Location: Sydney, Maroubra & Northern Beaches (with regional travel as required)

Reports to: General Manager of Sport & Community

Direct Reports:

• Technical Performance Manager (0.8)
• Talent Development Coordinator (1.0)
• Performance Contractors (Coaches, S&C Providers)

Key Relationships:

• Surfing NSW Athlete Performance Manager
• Surfing Australia Head of Pathways

About Surfing NSW

Founded in 1963, Surfing NSW is the peak body for surfing in New South Wales, covering all disciplines of the sport. We play a pivotal role in driving participation, supporting our boardriding clubs and their members to foster fun, safe and inclusive environments for all surfers, as well as provide a high-quality development pathway for aspiring surfers in the state.

The organisation boasts a dynamic network of over 125 clubs, 12,000 members, more than 50 surf schools and coaches, delivering hundreds of thousands of lessons each year. In addition, more than 750K surfers routinely make waves every day across the state’s magnificent coastline. Beyond fostering sport participation, Surfing NSW is committed to enhancing community wellbeing through its extensive educational programs. These include lifesaving first response training, aquatic trauma treatment, therapeutic surfing programs, and ocean career development, ensuring a holistic approach to the development of the sport and its participants.

Role Summary

Surfing NSW is seeking a dynamic and visionary Talent Development Manager to lead the implementation and development of the organisation’s talent strategy in New South Wales. This senior leadership role will be pivotal in co-designing, launching, and scaling a state-wide talent development strategy that identifies and nurtures the next generation of talent in New South Wales.

The successful candidate will have both experience and a proven track record of success across high performance sport environments, with experience leading the innovation, strategic planning and delivery of performance programs. This role requires assembling and managing a team of multi-disciplinary specialists - including surf coaches, strength and conditioning experts and performance specialists - with a specific focus on cultivating a network of surf coaches across NSW to assist the sport build and scale its capacity. Strong stakeholder engagement skills are essential as you will need to build credible relationships with key partners, including local clubs, national bodies, providers, and community leaders, to ensure the program’s success and sustainability. This is a rare opportunity to drive innovation and make a lasting impact in a sport experiencing unprecedented growth and excitement.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the co-design and implementation of the Talent Development Strategy - Develop and execute a state-wide talent pathway that nurtures aspiring and talent identified athletes from grassroots to elite, aligned with Surfing NSW’s long-term performance vision.
• Establish and manage a multi-disciplinary team - Recruit, onboard, and lead a team of experts including coaches, strength and conditioning staff, psychologists, and performance analysts to deliver integrated athlete support.
• Develop and grow a network of High-Performance Coaches - Identify, engage, and develop a state-wide network of surf coaches equipped with the tools and knowledge to support athlete progression at every level.
• Drive Innovation across Talent Programs - Introduce new technologies, methodologies, and performance practices to elevate the quality and effectiveness of athlete development initiatives.
• Build and maintain Strategic Partnerships - Cultivate strong relationships with local clubs, National Sporting Organisations (NSOs), sport science providers, and community stakeholders to ensure program sustainability and support.
• Monitor Program Impact and Athlete Progression - Develop metrics and reporting tools to track athlete development, coach performance, and overall program effectiveness, making data-informed adjustments as needed.
• Champion a Culture of Excellence and Inclusion - Foster an environment that values continuous improvement, diversity, athlete well-being, and inclusive participation across all talent levels
• Lead Talent Identification and Selection Initiative - Oversee systems and events for identifying emerging talent, including camps, competitions, and scouting opportunities across NSW
• Manage Program Budgets and Reporting - Oversee financial planning and resource allocation for all talent programs, ensuring accurate budget tracking, timely reporting, and alignment with organisational priorities.

Key Attributes

• Skilled in managing project timelines, budgets, and resource allocation.
• Comfortable overseeing logistics, compliance, and administrative processes alongside strategic work.
• Demonstrated experience in elite athlete development environments, ideally within Olympic or professional sport systems.
• A comprehensive understanding of athlete development principles, performance frameworks, talent ID & development , and athlete support services.
• Proven ability to lead programs, people, and strategy with clarity and purpose.
• Capable of inspiring and influencing a wide range of stakeholders – from grassroots coaches to elite athletes and board members.
• Strong ability to think long-term, build structured pathways, and align talent initiatives with Surfing NSW’s broader strategic objectives.
• Willing to challenge the status quo and bring fresh, evidence-based ideas to program design and delivery.
• Embraces emerging technologies and performance data to drive results.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills to build relationships across diverse groups, including athletes, coaches, partners, and community leaders.
• Comfortable presenting strategy and outcomes to executives, boards, and funding bodies.
• Ability to identify, recruit, and mentor a high-performing, multi-disciplinary team.
• Invested in developing others and fostering a positive team culture.
• Thrives in dynamic, fast-paced environments.
• Can adjust plans, stay composed under pressure, and find solutions in the face of challenges.
• An appreciation of the sporting landscape, surf culture, how best to engage with athletes and the wider sports community an advantage
• Highly developed interpersonal and presentation skills
• A team player with an ability to work collaboratively and muck in when needed
• The successful applicant must have a valid working with children check (employee)

Working for Surfing NSW

Join Surfing NSW and contribute to a mission-driven organisation where your work directly impacts the grassroots surfing community. Enjoy a competitive benefits package, flexible work arrangements and a beachfront office. This role offers the opportunity to shape and grow within a dynamic non-profit setting and refine the way Surfing NSW connects with its community.