Reports To: Chief Operations Officer (COO) but working closely with the Executive Leadership team (ELT)

Location: RAS Ltd operates multiple regional offices across NSW (including Wagga Wagga, Tamworth, Lismore, Newcastle, Central Coast, Western Sydney and South West Sydney). The successful candidate may nominate one of these as their primary base for day-to-day work. The role will also involve work across various regions as required, including travel to meet with partners and stakeholders. Flexible working hours may occasionally be necessary to accommodate engagement with global partners.

Position Purpose

The General Manager - Performance & Innovation leads the Performance & Innovation pillar of RAS Ltd’s Strategic Roadmap, driving high-performance initiatives that develop athletes and coaches, strengthen talent pathways, and embed performance services across the RAS network.

 This role ensures alignment with the FTEM framework and the RAS National Approach while leading a holistic, inclusive system that prepares athletes and coaches for the future. The GM P&I champions evidence-based practice, integrates innovative technology, and fosters collaborative partnerships to deliver sustainable impact in the lead-up to Brisbane 2032 and beyond.

 Working closely with the Performance Support Manager, the GM P&I provides leadership and strategic direction to ensure alignment between performance outcomes, operational delivery, and regional engagement across the RAS network.

Key Responsibilities

Athlete & Coach Development

• Lead the design and delivery of athlete development programs aligned to FTEM (primarily T1–T4).
• Oversee talent identification initiatives, ensuring the conscious inclusion of para-athletes, First Nations peoples, and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities.
• Drive education, mentoring, and development pathways for coaches and performance staff.
• Ensure national and state alignment through collaboration with AIS, NIN, SSOs, and NSOs.

2. Performance Support Services

• Oversee performance support functions including S&C, nutrition, psychology, wellbeing, athlete monitoring and holistic education (Leadership, Media, Integrity).
• Implement an integrated Athlete Management System to capture longitudinal data, enable benchmarking, and drive research outcomes.
• Establish consistent performance standards across all Academies.

3. Innovation & Research

• Deliver research and innovation projects that enhance athlete and coach development, in line with Roadmap priorities.
• Benchmark against global best practice to reduce duplication and drive efficiency.
• Lead adoption of new technologies and evidence-based practices across the network.

4. Events & Pathway Experiences

• Contribute to and provide leadership within the ELT to deliver high-quality benchmarking events, including the Academy Games and Talent ID opportunities.
• Ensure events deliver meaningful athlete experiences, talent ID outcomes, and coach development opportunities.
• Identify opportunities to reduce cost and increase equity of access for athletes and families.

5. Partnerships & Stakeholder Engagement

• Lead evidence-based reporting frameworks and shared data systems that demonstrate the performance impact of RAS Ltd programs across NSW.
• Coordinate and prepare performance, participation, and outcomes reporting for submission to the State Governments and other relevant state agencies, ensuring data and insights clearly demonstrate alignment with state strategic priorities (e.g. sector growth, inclusion, and talent pathway development).
• Build and sustain strong partnerships with AIS, NIN, SSOs, NSOs, universities, and research bodies.
• Drive collaborative initiatives that improve outcomes across the RAS network.
• Represent RAS Ltd in national and international forums related to performance and innovation.

6. Leadership & Governance

• Lead, mentor, and support the Performance Support Manager and broader performance staff to ensure effective delivery.
• Contribute to the ELT and support the delivery of the RAS Ltd Roadmap across all four pillars.
•  Ensure compliance with safeguarding, integrity, and governance requirements.

Reporting Relationships

This position reports directly to the Chief Operations Officer. Additional support is available with others in the Executive Leadership Team (ELT), including the CEO, GM – Commercial & Community, GM – Growth & Operations, and GM – Finance & Governance.

The role is required to work in a close and collaborative manner with other Regional Managers and the COO.

Expectations / Qualifications / Experience

Essential

• Tertiary qualification in Sports Science, Human Movement, High-Performance Sport, Coaching, or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated experience in leading athlete and coach development programs within a high-performance or pathway environment.
• Proven ability to lead and manage multi-disciplinary teams, fostering collaboration across coaching, performance services, and sport science disciplines.
• Strong knowledge of athlete development frameworks (e.g., FTEM, LTAD) and their application within regional and national sporting systems.
• Experience in stakeholder engagement and relationship management with sporting organisations, institutes, community, and professional partners.
• Demonstrated capacity to design, deliver, and evaluate performance programs that prepare athletes and coaches for progression through the pathway.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build inclusive and culturally safe environments for athletes and staff.

Desirable

• Postgraduate qualifications in High-Performance Sport, Sports Management, Performance Science, or related field.
• Relevant professional accreditations (e.g., Strength & Conditioning - ASCA/NSCA; High-Performance Coaching; Sports Analytics/Technology).
• Experience in integrating innovation, technology, and research into applied sporting practice.
• Knowledge and demonstrated commitment to inclusion and diversity across para-sport, First Nations athletes, CALD communities, and women and girls in sport.
• Experience in budget management, reporting, and resource allocation within a high-performance environment.

Key Competencies

• Strategic Thinking
• Leadership and Team Development
• Risk Management
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Innovation and Technology Adoption
• Operational Efficiency
• Communication and Collaboration

Remuneration / Entitlements

A Total Remuneration Package (TRP) will be agreed with the COO, the TRP equals a Base Salary, plus 12% Super. In addition to the TRP a supplementary benefits package will be contained within the Employee Terms and Conditions Agreement supplied separately to this document. 

Notes

• The role will be employed by RAS Ltd, servicing its member regions.
• You must have a valid Working With Children Check prior to being appointed by the RAS Ltd.
• The Regional Manager will be subject to an initial 6-month probationary period  
• Interviews for this role are planned for 4th & 5th December with a planned start date of 2nd February 2026