State Manager - Nsw / Act

Special Olympics Australia (SOA) is the peak national body developing and delivering inclusive sport and physical activity programs for people with intellectual disability (PWID). Since 1976, SOA has provided year-round inclusive sports training and competition in sports for children and adults with intellectual disability in communities throughout Australia.

Special Olympics has grown from a backyard camp into a global movement that has been transforming the lives of PWID for almost 50 years. Today, Special Olympics supports over 5 million athlete and unified partners in more than 170 countries.

Special Olympics Australia strives to ensure that everyone living with an intellectual disability has opportunities to participate in sport. The dedicated network of volunteers and coaches create accessible sports training, coaching and competitions that allow PWID to reach their personal best – in sport and in life.

Special Olympics Australia provides:

• grassroots sporting, recreational, social and health activities in local communities around Australia;
• an environment where people with an intellectual disability can develop physical fitness, build self-esteem, demonstrate courage and make friends; and 
• competition pathways ranging from weekly club events, to regional, state and national games culminating in the Special Olympics World Games.

Hours of work: Full Time - 38hrs per week (plus additional reasonable hours as required)

Reporting to: National Participation Manager

Primary Purpose of Position:

To lead and coordinate all participation opportunities across NSW and ACT, including weekly sports training and competitions, participation growth initiatives and other endorsed Special Olympics programs across school, community and club settings. The State Manager – NSW/ACT will engage and collaborate with sport partners, affiliated organisations and endorsed delivery providers. They will liaise closely with the State Committees, particularly for the provision of competitions like State Games.

Location: Flexible Working Arrangements (Combination of SOA Office and Remote/Home Based)

Key Relationships and Interactions:

• Key SOA Staff
• State Committee Members and State Sports Coordinators
• Key Industry Stakeholders including State Sporting Organisations (SSO)
• Affiliates and Program Delivery Partners
• Athletes, Volunteers and Coaches
• Schools and Community Organisations
• State Branch of Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR)
• State and Local Government

Section Two - Selection

Essential Criteria:

1. Tertiary qualifications and/or equivalent experience in the sport and recreation sector
2. Experience building and maintaining effective relationships with a range of volunteers
3. Experience working with key sport partners and stakeholders to deliver mutually beneficial outcomes
4. Experience coordinating sport and physical activity programs in a variety of formats and settings
5. Experience in planning, project management and/or community program delivery
6. Experience working as part of a team with a proven record of creating positive organisational culture
7. Demonstrated leadership and experience working autonomously and in a fast-paced environment
8. Demonstrated ability to work under pressure, and to plan, prioritise and organise to meet deadlines
9. Demonstrated understanding of appropriate behaviours when engaging with children or vulnerable adults
10. Strong alignment with Special Olympics Australia’s Vision and Mission

Desirable Criteria:

1. Knowledge and understanding of the disability sector and issues facing people with intellectual disability
2. Knowledge and understanding of the Australian sporting landscape.
3. Knowledge and understanding of the Special Olympics General Rules and competition pathways
4. Understanding of the workings of not-for-profit and/or national disability sporting organisations
5. Experience in membership organisations and an understanding of federated or matrixed organisations

Personal Qualities:

1. Confident engagement style with the presence to represent Special Olympics Australia (at national and state level) and to influence and advocate for the organisation
2. Driven, ambitious and with a strong sense of accountability, supported by a flexible and agile approach
3. Excellent interpersonal, collaborative and communication skills to support the organisation and culture, and engage with staff, volunteers, and other stakeholders
4. Demonstrated capacity to cooperate and work well with others in a cross-functional environment, as part of a multi-faceted team, to promote and pursue organisational goals
5. Mature, resilient, and highly ethical, with impeccable integrity and judgement
6. Strong alignment to the Special Olympics culture

Section Three - Key Accountabilities

Sport Development

• Coordinate delivery of sports programs via a network of clubs or providers
• Develop and grow the number of sports offered in underserviced parts of the state
• Grow participation in SOA target/priority sports, as determined by national strategy
• Provide leadership and training to sports coaches and deliverers across the state

Sporting Competitions

• Work with the SOA Competition Team to foster more competition opportunities
• Support the State Sport Coordinator/s to offer more local sporting competitions
• Support the State Committee to plan, coordinate and deliver the State Games
• Fulfil the role of Head of State Delegation at the National Games (as applicable)

Participation Programs

• Coordinate increased delivery of SOA programs in school and community settings
• Establish new Special Olympics hubs for program delivery, including in partnerships
• Develop and grow the number of programs offered in identified growth areas
• Facilitate the transition of participants from programs into weekly sports training
• Oversee delivery and coordination of grant funded projects, staff and resources

Stakeholder Engagement

• Develop and maintain relationships with SSOs and sport providers
• Develop and maintain a network of endorsed program delivery partners
• Develop and maintain a growing network of affiliate partners
• Develop and maintain a working relationship with the local LETR program
• Work collaboratively with the State Committee, including State Chair

Leadership

• Provide staff management of SOA State Coordinator/s (where applicable)
• Provide leadership and training to State Sport Coordinators and in turn, coaches
• Represent SOA at meetings, workshops, forums and other events, as required
• Actively contribute to a ‘One Team’ culture at all levels of the organisation
• Always role model the SOA values and place athletes at the centre of what we do

Special Olympics Australia is a child-safe organisation. We require all applicants to undergo background checks and screening before or during any appointment. Our Commitment Statement to Safeguarding Children and Young People and other important information can be found here.

We embrace diversity in gender, age, ethnicity, disability, religion and sexual orientation. We are committed to providing a safe environment for all our members.