Gymnastics Ireland (GI) is a dynamic, forward-thinking organisation and the National Governing Body for gymnastics in Ireland. Now one of the largest participation sports in Ireland and having come off the back of Ireland’s historic first ever Olympic gold medal in gymnastics at the Paris 2024 Games. The High Performance department is responsible for six disciplines: Women’s Artistic Gymnastics (WAG), Men’s Artistic Gymnastics (MAG), Trampoline, Tumbling, Acrobatics, and Rhythmic Gymnastics. The High Performance (HP) Programme operates under the direction of the Performance & Technical Directorate.
GI’s HP Strategy 2024–2028 places athlete-centred practice, welfare, and wellbeing at the core of its performance framework. A comprehensive Athlete Welfare Policy, HP Wellness Protocols, and an Athlete Representative Framework are in development. Establishing formal structures for the athlete voice, daily wellness monitoring, mental health support, and gradual return-to-training pathways with the contractor playing an integral role in delivering & managing the overall athlete framework.
About the role
- Contractor Role – Athlete Framework Service Contractor
- Contract Type – Contract for Service – circa 12 hours a week
- Duration – 12 months
- Location - National Gymnastics Training Centre (NGTC) and remote provision as agreed
- Reporting To – Director of Performance & Technical, Gymnastics Ireland
- Closing Date -20/06/2026
Role Overview
Gymnastics Ireland is seeking an experienced Wellbeing & Wellness Contractor to provide professional support services to the HP programme athletes. The contractor will work within GI’s established athlete welfare and wellness framework, delivering structured, evidence-based wellbeing support to carded, HP athletes and the wider membership across all relevant programmes and disciplines.
This is a Contract for Service position. The contractor will operate with professional independence within the scope agreed with the Director of Performance & Technical and will liaise as required with the Sport Ireland Institute HOPS Manager, the GI Support Service Manager, GI’s Safe Sport Team and GI’s HP Coaching support staff.
Scope of Service
Athlete Framework including Athlete Welfare and Wellness
The contractor will operate within and contribute to GI’s Athlete Framework – the overarching structure through which the organisation fulfils its duty of care to HP athletes. The Framework integrates athlete welfare, wellbeing, and voice as interconnected and equally weighted commitments, underpinned by GI’s Athlete Welfare Policy, HP Wellness Protocols, Athlete Representative Framework, and Return to Play Framework.
The appointed contractor’s role within this Framework is broad and non-prescriptive in method, but consistent in purpose: to support the physical, psychological, and holistic wellbeing of athletes across the HP programme. This encompasses welfare monitoring and reporting, wellbeing support and intervention, engagement with athlete voice structures, and contribution to the ongoing review and development of the Framework itself. The contractor will work in a manner that is athlete-centred, evidence-informed, and sensitive to the unique demands of elite gymnastics across all disciplines and age groups.
Specific areas of activity will be agreed with the Director of Performance & Technical in line with programme needs and the contractor’s professional expertise. The contractor will be required to familiarise themselves with all relevant GI framework documents prior to commencement and to operate in full compliance with GI’s safeguarding obligations, data protection responsibilities, and referral protocols throughout the contract period.
Person Specification
Essential
- Strong understanding of athlete welfare principles, duty of care, and safeguarding in sport
- Experience of confidential case management and appropriate referral pathways
- Familiarity with the psychological demands of performance sport.
- Ability to work independently within a structured framework and to integrate effectively within a multidisciplinary team
Desirable
- Recognised qualification in psychology, counselling, sport psychology.
- Demonstrable experience working with elite or high-performance athletes in a welfare or wellbeing support capacity
- Familiarity with Sport Ireland’s Athlete Welfare Policy and HP structures
- Experience working with young athletes transitioning from junior to senior
- Knowledge of growth and maturation considerations in adolescent athlete wellbeing
- Experience in contributing to performance programme policy’s or framework development
How to Apply
To apply, please submit the following for the attention of the Director of Performance & Technical, Gymnastics Ireland to ask@gymnasticsireland.com
- A cover letter outlining your relevant experience and approach to wellbeing support in high-performance sport
- An up-to-date CV
- Two referees