Sport Manager - Takurua Centre
Permanent / Full Time
Strengthen sport as a source of identity, belonging and pride across the UC community.
A Rare Opportunity to Shape University Sport
Few roles offer this breadth of influence over the future of university sport.
The University of Canterbury is seeking a Sport Manager to bring greater connection, visibility and strategic direction to sport across UC. With Takurua creating a new home for recreation, sport and wellbeing, this person will build on strong foundations and help create a more connected sporting model across UC.
About the University of Canterbury
Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury is a large, research-led university with more than 27,000 students and a proud history extending over 150 years.
UC’s values of manaakitanga, whanaungatanga and tiakitanga influence how its people work together, care for others and responsibly manage the resources entrusted to them.
Nearly twice the size of the current Recreation Centre, Takurua will bring together indoor and outdoor sport, fitness, group exercise, social and recovery spaces, counselling and allied health services within a modern and accessible campus environment.
Learn more about Takurua:
https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/life/sports-fitness-and-recreation/takurua
About the Role
Reporting to the Takurua Centre Director, the Sport Manager will provide dedicated strategic leadership across club sport, social participation, representative competition and performance pathways.
UC already has committed clubs, successful programmes, talented practitioners and a strong record of tertiary sporting achievement. The opportunity is to bring these elements together within a clear sporting strategy that expands participation while supporting students with the potential and ambition to perform at a higher level.
You will lead a specialist sport team and develop trusted relationships with student clubs, sporting organisations, community partners and other parts of the University. As many clubs operate independently, success will come through credibility, influence and a genuine understanding of what enables sporting communities to thrive.
Key Areas of Focus
You will understand the wider sporting system and know how to bring people together around a shared direction.
Your background may include tertiary sport, regional or national sporting organisations, club development, community sport, performance pathways or another environment where participation and performance must work alongside one another.
You will bring:
Why Consider This Opportunity?
This is a newly created role with the mandate to give sport a clearer identity, direction and voice across UC.
You will have the scope to shape a connected sporting model, build on recent success and create new opportunities for students to participate, compete, lead and belong. Takurua will provide the platform; this role will help determine how fully that potential is realised.
UC offers a 37.5-hour working week, five weeks’ annual leave for continuing staff and five additional University holidays each year.
For more information or a confidential conversation, contact Mel Eradus at Bishop Associates on 03 265 0668.
Applications close 28th October 2026
Alternatively, click Apply to express your interest.
Few roles offer this breadth of influence over the future of university sport.
The University of Canterbury is seeking a Sport Manager to bring greater connection, visibility and strategic direction to sport across UC. With Takurua creating a new home for recreation, sport and wellbeing, this person will build on strong foundations and help create a more connected sporting model across UC.
About the University of Canterbury
Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury is a large, research-led university with more than 27,000 students and a proud history extending over 150 years.
UC’s values of manaakitanga, whanaungatanga and tiakitanga influence how its people work together, care for others and responsibly manage the resources entrusted to them.
Nearly twice the size of the current Recreation Centre, Takurua will bring together indoor and outdoor sport, fitness, group exercise, social and recovery spaces, counselling and allied health services within a modern and accessible campus environment.
Learn more about Takurua:
https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/life/sports-fitness-and-recreation/takurua
About the Role
Reporting to the Takurua Centre Director, the Sport Manager will provide dedicated strategic leadership across club sport, social participation, representative competition and performance pathways.
UC already has committed clubs, successful programmes, talented practitioners and a strong record of tertiary sporting achievement. The opportunity is to bring these elements together within a clear sporting strategy that expands participation while supporting students with the potential and ambition to perform at a higher level.
You will lead a specialist sport team and develop trusted relationships with student clubs, sporting organisations, community partners and other parts of the University. As many clubs operate independently, success will come through credibility, influence and a genuine understanding of what enables sporting communities to thrive.
Key Areas of Focus
- Develop an integrated strategy for sport participation and performance at UC.
- Support clubs to strengthen their capability, governance and connections with the University.
- Grow social leagues, competitions, tournaments and campus sport initiatives.
- Build clear and inclusive pathways from first participation to performance.
- Lead a multidisciplinary team spanning sport coordination, club development, strength and conditioning.
- Use participation data and student feedback to guide priorities and investment.
You will understand the wider sporting system and know how to bring people together around a shared direction.
Your background may include tertiary sport, regional or national sporting organisations, club development, community sport, performance pathways or another environment where participation and performance must work alongside one another.
You will bring:
- Experience leading the development and delivery of sporting programmes.
- Strong knowledge of club environments, participation and performance pathways, including athlete wellbeing and safe sport practice.
- The ability to influence independent stakeholders and build trusted partnerships.
- Experience leading specialist teams and enabling people Experience leading teams and enabling people to perform at their best.
- Sound strategic judgement and the ability to focus resources where they add value.
- A relevant bachelor’s degree or equivalent recognised qualification.
Why Consider This Opportunity?
This is a newly created role with the mandate to give sport a clearer identity, direction and voice across UC.
You will have the scope to shape a connected sporting model, build on recent success and create new opportunities for students to participate, compete, lead and belong. Takurua will provide the platform; this role will help determine how fully that potential is realised.
UC offers a 37.5-hour working week, five weeks’ annual leave for continuing staff and five additional University holidays each year.
For more information or a confidential conversation, contact Mel Eradus at Bishop Associates on 03 265 0668.
Applications close 28th October 2026
Alternatively, click Apply to express your interest.
