Closing date: 22nd October 2014

Working closely with the England Cricket Teams’ coaches and other support staff, the objective of the PDW programme is to equip aspiring and current elite cricketers with the skills needed to deal with the unique demands of playing at the highest level whilst also preparing them for life after their sporting career.

As part of this drive, the ECB is seeking applications from appropriately experienced candidates willing to work nationally and internationally with England Teams. Reporting directly to the ECB National Lead for PDW, the post holder will have responsibility for delivering world class lifestyle, career, education & well-being support to senior men players within the England set-up plus additional duties with other squads / teams as/when required

This permanent (3 days a week) position requires considerable travel within the UK so it is essential the post holder possesses a current and full driving license. The post holder will work from home and be expected to travel to practice, preparation or match venues around the counties on most days, whilst working irregular out of office hours. You must also be prepared to travel with teams to camps and on tours as agreed with your line manager.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the Professional Cricketers Association (PCA) work in close partnership to provide world class Personal Development & Welfare (PDW) support to aspiring and current professional cricketers.

You will need excellent communication and presentation skills and possess the ability to apply them in challenging environments. Experience (working within a multidisciplinary team) of the provision of Personal Development & Welfare support to elite athletes and high performing teams would be an advantage. The successful applicant will have a successful track record of developing people, a good knowledge of the UK education system, career change & transition management. You should have a good understanding of elite sport (as a former athlete or from work) and an undergraduate honours degree in a related field to Personal Development & Welfare.

Job Description

PURPOSE OF THE JOB 

Enable England players and coaches at all levels to manage their lifestyles so as to sustain success on and off the field.

Whilst the England PDW reports to the National Lead for PDW on all matters, he or she also has a strong responsibility to work in close association with the Head of Science and Medicine, the Performance Director, England Team Director and National Lead Coaches.

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Alongside the National Lead, support & deliver an England player induction/exit programme at all levels 

Develop, deliver and case manage a programme of individual and group support (as appropriate) to enable England Senior Men players to successfully manage the transitions within international cricket. 

Provide individual support to England players to enable them to effectively manage their:

• Dual Aspirations: players able to fully commit to developing their cricket expertise whilst also being able to continue their education 
• Personal: Family life in conjunction with demands of international cricket (e.g. dislocation), Self-awareness through psychometrics, Perspective through community involvement.
• Management & Organisation: Off field lifestyles in a manner that supports high performance, Relationships with agents, Commercial commitments
• Communication: Relationship with the media & social media, Relationships with financial advisors
• Impression Management: ECB corporate and social responsibilities, Lifestyle as role models
• Tour Support: Pre & during tour preparation, monitoring and support
• Provide case management for England Performance Programme and England Senior players, ensuring most effective & appropriate support is sourced for clinical & non-clinical issues. Signpost and refer players to other professional services on an as needs basis and, ensure you always operate within your professional boundaries / expertise
• Provide confidential, independent & non-judgemental personal wellbeing support 
• Provide timely change and crises management in conjunction with the CMO and England Teams psychologists, so that England players and coaches personal crises are effectively managed with minimum impact on preparation or performance. 
• Liaise & assist the ECB Psychology staff where possible to develop and deliver an effective stress management programme (including non-performance related stressors) for players and coaches at all levels. 
• Attend England players’ case conferences and performance appraisals where appropriate 
• Work closely with the PCA as appropriate, to develop programme resources and, integrate delivery with PCA Personal Development Managers 
• Undertake appropriate professional development to keep abreast of best practice. 
• Liaise closely with the National Lead and be prepared to undertake any other duties related to the work of these functions.

NATURE AND SCOPE OF JOB

Job Context

The aim of the ECB Science and Medicine is to optimise England's best players' availability and performance through the provision of cricket's best science and medicine services. PDW is responsible for enabling England players and coaches at all levels to manage their lifestyles so as to sustain success on and off the field. They are responsible for contributing to setting the tone for and managing the environment to ensure a shared welfare responsibility; such as educating the environment & culture of player welfare as critical element of performance etc

Working Relationships

• ECB PDW National Lead
• Managing Director of England Cricket
• ECB Science and Medicine Practitioners
• ECB Performance Director
• Head of Science and Medicine
• Professional Cricketers’ Association – Personal Development Managers
• ECB National Coaches
• FCC Head Coaches & Directors of Cricket
• Professional & County Academy Players
• ECB National Coaches
• ECB Director of Elite Coach Education
• County Directors of Cricket & staff within those counties 

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

Essential: 

• Demonstrated familiarity within the game of cricket / professional sport 
• Good undergraduate honours degree preferably in a related field to PDW 
• Experience of working in multidisciplinary teams preferably in high performance sport 
• An in-depth understanding of the issues facing high performers and the challenges of career transitions 
• Experience of working with both established senior and aspiring young performers 
• Flexibility towards work schedules, willingness to travel abroad and extensively within the UK 
• Proven leadership and rapport building skills 
• Excellent interpersonal and communications skills 
• Full Driving Licence 
• Computer literacy, including MS office, excel and databases.

Desirable: 

• Postgraduate degree in related field – Leadership/Mentoring/Coaching/Counselling/Psychology 
• Excellent knowledge and experience in career and education guidance 
• Knowledge of the UK education system 
• Research and development experience in applied personal development/ lifestyle support 
• Experience in the preparation and delivery of CPD workshops.

Closing Date for Applications: Wednesday 22 October 2014

Provisional Interview Date: Monday 3 November 2014 at the National Cricket Performance Centre, Loughborough