Head of the Sport & Development Division (100%)

Founded on 14 April 1900 in Paris, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) is the world governing body for cycling. Its mission is to develop and oversee cycling in all its forms and for everyone, as a competitive sport, a healthy leisure activity, and a means of transport. Its headquarters are located in Aigle, Switzerland, at the UCI World Cycling Centre.

The UCI World Cycling Centre (WCC) is tasked with training, educating, and scouting athletes across all Olympic and Paralympic cycling disciplines. Prioritising emerging cycling nations, it supports each Continental Confederation and its National Federations in their development needs, while also offering the opportunity to train at the WCC to higher-level athletes who lack sufficient support, infrastructure, and competition opportunities within their National Federation.

The WCC is organised into three Divisions: the Sport & Development Division, the Services Division (including Events & Hospitality), and the International Relations, Solidarity & Education Division, the latter being directly managed by the WCC Director.

To strengthen its Sport & Development Division, the WCC is seeking a:

Mission:

As Head of the Sport & Development Division, you play a key role within the UCI World Cycling Centre (WCC). Reporting directly to the WCC Director, you lead the Sport & Development Division and are responsible for the strategic and operational development of athlete programmes. You oversee coaches and the mechanical workshop, and contribute decisively to the design and success of training programmes offered and delivered by the WCC teams.

You unite coaches, technical staff, trainers, and athletes around common performance goals, ensuring world-class training and performance support across all disciplines within a demanding and constantly evolving international environment.

Main responsibilities:

Leadership and management

• Lead the Sport & Development Division team: coaches across all disciplines, support for the WCC Continental Women’s team, and the mechanical workshop
• Set SMART objectives and key performance indicators (KPIs) for Division staff, aligned with the WCC Director’s goals, and conduct their annual appraisals
• Advise the WCC Director on performance and programme development
• Collaborate with the Services Division and the International Relations, Solidarity & Education Division, supporting special projects as needed
• Develop a high-performance culture focused on athlete development, technical excellence, and well-being.

Athlete training and performance programmes

• Design, implement, and monitor training and development programmes for athletes hosted at the WCC, in line with UCI strategy
• Organise training camps, courses, seminars, and meetings for athletes and coaches
• Ensure implementation and regular review of individual performance plans (IPPs)
• Establish and monitor performance measurement and athlete data tracking systems
• Supervise the mechanical workshop as well as equipment preparation and maintenance.

Talent identification and athlete pathways

• Develop and manage a programme for identifying athletes and coaches
• Develop criteria and guidelines for athlete pathways, including for UCI regional and continental development Satellites
• Provide technical support to continental training camps and the UCI World Cycling Talent programme (coaching, programme content, mechanical assistance)
• Identify certified coaches and mechanics trained at the WCC and integrate qualified interns into programmes, in collaboration with the Education & Training Unit.

Athlete well-being, medical follow-up and integrity

• Oversee recruitment, reception, accommodation, and socio-educational activities for athletes
• Ensure quality and compliance of athlete medical follow-up, in cooperation with the Medical Director and designated contacts
• Implement athlete protection policies across all programmes, in partnership with the UCI Integrity Unit
• Ensure compliance with integrity and anti-doping rules, as well as standards for athlete well-being and risk management.

Budget, compliance and partners

• Prepare and manage the Division’s budget, supported by the UCI Finance Department, and plan logistics and finances for all programmes
• Ensure the Division complies with UCI rules and processes (staff regulations, travel, expense claims, procurement, expenditure commitments, and signature delegations)
• Identify external funding opportunities and manage relationships with service providers, partners, and sponsors.

Profile and job requirements:

• At least 10 years’ experience in a similar role, with proven experience leading multidisciplinary teams and aligning programmes with long-term development goals
• In-depth knowledge of Olympic and Paralympic cycling disciplines, training methods, and educational approaches
• Experience in athlete monitoring, individual performance plans (IPPs), and data-driven training strategies
• Strong understanding of athlete progression, especially within emerging cycling nations
• Excellent planning, budgeting, and coordination skills (logistics, operations, and development pathways)
• Rigour in applying internal rules and processes, with experience in an institutional framework
• Ease in building relationships with National Federations, partners, and sponsors, with intercultural sensitivity and openness to diverse international communities
• Commitment to athlete well-being, athlete protection, and best practices in risk management
• Fluency in French and English, both spoken and written; additional languages are an asset
• Impeccable integrity and strong professional ethics
• A unifying personality, natural leader, both demanding and humble, transparent and committed, with strong interpersonal and communication skills
• On-site presence required at the UCI World Cycling Centre in Aigle, Switzerland, excluding business travel
• Flexible working hours and availability to travel abroad, including weekends and public holidays.

Start date: to be agreed

Joining us means having the opportunity to develop your skills, work at the heart of the world cycling governing body, and contribute to the success of one of the leading Olympic Federations worldwide. If you are interested in this position and meet the profile, please send your complete application (cover letter, CV, work certificates, and diplomas) to the following address: job@uci.ch .