JOB PURPOSE

The Manager / Assistant Manager, Sports & Recreation is responsible for leading and strengthening Taylor’s University’s sports and recreation ecosystem to deliver a vibrant, inclusive and high-performing student experience. The role provides leadership across competitive sports, Team Taylor’s, campus recreation, sports facilities, student sports organisations and athlete development, ensuring that programmes are strategically aligned with the University’s priorities for student wellbeing, engagement, leadership and holistic development.

The role leads a team of sports professionals and works closely with coaches, student-athletes, student organisations, government agencies, sports associations and internal stakeholders to strengthen both competitive performance and recreational participation. The Manager / Assistant Manager is expected to drive innovation, operational excellence, safety and service standards while building a sustainable sports culture that enables students of different abilities and interests to participate, compete and thrive.

KEY RESULT AREAS / RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Sports & Recreation Strategy and Leadership 

Strategic Planning

Develop and implement the annual Sports & Recreation strategy, operational plan and priorities aligned with the University’s strategic direction and Student Experience objectives.

Portfolio Leadership

Provide overall leadership and oversight across Team Taylor’s, competitive sports, recreational sports, campus-wide programmes, sports facilities and student sports organisations.

Annual Planning & Performance

Establish clear annual objectives, KPIs and measures of success covering student participation, competitive performance, facility utilisation, student satisfaction and programme impact.

Innovation & Continuous Improvement

Benchmark leading practices across universities and the sports industry and introduce innovative approaches to enhance sports participation, athlete development, student experience and operational effectiveness.

Data-Driven Management

Analyse participation, facility utilisation, competition performance, student feedback and other relevant data to identify trends and recommend improvements.

2. Team Taylor’s & Competitive Sports Development

Team Taylor’s Strategy

Develop and implement a structured strategy for Team Taylor’s to strengthen competitive performance in priority national and international university competitions.

Athlete Development

Establish structured athlete development pathways incorporating coaching, conditioning, performance monitoring, wellbeing, sportsmanship and leadership development.

Competition Planning

Oversee annual competition calendars and establish performance targets for university teams participating in major tournaments and championships.

Performance Monitoring

Monitor and evaluate team and individual athlete performance against established targets and implement appropriate improvement strategies.

Team Taylor’s Code of Conduct

Ensure all athletes understand and uphold the Team Taylor’s Code of Conduct, promoting discipline, integrity, respect, sportsmanship and responsible representation of the University.

Talent Identification

Develop mechanisms to identify emerging sporting talent among current and prospective students and create opportunities for their progression into Team Taylor’s.

3. Coaching & Athlete Performance Management

Coaching Framework

Develop and oversee a structured coaching framework that ensures consistency, quality and measurable athlete development across university sports teams.

Coach Management

Identify, appoint and manage qualified coaches and trainers, establishing clear performance expectations, deliverables and evaluation mechanisms.

Coaching Quality

Conduct regular reviews of coaching effectiveness and ensure coaching practices reflect recognised standards, athlete welfare principles and contemporary sports practices.

Athlete Wellbeing

Collaborate with relevant internal and external professionals to support athletes in physical conditioning, injury prevention, mental resilience, nutrition awareness and overall wellbeing.

Performance Culture

Build a high-performance environment that balances competitive excellence with academic responsibilities, personal development and student wellbeing.

4. Campus Sports, Recreation & Inclusive Participation

Campus-Wide Programming

Develop and deliver inclusive sports and recreational programmes including Inter-Faculty Games, Sports & Fitness Week, recreational leagues, wellness challenges and other engagement initiatives.

Inclusive Sports Participation

Expand opportunities beyond competitive athletes by creating accessible programmes for beginners, recreational participants and students from diverse backgrounds and abilities.

Active Campus Culture

Promote physical activity and active living as integral components of student wellbeing and the overall campus experience.

Participation Growth

Develop strategies to increase student participation and sustained engagement in sports, fitness and recreational activities.

Programme Evaluation

Evaluate programmes using participation data, satisfaction feedback and impact measures to inform future programming.

5. Sports & Recreational Facilities Management

Facility Operations

Oversee the effective operation and utilisation of sports and recreational facilities to ensure a safe, accessible and positive user experience.

Facility Planning

Review utilisation trends and student needs and recommend enhancements, upgrades or new facilities to support changing demands.

Maintenance & Quality

Work closely with Facilities Management and relevant vendors to ensure facilities, playing surfaces and equipment are properly maintained.

Booking & Utilisation

Oversee facility booking systems and establish appropriate priorities and controls to optimise student and institutional utilisation.

User Experience

Monitor feedback and service standards and implement improvements to enhance overall satisfaction with sports facilities.

Safety & Emergency Preparedness

Ensure appropriate safety procedures, emergency protocols, first-aid provisions and risk controls are established and regularly reviewed.

6. Sports Clubs & Student Leadership Development

Student Organisation Advisory

Provide strategic oversight and guidance to sports clubs and assigned student organisations, ensuring compliance with University policies and student development objectives.

Leadership Development

Mentor student sports leaders in governance, succession planning, event management, conflict resolution, team management and responsible leadership.

Club Development

Support sports clubs in developing sustainable membership, leadership structures, annual plans and programmes.

Student-Led Initiatives

Empower students to conceptualise and lead sporting and recreational initiatives while maintaining appropriate institutional oversight.

SHINE Award Integration

Promote recognition of sports participation, leadership and achievement through the SHINE Award and other relevant recognition platforms.

7. Partnerships, Government & Sports Industry Engagement

Government Relations

Represent Taylor’s University in engagements with relevant government agencies, the Ministry of Higher Education, Ministry of Youth and Sports and other sports-related bodies.

Sports Associations

Develop productive relationships with national and state sports associations, federations and relevant professional bodies.

Industry Partnerships

Build partnerships with sports organisations, corporate partners, facility providers and other stakeholders to enhance student opportunities.

Sponsorship Development

Identify and secure sponsorships, partnerships and in-kind support that strengthen Team Taylor’s and broader sports programmes.

Institutional Visibility

Leverage competitions, partnerships and sporting achievements to strengthen Taylor’s visibility and reputation within the university and national sports ecosystem.

8. People Leadership & Team Development

Team Leadership

Lead, coach and develop Sports & Recreation staff by establishing clear responsibilities, performance expectations and development priorities.

Performance Management

Set individual goals, conduct regular performance conversations and ensure staff remain accountable for agreed deliverables and timelines.

Capability Development

Identify capability gaps and provide appropriate coaching, training and professional development opportunities.

Collaborative Culture

Foster a positive, accountable and high-performing team culture built on collaboration, trust, continuous improvement and service excellence.

Workload Management

Ensure appropriate allocation of responsibilities and resources across BAU operations, competitions, events, facilities and strategic projects.

9. Governance, Risk Management & Operational Excellence

Risk Management

Ensure appropriate risk assessments and mitigation plans are completed for sports programmes, competitions, student activities and facility operations.

Health & Safety Compliance

Work closely with Environment, Health & Safety (EHS), Facilities Management and other relevant stakeholders to ensure compliance with institutional safety requirements.

Policies & Procedures

Develop, review and implement policies, SOPs, manuals and guidelines governing sports participation, facilities, athlete conduct and student activities.

Financial Management

Develop and manage the annual Sports & Recreation budget, ensuring responsible expenditure, financial accountability and effective utilisation of resources.

Reporting

Prepare regular management reports covering participation, competitive performance, facilities, financial utilisation, risks, student feedback and strategic initiatives.

10. Additional Responsibilities

Commitment to Service Excellence

Uphold high standards of professionalism, quality assurance, customer experience and service excellence across all Sports & Recreation functions.

University Projects & Committees

Represent the department and contribute to relevant University committees, working groups and institutional projects.

Additional Duties

Undertake other responsibilities assigned by the Senior Director / Director in response to evolving departmental and institutional priorities.

MINIMUM ACADEMIC/PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATION

Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Science, Sports Management, Sports Coaching, Physical Education, Business Management or a related discipline.

A Master’s Degree in Sports Management, Sports Science, Business Administration or a related discipline will be an added advantage.

Professional certification in sports coaching, fitness, sports management, project management or related areas will also be advantageous.

Related Experience

Assistant Manager: Minimum of seven (7) years of relevant experience in sports and recreation, higher education, sports management, coaching, student development or related fields, with demonstrated experience in leading projects, programmes or small teams.

Manager: Minimum of eight (8) to ten (10) years of progressive relevant experience, including demonstrated people-leadership responsibility and experience managing a significant sports, recreation, student engagement or related portfolio.

Experience in competitive sports management, athlete development, sports facilities, university sports, stakeholder management and large-scale sports events will be highly valued.

KEY COMPETENCIES

Competencies – Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong understanding of university sports, recreational programming, athlete development and student engagement.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute sports and recreation strategies aligned with institutional priorities.
• Strong people-leadership capability with experience coaching, developing and managing staff performance.
• Strong project and programme management skills covering planning, budgeting, resource allocation, execution, risk management and evaluation.
• Ability to develop competitive sports strategies and establish measurable performance targets for athletes and teams.
• Knowledge of coaching principles, athlete wellbeing, performance development and sports governance.
• Strong understanding of sports facility operations, utilisation, safety and service management.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously while maintaining accountability for timelines and outcomes.
• Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building capabilities across students, staff, senior management, government agencies, sports bodies and external partners.
• Strong negotiation, partnership development and sponsorship management capabilities.
• Sound financial management and budgeting capabilities.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret participation, performance and utilisation data and translate insights into action.
• Excellent written, presentation and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to develop policies, procedures, risk controls and operational standards.
• Competent in Microsoft Office, Generative AI, data visualisation, project management and relevant sports management platforms.
• Demonstrated ability to innovate and introduce new approaches that increase participation, inclusivity and operational effectiveness.
• Strong commitment to student development, wellbeing, service excellence and holistic education.

Competencies – Behavioural

• Demonstrates strong leadership presence and accountability.
• Strategic and forward-thinking while remaining operationally grounded.
• Proactive and results-oriented with strong follow-through.
• Able to inspire, coach and develop staff and student leaders.
• Collaborative and capable of influencing across different levels of the University.
• Demonstrates high emotional intelligence and sound judgement.
• Resilient and composed when managing high-pressure competitions, events or operational situations.
• Student-centred and committed to creating inclusive opportunities.
• Innovative and open to challenging existing practices constructively.
• Professional, ethical and trustworthy.
• Demonstrates a strong commitment to health, wellbeing and active living.
• Builds positive relationships while maintaining appropriate accountability and standards.
• Comfortable making decisions and taking ownership of outcomes.
• Demonstrates continuous learning and keeps abreast of developments in sports, recreation and student experience.