The Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) is Ireland’s largest sporting association. It is celebrated as one of the great amateur sporting associations in the world.
The GAA promotes Gaelic games such as Hurling, Football, Handball and Rounders and works with sister associations to promote Ladies Football and Camogie. The Association also promotes Irish music, song and dance and the Irish language as an integral part of its objectives. The GAA has remained an amateur Association since its founding. Players, even at the highest level, do not receive payment for playing and the volunteer ethos remains one of the most important aspects of the GAA.
The GAA is based on the traditional parishes and counties of Ireland. As a community-based Association, it is often stated that it is difficult to determine where the community end sand the GAA club starts as they generally overlap and are intertwined. The GAA has over 2,200 clubs in all 32 counties of Ireland.
The Role
The Director of Coaching and Games Development is responsible for leading, managing and co-ordinating the GAA National programme of coaching and games development across all provinces, counties and clubs, and provides clear strategic leadership, development management and implements the GAA’s game development policies.
Key Responsibilities of the Role
The main responsibilities of the Director of Coaching and Games Development can be classified under the following headings:
- Manage and monitor the efficient and timely implementation of Association policies, actions and programmes relating to coaching and games development;
- Work closely with the relevant Coaching and Games Development Committees; be a member of those Committees and provide reports and inputs to such meetings as necessary;
- Manage and support the staff of the Coaching and Games Development Department;
- Advise the Association, including the Árd Stiurthóir and Uachtarán, in relation to current and future games development policies;
- Prepare and manage the annual financial budget, in conjunction with the GAA National Finance Director, clearly identifying compliance criteria for all units to enable the drawing down of funding for each project/initiative;
- Ensure that the Association’s coaching and games development programmes are adequately communicated to all stakeholders;
- Ensure compliance throughout the Association with coaching and games development policies and funding criteria;
- Manage games development staff at Central and Provincial levels, setting out appropriate employee development programmes and provide guidance/support to Provincial Games Managers in their management of other Provincial & County Games Development personnel, including staff development/education programmes, as may be necessary;
- Provide guidance/support to other GAA sections in so far as their policies may impact on current or future games development projects/initiatives;
- Primary contact with the Association for Sport Ireland and Sport NI in relation to GAA games development policies and funding requests for current and future programmes/initiatives;
- Represent the Association (as required) at national/international meetings/functions/events relating to player and games development activities;
- Engage with other sporting organisations in Ireland and abroad to help identify possible future strategies/policies for the Association;
- Prepare and submit reports to the Árd Stiurthóir, Sport Ireland and Sport Ni as required;
- Planning and delivery of National Coaching and Games Development Conferences.
The Person
The GAA seeks applications from high-calibre dynamic individuals with proven leadership and management experience and strong knowledge, experience and understanding of the GAA, its structures, ethos and values in addition to extensive technical knowledge of the Association’s player pathway and games development environment in provinces, counties, clubs and in the Educational Sector.
Essential Requirements
The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate evidence of the following:
- Demonstrable knowledge of the GAA, its structures, ethos and values;
- Proven technical knowledge of the GAA’s player pathway and games development environment in Provinces, Counties, Clubs and in the Educational Sector;
- Previous experience in developing and managing innovative games development initiatives from conceptualization to delivery through a results-orientated approach;
- Proven leadership skills and experience of managing and motivating results focused teams including goal setting, outcome management, mentoring, planning and performance evaluation;
- Previous experience in budget preparation, finance management and overseeing governance processes for multiple projects;
- Proven ability to work as part of a high-performing senior management team;
- Proven experience of collaborating and forging successful partnerships/relationships with internal and external stakeholders;
- Proven ability to positively and progressively influence player pathway and games development programmes in the GAA;
Desirable Requirements
The successful candidate should also be able to demonstrate evidence of the following:
- Qualification to a Graduate Degree (NFQ Level 7) in a relevant discipline;
- Proven organisational skills and ability to organise their time to the best advantage of the GAA;
- Proven written and verbal communication.
“Further Information
Further information on this role is available at www.mazars.ie (Search Ref. GAA0119).
All enquiries relating to this role should be directed to the Executive Recruitment Team by email to execrecruit@mazars.ie or by telephone on +353 (1) 449 4400.
Your Application
Applications are to be submitted via the online portal available at www.mazars.ie/Consulting/HRServices and must include:
1.A cover letter (max 2 A4 pages) outlining why you wish to be considered for the post and where you believe your skills and experience meet the requirements of the position of Director of Coaching and Games Development.
2.A comprehensive CV clearly showing your relevant qualifications, achievements and experience in your career to date.
Mazars will be managing all aspects of this recruitment project on behalf of the GAA.
No enquiries or canvassing should be made directly to the GAA.
Deadline for applications: Monday 9th September 2019 at 5pm GMT.
The GAA is an equal opportunities employer”