Director, Rugby Operations

Rugby Ontario

This position has a broad mandate and the ability to support Rugby Ontario’s vision of “Rugby for All” will be paramount.  A strong leader of people and visionary at the core, the Director, Rugby Operations will be expected to foster collaborative relationships that will create a cohesive, supportive and progressive rugby environment in Ontario.  The incumbent will bring the experience, knowledge and personal attributes necessary to inspire growth in the game, build sustainable programming and drive alignment from community to club to province and beyond.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

Leadership

• Influential leader within Rugby Ontario and within the Senior Leadership Team.
• Lead all rugby development and technical staff on the execution of Rugby Ontario’s Strategic Plan, annual operational plans and budgets for the Rugby Operations department.
• Official spokesperson for all Rugby Ontario technical programs, unless otherwise delegated.
• Participate in all provincial and national technical and high-performance meetings, unless otherwise delegated.
• Establish and manage relationships with all key technical leaders within the rugby community (e.g. Member Clubs & Branch Unions, professional clubs, education system leaders & organizations, etc.).

Development and High Performance

• Effectively lead and manage the permanent and seasonal / volunteer workforce within the Rugby Operations department, overseeing their delivery of high-quality programs in accordance with annual operational plans and budgets.
• Lead the development and implementation of strategies that maximize the performance potential of all rugby participants in Ontario.
• Contribute to the strategic direction of Rugby Ontario, leading the tactical and operational delivery of initiatives that demonstrate impact against our development and performance goals and that support the club community.
• In alignment with Rugby Canada’s national direction, lead and shape the transition and implementation of clear development pathways for players, coaches and match officials.
• Ensure the design and delivery of provincial and high performance programming (Ontario Blues programs) that enables talented players and coaches to achieve higher levels of performance and development.
• Re-establish Rugby Ontario’s Long Term Development principles in alignment with strategic participation and performance initiatives, ensuring continuous assessment and improvement for life-long engagement of participants.
• Accountability and responsibility for the implementation and promotion of participant welfare strategies that ensure rugby remains a safe, positive, inclusive and gender-equitable sport (e.g. Safe Sport; EDI&A policies & practices; concussion prevention, education and management).
• Lead and support initiatives that celebrate and advance our Rugby culture and values throughout all development and performance programming.
• Develop and maintain strong and regular communication with Rugby Canada and Provincial Union technical and development staff and the leadership of other partner organizations (e.g. Canadian Sport Institute Ontario; Coaches Association of Ontario; education system leaders; Canada Summer Games and Ontario Summer Games, etc.).
• Maintain and expand the close working relationship with the Toronto Arrows Rugby Football Club, Canada’s first and only professional rugby union team, collaborating on strategic initiatives that align with and support the high performance system in Ontario.

• Support the Club Community
• Build Belonging
• Perform with Excellence
• Invest in the Future
• Advance our Rugby Culture

Compensation & Benefits

Upon joining the team, you will receive;

• $72,000 – $80,000 per annum, based on experience;
• Comprehensive health and dental benefits;
• 3 weeks of paid time off annually;
• Full-time salaried position, standard business hours (9 am – 5 pm). The nature and scope of this position may from time to time require, particularly through extended periods of the year, the need for work to be scheduled outside regular business hours, including evenings and weekends with a willingness to travel when required.
• Hybrid work environment – remote four (4) days a week, in office minimum of one (1) day a week in the Rugby Ontario office. (Office Address: Abilities Centre, 1 Jim Flaherty Street, Whitby ON L1N 0J2)