Molesey Boat Club - Head of Junior Rowing - British Rowing

August 7, 2024

Molesey Boat Club – Head of Junior Rowing

Molesey Boat Club is seeking to appoint a new Head of Junior Rowing to lead and manage our growing junior programme.

We have high ambitions for our junior programme, and we need a leader with an open mind, excellent communication and organisational skills to take on the task of delivering the best possible club rowing experience to our juniors and parents. This role has a primary focus on management, and is an exciting opportunity for someone starting out as head of a programme or already experienced in managing rowers parents and coaches.

The candidate we are looking for will be personable and an excellent problem solver in order to smoothly deliver high quality leadership across the coaching team, the rowers, parents, and other club members. The junior programme sits within a club structure that has multiple layers, and working closely with stakeholders from different areas of the club will be absolutely vital.

Molesey Boat Club prides itself on being a hub for rowing at every possible level within the UK – we have thriving Junior, Senior, Masters and Explore groups, as well as playing host to School and University rowing. We support high performance as well as recreational rowing, and everything in between. Molesey truly is a home for lovers of the sport, from every and any background.

Responsible to: Club Captains

This is a full time role, with time divided between managing the children, their coaches and any other parties, including parents, whose support is required to deliver the programme, planning the junior programme, coaching, and other duties around the club. Depending on the time of year, the hours each week will vary.

Ethos of the MBC Junior Programme

To develop healthy young adults, both mentally and physically.
To make them feel part of the club community.
To be a positive part of their personal development.
To develop a love of sport.
To allow them to reach the highest level, both technically and physically, that they are capable of achieving.
To be as fast in a boat as their capabilities allow.

Role Summary

The Head of Junior Rowing Programme at Molesey Boat Club is responsible for the planning and delivery of the Junior programme, from J13 through to J18. This will involve managing and coaching athletes in a supportive and fun environment, with a growing focus on performance through the age groups. There is a specific focus on the MBC High Performance Programme which is recognised and supported by British Rowing’s High Performance Academy initiative. British Rowing’s funding for this comes from the National Lottery through Sport England. This person will be responsible for managing part-time and volunteer coaches, and at times will coach all age groups within the Junior programme.

Responsibilities

Management of the coaching team:

To work cohesively with all coaches, including paid and volunteer coaches.
To oversee the Club’s Junior programme and delegate responsibilities within the part-time and volunteer coaches.
To organise the logistics for events, in partnership with other club squads to ensure smooth negotiation of any clashes in equipment or resources.

Coaching:

To manage and deliver a Junior HP programme developed with the Club Captains, which will enable athletes to develop throughout their Junior career, with a goal of winning major domestic events (Schools Head, National Schools Regatta, Henley Womens, Henley Royal Regatta etc) and athletes achieving representation at GB Junior level.
To deliver an offering for both non-competitive rowing as well as for high performance juniors.
To deliver on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) set by the Captains and derived from the performance strategy.
To deliver a clear and accessible technical model.
To accommodate the provision of Performance support as available (e.g. Strength & Conditioning, Sport Psychology and Physiotherapy) and integrate these into the training programme.
Maintaining the junior fleet to the highest standard possible. Ensuring that coaches get their boats cleaned after every outing and safely supervise their return to the racks and in a condition that allows them to be available for the next outing.

Recruitment:

To establish a recruitment strategy which will attract rowers with the talent and potential to represent the Club at leading events and to represent GB at Junior level.
With support of the Captains, to organise the Junior Learn to Row courses that run over the Summer period (July – September) and ensure that coaches are sourced, DBS checked and briefed on the delivery of the courses.
To collaborate with local schools and sports clubs so that strong links are grown to attract potential rowers into the MBC Programme at the appropriate stage of their development, with focus on Talent ID for potential high performance beginners.

Standards

Water safety is paramount. Assessing and recording river conditions for every outing is absolutely key.
To ensure that coaches working with Junior (Under 18) rowers understand and enforce Safeguarding standards and themselves have had the required DBS checks.
To support the Captains in setting the highest ethical standards of behaviour for MBC coaches and rowers.
To follow and enforce the Club and EA rules for on-water safety and establish rules of safe-training on water and in the gym.
To be fully conversant with the WADA Code and arrange for rowers and coaches in the HPP to receive regular Anti-Doping education, promoting a clean sport culture.
Maintaining the junior fleet to the highest standard possible.
To be an ambassador for MBC on and off the water.
To be mindful of our neighbours, both on and off the water.

To apply please send a cover letter and CV to [email protected]

The closing date for applications is 23rd August, although we may conduct interviews with promising candidates earlier than this.

Salary: Dependent on experience

Type: Full time

Application Dates: From Wednesday 7th August 2024 to Friday 23rd August 2024