Performance Advisor

Location: Field based

Contract Type: Full time, Permanent

Closing Date: 31 August 2026

Interview Dates: The first stage of the interview process will be an assessment centre. The assessment centre will be on Tuesday 8 September, 10am-3pm at Loughborough. This will be followed by a second round interview on Thursday 17 September.

Who are UK Sport?

We are the UK’s trusted high-performance experts, powering our greatest athletes, teams, sports and events to achieve positive success. Investing a combination of National Lottery and Government funds, we support our Olympic and Paralympic sports to realise their world-leading potential and help bring major sporting events to the UK. Our purpose is to lead high-performance sport to enable extraordinary moments that enrich lives.

We are on a mission to create the greatest decade of extraordinary sporting moments; reaching, inspiring and uniting the nation. That mission is underpinned by three ambitions for UK high-performance sport; to keep winning and win well, to grow a thriving sporting system and to harness those to inspire positive change. Working with the sports and events we fund, DCMS, and our partner organisations across the UK high-performance system, we are building on 25 years of ever-growing success to write the UK’s next chapter for Olympic and Paralympic sport.

About the role

The Performance Advisor plays an influential role in supporting the future of Olympic and Paralympic high-performance sport. Working with a portfolio of funded sports, the role helps increase their capability to win and win well by strengthening World Class Programmes and supporting the pursuit of athlete potential.

At the heart of the role is the ability to build trusted, effective relationships with sports and their senior performance leaders. Through partnership working, insight and constructive challenge, the Performance Advisor develops a strong understanding of each sport’s performance context, identifying the factors that contribute to progress, success and sustainable world-class delivery.

The role uses evidence, observation and professional judgement to evaluate performance, understand risks and opportunities, and help sports translate insight into practical action. This includes supporting performance planning, reviewing progress against objectives, aligning support from across UK Sport and external partners, and contributing expertise in areas such as performance leadership, athlete development, coaching, performance culture, talent and pathways, data and insight, science or medicine.

Performance Advisors work collaboratively across multidisciplinary teams and the wider high-performance system, providing clear advice and support that enables joined-up decision making. The postholder will be expected to work with autonomy, take ownership of priorities, contribute positively to team objectives, and travel regularly across the UK and, where required, internationally.

Who will I be working with?

You’ll work closely with colleagues across UK Sport at all levels, as well as external partners and stakeholders, building trusted relationships that support effective decision making across the organisation.

This role supports our hybrid working approach, with regular office attendance required in line with team and organisational expectations.

About you

You will bring significant experience of working within, or alongside, high-performance sport environments, with a strong understanding of what supports athlete, team and programme success. You will be credible and confident operating with senior performance leaders, able to build trusted relationships, provide valued advice and support, and offer constructive challenge where it can help improve performance outcomes.

You will combine strong analytical judgement with excellent communication, facilitation and influencing skills, using evidence, insight and professional judgement to assess complex situations and translate them into practical recommendations. You will be comfortable working independently, taking ownership of priorities and outcomes, while contributing positively to a collaborative team culture and showing a clear commitment to continuous learning, development and improvement.

What you’ll bring

• Significant experience working within, or alongside, high-performance sport environments, with a strong understanding of what supports athlete, team and programme success.
• Proven ability to evaluate performance using evidence, observation and professional judgement, identifying progress, risks, opportunities and areas for improvement.
• Experience working collaboratively across multidisciplinary teams and stakeholder groups to provide joined-up, coherent advice and support.
• Excellent communication, facilitation and influencing skills, including confidence leading discussions with senior leaders and diverse stakeholder groups.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to assess complex information, identify key issues and develop practical recommendations.
• Ability to work autonomously, take ownership of priorities and deliver high-quality outcomes with accountability.
• A collaborative approach, contributing positively to team effectiveness, shared objectives and continuous improvement.
• Commitment to continuous learning, self-development and professional growth.
• Ability and willingness to travel regularly across the UK and, where required, internationally.

It’s a bonus if you also have:

• Experience holding accountability for performance outcomes in a high-performance sport role.
• Specialist expertise in areas such as coaching, athlete development, performance planning, talent, pathways, data, science, medicine or performance leadership.
• Experience managing relationships with funded sports or comparable partners.
• Experience providing strategic advice and identifying performance risks, opportunities and development needs.
• Experience leading or contributing to cross-system projects involving multiple teams or organisations.

UK Sport also offer a competitive benefit package that includes:

• Defined contribution pension scheme.
• Employer pension contribution of 10%.
• 6 weeks Annual Leave (depending on contract)
• A flexible approach to working where possible.
• Interest free season ticket loans.
• Enhanced Maternity/Paternity/Parental Leave.
• Healthy Lifestyle allowance of up to £600 per year.
• Cycle to Work Scheme.

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace culture where difference is embraced, and exceptional talents can flourish. We strongly encourage applicants from all backgrounds and walks of life, and we’re interested to hear from people that may require flexible working patterns or may want to work less than a full-time contract.

As we strive to ensure our workforce is more reflective of UK society, we particularly welcome applications from people with ethnically diverse backgrounds or with a disability or long term health condition as these groups are currently underrepresented at UK Sport.

We offer a guaranteed interview to applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role if:

• They have a physical or mental impairment that has a “substantial” and “long-term” negative effect on their ability to do normal daily activities, or
• Who do not identify as White British/English/Welsh/Scottish/Northern Irish

To qualify, you need to demonstrate in your application that you meet the minimum criteria for the role and belong to one of the above groups. If you have a disability, please contact us to discuss any adjustments you may need at interview or in the role, if successful.

UK SPORT IS PROUD TO BE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER. At UK Sport we are determined to lead by example, striving to be a role model organisation in all we do in equality, diversity and inclusion, from leadership to delivery.

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