and [NSO’s] policies and procedures, including equity and health & safety and exhibit good practice in relation to same.
• Be a leading example of the principles and values embodied in the VIS Code of Conduct, and behave, act and communicate at all times to reflect fairness, ethics and professionalism.
• Comply with relevant Equal Employment Opportunity and Work Health and Safety regulations.

Skills and Experience

Required qualifications/ experience:

• Degree in Human Movement / Sports Science / Sports Physiology
• A minimum of 2 years working within a high performance (HP) Sport environment
• Current ESSA Sport Science Accreditation Level 1
• Current Working with Children / Working with Vulnerable People Check
• Current First Aid and CPR
• Current Driver’s License
• Comprehensive scientific knowledge of First Principles: physiological systems, measurement, equipment and technology
• Ability to provide individual athlete profiling: athlete testing and monitoring methodologies, analysis and interpretation
• Well-developed knowledge of training science: principles and practices
• Proven success in utilizing knowledge and skills for planning and supporting athletes across a season/campaign to contribute to successful outcomes and performance progression
• Demonstrated ability and commitment to work in?an?interdisciplinary team with HP staff, coaches, and athletes
• Developed problem identification and solving skills with a capacity to deal with complexity
• Demonstrated experience in influencing behaviour and/ or leadership
• Experience at National level competitions (e.g., National Championships)

Desirable qualifications/ experience:

• Postgraduate degree in Human Movement / Sports Science / Sports Physiology
• A minimum of 5 years full time equivalent working within a HP Sport environment
• Current ESSA Sport Science Accreditation Level 2
• Exposure working across a diverse range of sports and athlete populations
• Experience travelling with development and/or senior National teams providing support at benchmark events

The VIS is committed to ensuring a safe and inclusive space for all, celebrating our differences where everyone is valued, included and supported. Guided by our motto 'Success in Sport & Life’, we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, cultures, identities, ages, and abilities including those who identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and people with a disability. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable opportunities for all, including making reasonable adjustments in recruitment and workplace processes to ensure everyone can perform at their best.