Special Olympics Rwanda is excited to announce the recruitment of a highly motivated and skilled individual for the position of National Sports Director. As the senior technical leader, the National Sports Director will play a crucial role in the planning, implementation, supervision, and continuous improvement of all sports programs within our National Program.

It in this regard that the organization is seeking a passionate, skilled, and experienced person to lead and oversee adaptive sports development through athlete empowerment, coach education, and competition management for individuals with intellectual disabilities across Rwanda. 

Main Roles and Responsibilities

1. Strategic Sports Leadership

The Sports Director  : 

• Develops the National Sports Strategic Plan.
• Designs the annual sports calendar.
• Aligns national programs with Special Olympics International (SOI) standards.
• Develops long-term participation and athlete development strategies.
• Advises the National Director and Board on technical matters. 
• Develop the Partnerships & Stakeholder Relations with schools, universities, sports federations, government agencies, NGO’s, community organizations, international organizations, etc. 
• Collaborate with local sports facilities to ensure accessible venues for athletes with disabilities. 
• Represent SOR in national disability and sports forums, advocating for inclusive sport policies. 
• Maintain high levels of customer service to athletes, families, coaches, and partners. 

2. Athlete Development and Adaptive Sports

The Sports Director leads the complete athlete pathway by:

• Expanding athlete participation nationwide.
• Promoting year-round training.
• Ensuring equitable opportunities for women and girls.
• Supporting athletes with higher support needs.
• Developing pathways from community participation to national and international competitions.
• Encouraging athlete leadership. 
• Apply evidence-based adaptive sports methodologies tailored to athletes with intellectual disabilities.

3. Sports Training and Competition

The Sports Director is Responsible for:

• National Games
• Regional competitions
• Local competitions
• Unified Sports competitions
• Invitational tournaments
• Preparation for Regional and World Games

He ensures that all competitions comply with Special Olympics sports rules, including fair divisioning and athlete safety. 

4. Coach Education

The Sports Director is responsible for maintaining a qualified national coaching workforce.

He develops and supervises:

• Coach recruitment
• Coach certification
• Continuing coach education
• Coach mentoring
• Safe coaching practices
• Inclusive coaching methodologies

5. Volunteer Development

The Sports Director develops volunteer training plans and certification systems.

He coordinates technical volunteers including:

• Coaches
• Assistant coaches
• Officials
• Competition managers
• Technical delegates
• Sports commissioners

6. Unified Sports

One of the most important responsibilities unique to Special Olympics.

The Sports Director ensures meaningful participation of athletes with and without intellectual disabilities as teammates.

He leads the development of:

• Unified Football
• Unified Basketball
• Unified Volleyball
• Unified Athletics
• Other Unified Sports disciplines

7. Motor Activity Training Program (MATP)

MATP ensures that athletes with the highest support needs also benefit from sport. 

The Sports Director develops and supervises MATP for athletes with profound or multiple disabilities.

His responsibilities include:

• Coach training
• Equipment standards
• Activity planning
• Athlete progression
• Family engagement

8. Healthy Athletes Program

The Sports Director works closely with the Clinical Director and Healthy Athletes teams.

He coordinates with health professionals to integrate Special Olympics health initiatives into sports events, including:

• Health screenings
• Fitness promotion
• Nutrition education
• Vision
• Hearing
• Dental care
• Mental well-being

9. Athlete Safety and Safeguarding

The Sports Directorensures:

• Safe sport policies
• Child protection
• Safeguarding procedures
• Risk management
• Medical readiness
• Emergency action plans
• Concussion and injury protocols

10. Competition Management

The Sports Director isresponsible for:

• Competition schedules
• Divisioning
• Classification
• Officials
• Rules interpretation
• Equipment standards
• Venue technical inspections

11. Schools and Community Development

The Sports Director expands inclusive sports opportunities nationwide and develops partnerships with:

• Schools
• Universities
• Clubs
• Community organizations
• Disability organizations
• Local governments

12. Data and Monitoring

The Sports Director prepares annual technical reports and monitors key performance indicators.

Maintain accurate records of:

• Athletes
• Coaches
• Volunteers
• Competitions
• Sports participation
• Athlete progression
• Technical performance

Academic Qualifications

Essential

• Bachelor’s degree in:
  • Physical Education or a similar field
  • Sport Science or a similar field
  • Social Science 
  • Medical / public health Science or a similar field
  • Sport Management or a similar field
  • Exercise Science or a similar field
  • Adapted Physical Activity
  • Rehabilitation Sciences
  • Occupational Therapy (desirable for inclusive sport)
  • Special Education (advantageous)

Preferred

• Master’s degree in:
  • Sport Management or a similar field
  • Sport Science or a similar field
  • Adapted Physical Activity
  • Disability Studies or a similar field
  • Public Health or a similar field
  • Inclusive Education or a similar field
  • High Performance Sport or a similar field

Expected Experience

• 3 years and above in sports management or sports technical leadership
• Experience coaching athletes with intellectual disabilities
• Experience managing national sports programs
• Competition management experience
• Volunteer management experience
• Knowledge of disability inclusion
• Experience working with schools, federations, or NGOs

Professional Qualifications

Desirable certifications include:

• Special Olympics Coach Certification
• Special Olympics Unified Sports Certification
• Special Olympics MATP Certification
• Special Olympics Healthy Athletes orientation
• Safeguarding and Safe Sport Certification
• First Aid / CPR
• Sports Administration Certification
• Project Management
• Risk Management

• Develops the National Sports Strategic Plan.
• Designs the annual sports calendar.
• Aligns national programs with Special Olympics International (SOI) standards.
• Develops long-term participation and athlete development strategies.
• Advises the National Director and Board on technical matters.
• Develop the Partnerships & Stakeholder Relations with schools, universities, sports federations, government agencies, NGO’s, community organizations, international organizations, etc.
• Collaborate with local sports facilities to ensure accessible venues for athletes with disabilities.
• Represent SOR in national disability and sports forums, advocating for inclusive sport policies.
• Maintain high levels of customer service to athletes, families, coaches, and partners.
• Ensures safe sport policies, child protection, safeguarding procedures, risk management, medical readiness, emergency action plans, and concussion and injury protocols.
• Manages competition schedules, divisioning, classification, officials, rules interpretation, equipment standards, and venue technical inspections.
• Expands inclusive sports opportunities nationwide and develops partnerships with schools, universities, clubs, community organizations, disability organizations, and local governments.
• Prepares annual technical reports and monitors key performance indicators.
• Maintains accurate records of athletes, coaches, volunteers, competitions, sports participation, athlete progression, and technical performance.

• Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education, Sport Science, Social Science, Medical / public health Science, Sport Management, Exercise Science, Adapted Physical Activity, Rehabilitation Sciences, Occupational Therapy (desirable), or Special Education (advantageous).
• Master’s degree in Sport Management, Sport Science, Adapted Physical Activity, Disability Studies, Public Health, Inclusive Education, or High Performance Sport (preferred).
• 3 years and above in sports management or sports technical leadership.
• Experience coaching athletes with intellectual disabilities.
• Experience managing national sports programs.
• Competition management experience.
• Volunteer management experience.
• Knowledge of disability inclusion.
• Experience working with schools, federations, or NGOs.
• Desirable certifications include Special Olympics Coach Certification, Special Olympics Unified Sports Certification, Special Olympics MATP Certification, Special Olympics Healthy Athletes orientation, Safeguarding and Safe Sport Certification, First Aid / CPR, Sports Administration Certification, Project Management, and Risk Management.