Director of Sport
Status
Actively Hiring
Date Listed19 March 2026
ContractPermanent
PlatformW5_SYNC
About This Role
Job Title: Director of Sport
Our Purpose at The Alice Smith School
Reflecting the sentiment of our school anthem: ‘Soon there were two, who were joined by a few’. Alice Smith initiated a movement with just two individuals. This courageous act ignited a positive ripple effect, inspiring numerous families to embark on this journey, fostering a supportive environment for countless learners and serving as a second home for many families.
In this spirit, we uphold the Alice Smith legacy by cultivating a nurturing community that encourages our students to approach the world with bravery, curiosity, and empathy.
Together, we strive to create a better world.
Our mission is anchored in three strategic pillars:
Our People
We are a diverse group of specialists and inquisitive minds collaborating to redefine education and guide learning in a constantly evolving landscape.
Our Students
We inspire students to pursue various paths with courage and curiosity, fostering an environment that empowers them to realize their full potential.
Our World
We are a connected, supportive community that innovates, explores, and learns together.
The Opportunity (Overview of the role)
A robust, diverse, and engaging sports and physical education program is a hallmark of any esteemed international school. The Alice Smith School offers opportunities across two well-equipped campuses for physical education development at multiple levels through its curriculum, recreational sports, and competitive fixtures both locally and regionally.
The Director of Sport (DOS) will be responsible for developing, leading, and managing the sports program while supporting physical education at Alice Smith School, aligning with its philosophy and aiming to enhance the physical development of every child. This includes providing access to a variety of quality opportunities for all students, from those who wish to participate to those on elite athlete pathways.
The DOS will oversee sports provisions on the Secondary Campus, manage the Assistant Head of Sport, and collaborate closely with the Head of Sports at the Primary level to ensure cohesion and equity throughout the school’s program. By engaging with and supporting Sport and Curriculum PE leaders, the DOS will ensure alignment with the school's comprehensive approach to sports across both campuses.
Leadership and Management Responsibilities
The DOS is line-managed by the Secondary Principal and reports directly to the Head of School.
The DOS holds the responsibility for:
•
Advancing the school’s dedication to local, regional, and international sports participation
•
Overseeing the entire school’s Sports Academies
•
Managing partnerships with key sports organizations
•
Supervising the Assistant Head of Secondary Sport and the broader sports team
•
Ensuring quality assurance of external coaches (paid and/or unpaid) while leading and/or supervising school sports
•
Managing parents and volunteers involved in the sports program across both campuses.
The DOS will actively engage in ensuring high-quality coaching throughout the sports program and will step in to cover coaching sessions or PE classes as needed.
A commitment to hours beyond the standard school curriculum schedule, including weekends, is crucial for this role due to internal sports programs and the school’s dedication to inter-school fixtures locally, regionally, and internationally.
Key Responsibility Areas as Director of Sport
1. Leadership of the Sports Team
•
Instill trust and confidence through exemplary classroom practice and a positive, solution-oriented mindset to enhance physical education quality
•
Facilitate communication between campus Sport and PE teams and senior leadership, promoting initiatives and ensuring timely information sharing
•
Foster a culture of high-quality professional dialogue, collaboration, and support for the professional growth of individuals and the team
•
Guide professional learning direction, identifying and accessing professional development opportunities and integrating this learning into staff training
•
Utilize coaching and mentoring techniques to empower PE and Sport leaders and team members while addressing challenging behaviors
•
Hold Sport leaders and coaches accountable for their professional conduct according to the KLASS Teachers’ Code of Professional Practice
•
Support coaches and program leaders in Sport by providing clear expectations, communication channels, resources, and feedback
•
Participate actively in the recruitment and induction process as necessary, onboarding new Heads of Sport and Coaches
2. Sports Leadership, Development, and Coordination
•
Conduct an annual review and update of the Sports Handbook
•
Ensure current and future whole school sports offerings align with the school’s philosophy for sport and future objectives
•
Establish a robust sports leadership and coaching framework using existing staff and community expertise to enhance the quality of the sports program
•
Forge essential partnerships with external sports clubs and providers to facilitate elite performance opportunities for KLASS students
•
Develop and manage a support network of sport leaders and coaches (paid and/or unpaid) for after-school and weekend sports fixtures and competitions
•
Enhance weekend sports offerings to increase student participation through a structured Student Pathway Model (Participation and Performance Pathways)
•
Consult with whole school leadership regarding extracurricular sports issues affecting overall school or specific campus operations
•
Manage the school calendar for sports to accommodate all regional and local inter-school commitments, while expanding in-school fixture and competition opportunities
•
Ensure continuity and progression in physical education development to enhance the school’s broader sports programs
•
Establish an appropriate code of conduct for all participants in the school sports program
3. Facilities, Programs, and Resources
•
Cultivate and maintain strong curriculum connections with local, regional, and international organizations, including employers, and educational links with other schools
•
Advise and support the leadership team in developing sports facilities
•
Oversee the effective use of existing sports facilities and resources to meet program needs
•
Guide grounds, maintenance, and administrative staff to ensure effective planning for sports events and maintenance of facilities and equipment
•
Coordinate with external consultants and suppliers of sports equipment as necessary
•
Collaborate with campus PE and Sport responsibility holders to prepare and manage an annual budget for sports
•
Ensure appropriate health and safety practices are implemented and followed for all sports programs and activities
•
Supervise additional sports facility usage, such as summer sports camps
4. Marketing, Public Relations, and Communication for School Sport
•
Ensure sports maintain a prominent profile throughout the school via presentations, exceptional learning environments, and cross-curricular collaborations
•
Enhance the visibility of school sports by collaborating with the marketing team to create materials for school publications like magazines and brochures
•
Initiate new publications that spotlight specific aspects of school sports promotion
•
Organize and manage school sports events that unite the wider school community
•
Guarantee effective internal and external communication regarding school sports through consistent and timely updates to leadership teams, staff groups, parent associations (such as the PTA), and partner organizations
•
Ensure professional, timely, and appropriate communication about sports to all stakeholders
•
Support school events and initiatives through active participation and collaboration
•
Provide guidance and develop key areas for annual sponsorship opportunities for school sports
•
Actively promote sponsors at school sports events where relevant
•
Manage media relations related to the overall image and branding that ASSA presents through sports
•
Collaborate with the marketing department to prepare press releases and arrange media coverage for sports events
•
Ensure appropriate media exposure of results from all sports events
•
Collect and analyze sports statistics and data, preparing and distributing reports to the leadership team as needed
5. Health and Safety, Policies, and Conduct
•
Ensure adherence to Health & Safety regulations, reporting any issues and taking necessary actions to maintain a safe environment
•
Exhibit professionalism, cultural sensitivity, collaboration, and a commitment to continuous improvement
•
Comply with the school's policies and procedures.
All staff are responsible for ensuring that safeguarding remains a priority in all we do, adopting a whole-school approach. For more details, please refer to the Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy.
The duties and responsibilities of this position may evolve as the school’s demands change. This job description may be reviewed at the reasonable discretion of the Head of School and Campus Principals in light of those changing requirements and in consultation with the post holder.
The performance of the DOS in these key responsibility areas will be assessed throughout the year as part of the school’s performance review and development process.
Review
Please refer to this job description alongside the WS Teacher JD, which it supplements, and the KLASS Teachers’ Code of Professional Practice.
Selection Criteria (Only required when hiring):
To be successful, the DOS is expected to possess or have the potential to develop skills and attributes in the following key areas deemed vital for the position:
•
Leadership
•
Team building
•
Networking
•
Decision making
•
Delegation and empowerment
•
Communication and relationship management
•
Self-management
•
Budget management
•
Performance management
Additionally, the DOS should be able to challenge and support colleagues to excel through:
•
Inspiring trust and confidence
•
Building team commitment
•
Analytical thinking
•
Proactive action
Safe Recruitment Practices:
As a school with a diverse collective of experts, we adhere to recruitment protocols that comply with the highest international standards. We conduct thorough pre-employment checks on candidate references and verify qualifications. For more information regarding the School's 'Pre-Appointment Checks,' please consult with our People and Culture representative, as the process may differ for individuals from various nationalities.
We prioritize meticulous examination of checks as essential for ensuring a safe and secure environment for our students. By upholding rigorous recruitment practices, we aim to provide a nurturing and safeguarded learning atmosphere for all our students.
Our Purpose at The Alice Smith School
Reflecting the sentiment of our school anthem: ‘Soon there were two, who were joined by a few’. Alice Smith initiated a movement with just two individuals. This courageous act ignited a positive ripple effect, inspiring numerous families to embark on this journey, fostering a supportive environment for countless learners and serving as a second home for many families.
In this spirit, we uphold the Alice Smith legacy by cultivating a nurturing community that encourages our students to approach the world with bravery, curiosity, and empathy.
Together, we strive to create a better world.
Our mission is anchored in three strategic pillars:
Our People
We are a diverse group of specialists and inquisitive minds collaborating to redefine education and guide learning in a constantly evolving landscape.
Our Students
We inspire students to pursue various paths with courage and curiosity, fostering an environment that empowers them to realize their full potential.
Our World
We are a connected, supportive community that innovates, explores, and learns together.
The Opportunity (Overview of the role)
A robust, diverse, and engaging sports and physical education program is a hallmark of any esteemed international school. The Alice Smith School offers opportunities across two well-equipped campuses for physical education development at multiple levels through its curriculum, recreational sports, and competitive fixtures both locally and regionally.
The Director of Sport (DOS) will be responsible for developing, leading, and managing the sports program while supporting physical education at Alice Smith School, aligning with its philosophy and aiming to enhance the physical development of every child. This includes providing access to a variety of quality opportunities for all students, from those who wish to participate to those on elite athlete pathways.
The DOS will oversee sports provisions on the Secondary Campus, manage the Assistant Head of Sport, and collaborate closely with the Head of Sports at the Primary level to ensure cohesion and equity throughout the school’s program. By engaging with and supporting Sport and Curriculum PE leaders, the DOS will ensure alignment with the school's comprehensive approach to sports across both campuses.
Leadership and Management Responsibilities
The DOS is line-managed by the Secondary Principal and reports directly to the Head of School.
The DOS holds the responsibility for:
•
Advancing the school’s dedication to local, regional, and international sports participation
•
Overseeing the entire school’s Sports Academies
•
Managing partnerships with key sports organizations
•
Supervising the Assistant Head of Secondary Sport and the broader sports team
•
Ensuring quality assurance of external coaches (paid and/or unpaid) while leading and/or supervising school sports
•
Managing parents and volunteers involved in the sports program across both campuses.
The DOS will actively engage in ensuring high-quality coaching throughout the sports program and will step in to cover coaching sessions or PE classes as needed.
A commitment to hours beyond the standard school curriculum schedule, including weekends, is crucial for this role due to internal sports programs and the school’s dedication to inter-school fixtures locally, regionally, and internationally.
Key Responsibility Areas as Director of Sport
1. Leadership of the Sports Team
•
Instill trust and confidence through exemplary classroom practice and a positive, solution-oriented mindset to enhance physical education quality
•
Facilitate communication between campus Sport and PE teams and senior leadership, promoting initiatives and ensuring timely information sharing
•
Foster a culture of high-quality professional dialogue, collaboration, and support for the professional growth of individuals and the team
•
Guide professional learning direction, identifying and accessing professional development opportunities and integrating this learning into staff training
•
Utilize coaching and mentoring techniques to empower PE and Sport leaders and team members while addressing challenging behaviors
•
Hold Sport leaders and coaches accountable for their professional conduct according to the KLASS Teachers’ Code of Professional Practice
•
Support coaches and program leaders in Sport by providing clear expectations, communication channels, resources, and feedback
•
Participate actively in the recruitment and induction process as necessary, onboarding new Heads of Sport and Coaches
2. Sports Leadership, Development, and Coordination
•
Conduct an annual review and update of the Sports Handbook
•
Ensure current and future whole school sports offerings align with the school’s philosophy for sport and future objectives
•
Establish a robust sports leadership and coaching framework using existing staff and community expertise to enhance the quality of the sports program
•
Forge essential partnerships with external sports clubs and providers to facilitate elite performance opportunities for KLASS students
•
Develop and manage a support network of sport leaders and coaches (paid and/or unpaid) for after-school and weekend sports fixtures and competitions
•
Enhance weekend sports offerings to increase student participation through a structured Student Pathway Model (Participation and Performance Pathways)
•
Consult with whole school leadership regarding extracurricular sports issues affecting overall school or specific campus operations
•
Manage the school calendar for sports to accommodate all regional and local inter-school commitments, while expanding in-school fixture and competition opportunities
•
Ensure continuity and progression in physical education development to enhance the school’s broader sports programs
•
Establish an appropriate code of conduct for all participants in the school sports program
3. Facilities, Programs, and Resources
•
Cultivate and maintain strong curriculum connections with local, regional, and international organizations, including employers, and educational links with other schools
•
Advise and support the leadership team in developing sports facilities
•
Oversee the effective use of existing sports facilities and resources to meet program needs
•
Guide grounds, maintenance, and administrative staff to ensure effective planning for sports events and maintenance of facilities and equipment
•
Coordinate with external consultants and suppliers of sports equipment as necessary
•
Collaborate with campus PE and Sport responsibility holders to prepare and manage an annual budget for sports
•
Ensure appropriate health and safety practices are implemented and followed for all sports programs and activities
•
Supervise additional sports facility usage, such as summer sports camps
4. Marketing, Public Relations, and Communication for School Sport
•
Ensure sports maintain a prominent profile throughout the school via presentations, exceptional learning environments, and cross-curricular collaborations
•
Enhance the visibility of school sports by collaborating with the marketing team to create materials for school publications like magazines and brochures
•
Initiate new publications that spotlight specific aspects of school sports promotion
•
Organize and manage school sports events that unite the wider school community
•
Guarantee effective internal and external communication regarding school sports through consistent and timely updates to leadership teams, staff groups, parent associations (such as the PTA), and partner organizations
•
Ensure professional, timely, and appropriate communication about sports to all stakeholders
•
Support school events and initiatives through active participation and collaboration
•
Provide guidance and develop key areas for annual sponsorship opportunities for school sports
•
Actively promote sponsors at school sports events where relevant
•
Manage media relations related to the overall image and branding that ASSA presents through sports
•
Collaborate with the marketing department to prepare press releases and arrange media coverage for sports events
•
Ensure appropriate media exposure of results from all sports events
•
Collect and analyze sports statistics and data, preparing and distributing reports to the leadership team as needed
5. Health and Safety, Policies, and Conduct
•
Ensure adherence to Health & Safety regulations, reporting any issues and taking necessary actions to maintain a safe environment
•
Exhibit professionalism, cultural sensitivity, collaboration, and a commitment to continuous improvement
•
Comply with the school's policies and procedures.
All staff are responsible for ensuring that safeguarding remains a priority in all we do, adopting a whole-school approach. For more details, please refer to the Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy.
The duties and responsibilities of this position may evolve as the school’s demands change. This job description may be reviewed at the reasonable discretion of the Head of School and Campus Principals in light of those changing requirements and in consultation with the post holder.
The performance of the DOS in these key responsibility areas will be assessed throughout the year as part of the school’s performance review and development process.
Review
Please refer to this job description alongside the WS Teacher JD, which it supplements, and the KLASS Teachers’ Code of Professional Practice.
Selection Criteria (Only required when hiring):
Essential
To be successful, the DOS is expected to possess or have the potential to develop skills and attributes in the following key areas deemed vital for the position:
•
Leadership
•
Team building
•
Networking
•
Decision making
•
Delegation and empowerment
•
Communication and relationship management
•
Self-management
•
Budget management
•
Performance management
Additionally, the DOS should be able to challenge and support colleagues to excel through:
•
Inspiring trust and confidence
•
Building team commitment
•
Analytical thinking
•
Proactive action
Safe Recruitment Practices:
As a school with a diverse collective of experts, we adhere to recruitment protocols that comply with the highest international standards. We conduct thorough pre-employment checks on candidate references and verify qualifications. For more information regarding the School's 'Pre-Appointment Checks,' please consult with our People and Culture representative, as the process may differ for individuals from various nationalities.
We prioritize meticulous examination of checks as essential for ensuring a safe and secure environment for our students. By upholding rigorous recruitment practices, we aim to provide a nurturing and safeguarded learning atmosphere for all our students.