Performance Advisory Group (Volunteer Positions)
- Senior National Team Coaches
- National Team Routesetters
- National Team Performance Analysts
2026–2028 High Performance Program
Application Deadline: January 30, 2026
Climbing Escalade Canada (CEC) is the National Sport Organisation for competition climbing in Canada. We lead the promotion and development of the sport, supporting athletes in achieving their high-performance potential in an ethical, equitable, and fair competition environment. Every day, we strive to live our values of being athlete-centred, accountable, sustainable, inclusive, and committed to a culture of excellence.
POSITION SUMMARY
Climbing Escalade Canada (CEC) is seeking Coaches (4-6), Routesetters (2-4) and Performance Analysts (2-4) for the 2026–2028 high-performance cycle to form CEC’s inaugural Performance Advisory Group (PAG) in accordance with CEC’s Performance Advisory Group (PAG) Terms of Reference (CEC-HP-08).
Core purpose of the role: Provide technical, tactical and strategic leadership to Canada’s Senior National Team program to achieve sustained high-performance results at World Championships, Pan American Games, Olympic Qualification events, and ultimately the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, while contributing to competitive performances at World Climbing World Cups and Pan American competitions throughout the cycle.
Given CEC’s current budget limitations, funding in-competition coaching support at international events is not feasible in the initial phase of this term. As a result, the primary focus of coaches on the PAG in the early years will be to work collaboratively with the High Performance Director (HPD) in designing and implementing a robust performance analytics program (including a Gold Medal Profile and “Winning Style” frameworks across all three disciplines) and in supporting athletes and their personal coaches to apply these tools in their daily training and competition planning.
Key relationships: HPD, Senior National Team athletes, personal/club coaches, IST members, PTSOs, and key system partners (e.g., Sport Canada, Own the Podium, COC).
Reporting directly to the High Performance Director, the PAG will inform and help implement National Team preparations across the quadrennial, including competition planning, training camps, and performance-support strategies for:
- Lima 2027 Pan American Games
- World Climbing 2027 World Championships
- LA 2028 Olympic Games
- World Climbing World Cups and Pan American competitions leading into these targets.
Coaches on the PAG may, funding dependent, provide both hands-on coaching support at designated National Team activities and strategic input into the broader high-performance plan.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
In collaboration with the HPD, PAG members will:
1. Program Design, Planning, and Pathway
- Contribute to the design and ongoing refinement of the Senior National Team Program, aligned with CEC’s high-performance strategy and LA28 pathway.
- Contribute to and support the implementation of annual and multi-year performance plans that integrate key World Climbing and Pan American events, domestic competitions, and preparation phases.
- Support ensuring that programming aligns with Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) principles, supporting progression from youth/NextGen to senior and Olympic level.
2. Performance Analytics and Competitive Frameworks
- Support the design and implementation of a performance analytics program for the Senior National Team, including:
- A Gold Medal Profile for Senior National Team athletes.
- “Winning Style” frameworks (Boulder, Lead, Speed).
- Contribute to the development of practical tools and resources (e.g., profiles, checklists, simple dashboards) that athletes and personal coaches can apply in their daily training, competition planning, and review.
- Contribute to the monitoring and interpretation of performance data and trends from World Climbing and Pan American competitions to continually refine these frameworks.
3. Talent Identification, Selection, and Alignment
- Contribute to talent identification and succession planning within the Senior and NextGen pathways.
- Collaborate with provincial/territorial organisations and personal/club coaches to:
- Align technical and tactical approaches.
- Support coherent, long-term development and competition plans.
- Support CEC’s participation in the RBC Training Ground program.
4. Technical Coaching & Performance Support
- Provide high-level technical and tactical coaching to Senior National Team athletes at designated National Team activities (e.g., training camps, targeted preparation blocks), pending budget allocations.
- Lead or contribute to competition preparation for priority events (e.g., Pan Am Games, World Championships, Olympic qualification events), including:
- Event-specific training and simulation activities.
- Competition plans and strategy discussions.
- Pre- and post-round briefings and debriefings, as applicable.
- Use performance analysis (video, data, scouting, competition review) to inform coaching decisions, refine tactics, and guide individualised feedback and Individual Performance Plans (IPPs).
(Note: Assignment to specific development camps and in-competition coaching roles at priority events will depend on available funding and CEC’s annual operational plans.)
5. Culture, Safe Sport, and Wellbeing
- Foster a positive, athlete-centred, safe, and inclusive high-performance culture within the Senior National Team program.
- Contribute to the establishment and reinforcement of team values, standards, and protocols, managing discipline and behaviour on and off the field of play.
- Uphold Safe Sport principles, CEC’s Code of Conduct, and all relevant policies, ensuring athlete welfare, health, and safety are prioritised in all decisions and interactions.
- Model and promote a positive, inclusive, “world-class” environment aligned with CEC’s values and expectations of a national team program.
- The PAG role is one of high public visibility; individuals are expected to represent CEC, its athletes, staff, volunteers, and partners positively and professionally at all times.
6. System Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement
- Work collaboratively with Integrated Support Team (IST) members (e.g., sport science, S&C, medical, mental performance) to coordinate services around athlete and team needs.
- Maintain effective communication and professional relationships with athletes, personal/club coaches, PTSOs, and system partners (e.g., Sport Canada, Own the Podium, Canadian Olympic Committee), as required.
- Represent CEC and the Senior National Team program professionally in all internal and external interactions.
7. Reporting, Compliance, and HP Contribution
- Provide technical and strategic input into CEC high-performance plans, reviews, and funding submissions, as requested by the HPD.
- Contribute to post-event reports and seasonal reviews, including key learnings, performance trends, and recommendations for program evolution through to LA28.
- Comply with all CEC policies, including Safe Sport, Code of Conduct, and High Performance Program policies.
PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS
- Demonstrates initiative and self-motivation, with a strong sense of professional responsibility
- Able to work independently with minimal supervision while functioning effectively as part of a high-performance leadership team
- Highly organised with strong planning and time-management skills; comfortable juggling multiple priorities and deadlines
- Able to manage individual differences and group dynamics, maintaining a cohesive, performance-focused environment with senior athletes
- Credible, honest, and of high integrity, able to earn the trust of athletes, peers, and system partners
- Strong educator/mentor orientation, focused on long-term athlete development and performance sustainability, not just short-term results
- Excellent interpersonal skills and strong communication abilities (oral and written), able to communicate clearly with athletes, coaches, staff, and external stakeholders
- Able to work under pressure, make decisions in uncertain contexts, and handle irregular/long hours and travel when required
- Demonstrated commitment to Safe Sport, inclusion, and a positive, respectful culture, representing CEC professionally at all times
SKILLS, QUALIFICATIONS, AND EXPERIENCE
- Extensive technical and tactical knowledge of competition climbing at the senior international or continental level, including current trends in World Climbing competition formats and routesetting
- Significant experience within a National, Provincial, or elite Club high-performance program, including but not limited to:
- Preparing athletes or teams for international events (e.g., World Climbing World Cups/World Championships, Pan Am Games, major Continental/World-level competitions)
- Designing and implementing:
- Yearly Training Plans and multi-year plans
- Competition plans and tour plans
- Individual Performance Plans (IPPs) and gap analyses
- Routesetting at international events
- Analyzing sport climbing performance at international events
- Experience using performance analysis and data (e.g., results trends, video, profiling tools) to inform coaching decisions
- Completion of CEC Screening Requirements, including:
- Recent criminal record check
- Reference checks
- Online training and mandatory compliance (Canadian Safe Sport Program, Canadian Anti-Doping Program, etc.)
- Knowledge of and experience working within the Canadian high-performance sport system (e.g., Sport Canada, Own the Podium, COC, CPC, PTSOs) is a strong asset
- Experience working with an Integrated Support Team (IST) (e.g., S&C, medical, mental performance, nutrition, sport science) to support athlete performance
- Comfortable using technology and data tools (e.g., spreadsheets, shared platforms, video analysis tools, basic performance databases) to support planning and performance analysis
- Knowledge of Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) and its application to senior/Olympic-level athletes is an asset
- Bilingualism (English and French) with strong spoken and written skills is an asset
- Coaches must be eligible to travel internationally, including holding a valid passport and being able to meet relevant visa/entry requirements. Travel opportunities may be offered pending on CEC budget and operational considerations.
POSITION DETAILS
- Immediate Supervisor: High Performance Director
- Term: From appointment until December 15, 2028
- Time Commitment: Part-time role, strictly volunteer with expenses covered and potential honorarium as defined by CEC policy, with variable workload across the season, including:
- Approximately 100 hours per year (may vary based on annual plans and funding)
- Contributions to performance analytics and program design
- Participation in designated National Team activities (e.g., camps, targeted preparation blocks, review meetings)
- Coaches may be asked to assist at training camps and perform in-competition coaching duties at priority events, as funding permits
- Routsetters may be asked to contribute to the planning or operations of Youth or Senior training camps
- Travel (if approved) will involve irregular hours (evenings/weekends) when camps or priority events are scheduled.
- For designated activities and events, travel, accommodation, and daily per diem will be covered in accordance with CEC policies.
- Location: Primarily remote, with expectations to attend selected national team activities as identified in annual plans. Successful candidates are expected to work from home and provide their own IT equipment.
- Performance in this role will be reviewed annually by the HPD against agreed work plans and objectives.
- Start Date: To be confirmed with successful candidates.
HOW TO APPLY
Application Deadline: January 30, 2026
Interested candidates are invited to apply via this online form, including a resume and a brief cover letter outlining relevant experience and high-performance sport climbing philosophy
For questions about the position, please contact:
Kraig Devlin
High Performance Director, Climbing Escalade Canada
kraig@climbingcanada.ca
CEC thanks all applicants for their interest. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
