Vacancy: IRFU Age Grade Manager

The IRFU are inviting applications for the position of Age Grade Manager. Reporting to the Director of Rugby Development, the successful candidate will provide leadership for the IRFU & Branches in developing and promoting a player pathway from Mini rugby, Age Grade (Youth/Schools) and into adult rugby.

The primary focus will be on implementing and managing national structures and policies to support Clubs and Schools to optimise the transition and retention of male and female players through to the adult game.
 
This position is being offered on a 3 year fixed-term, full time contract basis. The successful candidate will be based in Dublin but the role will involve travel to the four IRFU branches.
 
To apply for this position, please send your CV to Eoin Ward, HR Generalist (IRFU) at recruitment@irfu.ie.

Please note the closing date for applications is strictly 17:00 on Friday, 30^th September 2016. 
 
For a full job description, please see below.
 
The IRFU is an equal opportunities employer
 
AGE GRADE MANAGER
 
REPORTING TO:
 
Operationally & functionally:       Director of Rugby Development
 
WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:
Provincial Domestic Rugby Managers
Head of Coach Development
High Performance Manager
National Talent Manager
Women’s & Girls Rugby Executive
Participation Manager
  
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

• High-level knowledge of rugby, both playing and coaching
• Experience of working with Youth and Schools to develop rugby
• Experience of successfully managing diverse teams in pursuit of agreed goals
• Experience of working successfully within a volunteer-driven organization
• Experience of working with a diverse range of stakeholders, including the public sector
• Proven success at building excellent working relationships

SKILLS AND PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES:

• Willing to take ownership of delegated responsibility, and be held accountable for decisions and delivery
• Clear thinker, displays sound and rational operational judgement
• Positive influencer, with strong negotiating skills both upwards and downwards within an organization
• Collaborative worker with a desire to get the best out of colleagues and teams
• Constantly challenging self and others, pursuing improvement in structures, systems and processes
• Excellent interpersonal skills in all directions, within and outside the organization and at all operational levels
• Excellent communicator (written and verbal) with an ability to communicate complex and technical information effectively with a diverse range of people
• Able to present a highly professional image when representing the IRFU
• Commands the respect of others, and is seen as someone of integrity, sincerity and in whom others place their trust

 
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Key member of the IRFU Rugby Department, with responsibility for achieve the Strategic Objectives for Age Grade Rugby, namely increasing the recruitment and retention of Age Grade Players within the club and school sectors. 
• Support the Age Grade Chair (Committee) in establishing direction, policies & regulations to for Age Grade Rugby (in line with the recommendations of Invigorating Age Grade Rugby Report). 
• Ensure developments are technically (‘rugby’) correct and in line with LTPD, IRFU Technical Model & Talent Development Programme.  Maintain and update all technical aspects of Age Grade Rugby (i.e. models, documents, policies etc).  Have the ability to engage and debate ‘rugby’ technical elements of Age Grade Rugby with a range of stakeholder groups.  
• Establish and manage a range of strategies to support Clubs and Schools to increase player retention and the number of male and female players who transition from Age Grade into the adult XVs game.  Promote different variants of the game to increase retention of players, within their existing operational capacities (i.e. Sevens, X-7s & small sided games).  
• Coordinate with the lead of the Spirit programme to develop, implement and manage  appropriate policies to ensure player welfare and positive rugby environment for players in clubs and schools (including Mini-Rugby)
• Provide guidance to the Branches on competitions and their regulations to ensure that there is appropriate competition for the player’s development (and reduce barriers prevent player(s) from participating) in line with LTPD, IRFU Technical Model & Talent Development Programme.
• In conjunction with IRFU Head of Coach Development and Provincial staff, support the implementation of coach development programmes to increase the number of IRFU Accredited coaches within the Age Grade Rugby
• Working with the IRFU Talent Manager, to create alignment of national and provincial competition plans to facilitate the development and identification of potential National Age Grade Players (including regulations, protocols and player welfare programmes)
• Coordinate, in conjunction with the IRFU Talent Manager, the representative interprovincial programme for Age Grade Rugby (including establishing the fixture lists, regulations, protocols, and the anti-doping programme and competition agreements). 
• Monitoring the development of Age Grade Rugby, and regular reporting to committees and working groups.  Establishing annual IRFU and Branches objectives in relation to the Age Grade Development and player transition, and to monitor and review on a regular basis