Head of Athlete Support

Organisation: UK Sports Institute
Salary: £67,527
Location: Flexible (any UKSI site)
Contract type: Permanent (Full time)
Closing date: 22 March 2026
Interview date: 15 April 2026
Job Description: The UK Sports Institute is seeking to appoint a Head of Athlete Support to a pivotal senior leadership role within the UK high-performance sport system.

This role carries system-wide accountability for the operational delivery of athlete support, ensuring athletes receive high-quality, evidence-informed and athlete-centred services that positively impact wellbeing, development and Games-time performance.

Operating at the intersection of athlete welfare, investment and performance delivery, the Head of Athlete Support plays a critical role in translating strategy into practice and ensuring consistency, quality and trust across sports, sites and partners.

Reporting to the Director of Athlete Services, the Head of Athlete Support will: The Role Reporting to the Director of Athlete Services, the Head of Athlete Support will:

- Lead the operational delivery of the cross-system Athlete Support Strategy, in partnership with UK Sport and system stakeholders
- Provide senior leadership to Athlete Support, Performance Lifestyle and Athlete Investment services
- Ensure athlete investment processes are robust, fair, transparent and athlete-centred
- Drive consistency, quality and impact of athlete support delivery across the system
- Use data, insight and feedback to continuously improve athlete experience and readiness
- Lead the implementation and evolution of the Performance Lifestyle delivery model
- Ensure athlete support services meet safeguarding, duty of care and governance requirements
- Build trusted relationships with Performance Directors, coaches and system partners
- Inspire, develop and sustain a high-performing, values-led workforce

This is a hands-on leadership role, requiring strong operational grip, sound judgement and the ability to act decisively in complex, high-pressure environments.

If you feel you can bring the expertise we require to help us shape our future, we very much look forward to hearing from you.
How to apply: To be considered for this World Class Opportunity, candidates will be required to submit a CV and answer the application questions via the UKSI careers portal. The answers to the application questions should bring your CV to life by highlighting your relevant skills, experience and attributes that would make you the ideal candidate for this role. Apply here: https://uksportsinstitute.co.uk/opportunity/head-of-athlete-support/