Oxford University Boat Club – Men’s Chief Coach

Oxford University Boat Club is looking to appoint a full time rowing coach to run a rowing programme primarily focused on selecting and training student-athletes to compete to win The Boat Race.

About OUBC

OUBC was founded in 1829 to select and train the best student rowers at Oxford University to compete in The Boat Race against Cambridge University. Almost two centuries on, OUBC continues to thrive and evolve, and the Boat Race is a high-profile global event that retains a unique place in the British sporting calendar. OUBC also regularly competes in other events, including Henley Royal Regatta, and many of its rowers go on to compete at the World Championships and Olympic Games.

About the Role

The Men’s Chief Coach shall be responsible for building and running a rowing programme primarily focused on selecting and training student-athletes to compete to win The Boat Race. Following the Boat Race the Men’s Chief Coach will be expected to run a summer programme that targets success at Henley Royal Regatta while developing a squad for the following year and supporting athletes international rowing ambitions. The role is intended to be a long-term appointment with a focus on building an enduring competitive edge. The programme is expected to be a high-performance environment that can identify, attract, and develop outstanding university level and world class rowers and, in doing so, provide a transformative educational experience to the students who participate.

The responsibilities of the Men’s Chief Coach include the following:

1. All aspects of training and selection, including coaching, devising the training programme, managing squad schedules, running training camps, developing a summer racing programme, devising an appropriate selection policy and communicating it to the squad, selecting the crews, and maintaining appropriate records. The Men’s Head Coach is also responsible for the Men’s Lightweight rowing programme.
2. Programme oversight, including building a collaborative environment for both students and staff to excel, building and maintaining relationships with physiologists, nutritionists, physiotherapists and doctors as appropriate, working with the Boathouse Manager to ensure a suitable boat fleet, ensuring compliance with all relevant health and safety regulations, and assisting with annual budgets. Create a high performing environment that integrates athletics and academics to maximize team performance and student-athlete development and satisfaction.
3. Recruiting and retaining student rowers, including identifying prospective rowers both within and outside the university, maintaining a database of prospective rowers, building and maintaining relationships with other universities, schools, clubs and national teams, attending appropriate regattas, and travelling to meet prospective rowers.
4. Staff management, including building a positive and mutually beneficial relationship with the Women’s Chief Coach, the Boathouse Manager, the Operations Manager and other Club staff, and hiring and line-managing an Assistant Coach as well as other support staff specialising in areas such as S&C, nutrition, physiology, physiotherapy etc.
5. A broad range of media and PR responsibilities, including representing the club and the Men’s squad at The Boat Race, Trial Eights, President’s challenge, crew weigh-in and sponsor events, media interviews, and building relationships with stakeholders at alumni functions, donor and university functions.
6. Acting as a member of the Club’s Committee, in particular reporting to the Chair of the Committee, and working with the Treasurer and other Committee members as required from time to time.

Contract: Permanent

Start Date: Available immediately

Locations

OUBC crews primarily train from the Fleming Boathouse in Wallingford and at the Iffley Road Sports Centre in Oxford. The crews also spend considerable time training on the Thames in London and at the Redgrave Pinsent Rowing Lake in Caversham.

Candidate Profile

The candidate must have the highest levels of integrity, ethical behaviour, and adherence to principles of safe sport and fair play. In addition, the ideal candidate will satisfy most, but not necessarily all, of the following skills and experiences:

• Extensive experience running a high performance rowing programme with a proven track record of winning performance and culture
• Broad and demonstrable technical, tactical, and strategic knowledge of the sport of rowing
• Experience of the Championship Course between Putney and Mortlake in London
• Strength and conditioning, nutrition, physiology, psychology or other relevant qualifications
• Experience of athlete recruitment and the related issues
• Excellent communication, logistical, organisational and collaborative skills
• Proven track record of building and maintaining relationships with diverse stakeholders
• Experience of managing staff
• Experience with financial planning and fleet administration
• A high level of self-awareness and a desire for personal development
• Basic proficiency in Excel, Word, e-mail, and web-based applications
• British Rowing Level 3 or equivalent coaching certification
• RYA level 2 launch driver certificate or equivalent
• Experienced and qualified boat trailer driver
• Valid driver’s license with a clean driving record
• CPR and first-aid certified.

We strongly encourage candidates from around the world to apply. However, overseas candidates who are not already eligible to work in the United Kingdom are advised to check the relevant UK visa regulations. While the Club would support a UK visa application, it cannot guarantee that such an application would be successful.

Please send a CV and cover letter to Robin Bourne-Taylor (+44 (0)7876 220 305) at [email protected] by Sunday, 19 May 2024. Your cover letter should be no more than 600 words and should answer the following questions:

1. What do you believe are the three most important building blocks of a successful university rowing programme?
2. Describe two major challenges that you have had managing a high-performance rowing programme.

The successful candidate is likely to meet with OUBC several times, including the COO, the Women’s Chief Coach, the Men’s President, and other key personnel. First round interviews are expected to take place in person or virtually on or around the week starting Tuesday, 28 May 2024. References, including from current rowers, will be requested after the first round of interviews.

Salary: Highly competitive based on experience

Type: Full time

Application Dates: From Tuesday 23rd April 2024 to Sunday 19th May 2024