Director of Sport

Kearsney College is a leading independent boarding and day school for approximately 650 boys from Grades 8 to 12. The 125-acre estate is set in a country atmosphere on the edge of the Valley of a Thousand Hills, just outside Durban. Kearsney has an outstanding record of academic achievement in the IEB Matriculation Examinations and provides a dynamic sporting and cultural offering.

Kearsney College invites suitably qualified and experienced candidates to apply for the position of

Director of Sport

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide visionary leadership for the College’s sports programme, ensuring a culture of excellence, participation, and sportsmanship across all age groups;
• Oversee the smooth running of all on and off-campus inter-school fixtures and elite sporting events;
• Organise and co-ordinate the logistics of all sports fixtures;
• Act as the public face of sport at Kearsney College and champion its place in the broader school curriculum;
• Ensure clear and regular communication of sporting events and initiatives to key staff and across the school community;
• Appoint, manage, and monitor coaching staff and MICs and lead the quality assurance and accountability mechanisms for all sports staff;
• Work with MICs and professional sports coaches to manage competitive sports teams, skilfully balancing mass participation with provision for elite sports teams;
• Manage the sports office;
• Liaise with relevant staff across the school to ensure sporting activity sign-up and registration is fully integrated into the wider school systems;
• Responsible for all sports facilities, including the High-Performance Centre and the High-Performance Programme;
• Approve, organise, and oversee sports tours;
• Work with the Commercial Director and Operations to maintain financial oversight and effective use of budgets;
• Develop and implement strategic initiatives to enhance Kearsney’s reputation as a leading sporting institution;
• Be actively involved in the marketing of the College on and off campus;
• Promote student well-being through sports, instilling values such as resilience, teamwork, and integrity;
• Oversee the smooth running of all festivals, events, and tournaments hosted on campus;
• Strengthen relationships with parents, alumni, and external sporting organisations to enhance the school’s sporting profile and resources.

Requirements:

• Proven track record of leadership in a school or professional sporting environment;
• Ability to build strong, respectful, and productive relationships with all stakeholders;
• Sound problem-solving, planning, and time management skills;
• Capacity to be self-directed and autonomous and work with others externally and internally;
• Experience with leading/managing a large department;
• Flexible with respect to hours of work, ability to work on weekends, public holidays, during festivals and events on campus as well as during school holidays;
• Willingness to live near the school or on the school property; be someone who enjoys community life and does not resent its intrusion on privacy;
• Commitment to a healthy lifestyle;
• A passion for sports education and developing young athletes to reach their full potential;
• Relevant qualification in sports management, coaching, or a related field.

Interested candidates must apply in writing by submitting their CV to vacancies@kearsney.com with the job title in the subject line. Names and contact details of three referees should be included.

Closing date: 15 January 2025.

Kearsney College reserves the right not to make an appointment. An application does not entitle the applicant to an interview. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. If applicants are not contacted within 21 days of submitting their application, they may accept that it has been unsuccessful. By applying for this vacancy, you grant Kearsney College consent to use your CV and personal details to apply for this specific role.