Sport Ireland ASPIRE Programm

Position: Aspire Graduate

Location: Irish Sport HQ, Sport Ireland Campus, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, with remote working Contract

Length and Programme duration: 11-month contract (Feb 2023 – Jan 2024) Full time: Full time - 39 hours per week. Hours of work will be those necessary to carry out the full responsibilities of the post, some of which may be in the evening and/or weekends.

Essential Requirements: The graduate must:

• Have graduated in 2021 or 2022, with a Master’s or Primary Degree in the area of sport science, sports management or in another closely related field.
• Be currently unemployed i.e. not in current employment.
• Be available for the 11 month contract duration.
• Be eligible to work in Ireland on a full-time basis.

Excellent working conditions and exciting high performance, with the opportunity to avail of continuous professional development training specific to the role and as deemed appropriate.

Reporting to: Paralympic Pathway Lead

The Sport Ireland ASPIRE Programme:

ASPIRE is a graduate employment programme that is being funded by Sport Ireland. This programme has been approved by Government with support from the Dormant Accounts Fund. The aim of this programme is to enable a number of recently qualified sport and physical activity graduates to gain relevant experience working in the sports sector and to develop relevant skills and knowledge. The successful graduate will receive an 11-month contract and will work directly for Paralympics Ireland. Paralympics Ireland are responsible for the recruitment and selection of the graduate.

Paralympics Ireland

Paralympics Ireland is the National Paralympic Committee (NPC) for Ireland, recognised by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), and is responsible for preparing and managing the Irish team at the Paralympic Games which are held every four years in parallel with the Olympic Games.

Our mission is to support Irish Para-Athletes to reach finals and deliver podium places at the Paralympic Games. We will provide support and advice to NGBs in their delivery of a high-performance pathway for athletes with a disability ensuring that the next generation of Irish Paralympians will be amongst the best prepared and most successful Para-Athletes competing in future Paralympic Games.

We are building our team for the Paris Paralympic Games and beyond. This is an exciting time for Paralympics Ireland as we look to grow our team to better support the performance aspirations of our Team Ireland Para athletes, our member National Governing Bodies (NGBs) and our key national partners.

This role will significantly contribute to our aim to improve our support to our member NGBs. Our Paralympic Pathways strategy focuses on growing the capability and capacity of sports to identify, develop and progress Paralympic Performers.

Key roles and responsibilities

The ASPIRE Graduate will support the Paralympic Pathways Lead, and Sports Team, to deliver key projects over the course of the programme. This placement offers the successful graduate a significant opportunity to gain relevant sport sector experience in the following areas: High performance, Performance Pathways, Athlete recruitment campaign; para-sport athletes. Previous experience in a similar role is not required.

• Working with our member NGBs to support the development of their performance pathways for the next generation of Paralympic performers (Athletes and Coaches).
• Supporting the Paralympic Pathways Lead on the design and delivery of key programmes that will support NGB Para Sport Leads to identify, develop and progress Paralympic performers.
• Contributing to growing a culture of progression and performance amongst our Para Sport community through using insight, innovation and learning and development opportunities

Key support tasks are likely to include:

• National Para-Sport recruitment campaign
• Participating in a project team and contributing to achieving objectives
• Researching and sharing impactful insight in relation to classification/sport category gaps
• Developing project plans for testing days
• Supporting selection day logistics and the testing process
• Supporting with NGB relationship management and coordination of applications Paralympic Pathway Reviews
• Support the coordination of workshops with NGBs
• Co-facilitation of the review
• Supporting review outcome and follow-up planning and engagement

This job description is a guide to the general range of duties and is not intended to be either restrictive or definitive and may be subject to periodic review.

Paralympics Ireland Values

• Excellence - We pursue excellence in everything we do and strive to achieve the highest standards
• Determination – We are determined to succeed and perform, growing in strength and pride as we face each challenge and showcase our ability to the world
• Equality – We challenge stereotypes, transform attitudes and break down social barriers with a diverse and inclusive approach through sport
• Respect – We respect each other in our actions and words, on and off the field of competition, supporting each other, working as a team to produce results.
• Transparent – We are open, ethical, and transparent and operate to the highest level of good governance and integrity

Paralympics Ireland Sport Guiding Principles

Through the course of designing and delivering our work programme we are:

• Designing our work to sustainably support athlete, sport and community needs
• Supporting NGBs to grow their capabilities and capacities
• Steering the Paralympic sector with intel and insight
• Driving a culture of learning and development in the Para sport/HP community
• Role modelling high performance practices
• Communicating what we can do for and with Paralympic sports
• Champions of a partnership and collaboration approach

The closing date for applications is 17^th February. Interviews will be scheduled for 21^st and 23^rd February. Please note that there is an orientation day for the successful candidate on Monday 27^th February at Sport Ireland Campus.