Scottish Rowing – Performance Pathway Coach

Scottish Rowing is the Governing Body for rowing in Scotland. Our vision is a successful and thriving rowing community and our mission is to support and empower people in Scotland to enjoy rowing and achieve their potential.

Rowing has been one of Scotland’s leading Olympic sports over several cycles, consistently punching above its weight both domestically and internationally with Scottish rowers making up one fifth of Team GB at Tokyo 2020.

With the backing of sportscotland and British Rowing, Scottish Rowing is looking to build upon progress made over the past decade – acknowledging the development of university rowing in Scotland during this period – and evolve and diversify our performance pathway programme to meet current and future demands.

The postholder will be an influential and active coach within the junior performance pathway and will support the day-to-day coaching operations of the wider Scottish Rowing Performance Pathway Programme. They will work to create more high-quality opportunities for talented individuals from all backgrounds to achieve their potential on the world stage and help to raise the bar at all levels across our rowing community.

Job Description

The Performance Pathway Coach will report to the Head of Performance and Pathways (with day-to-day oversight from the Lead Performance Pathway Coach) and will be responsible for developing positive relationships with key partners including:

• Scottish Rowing member clubs including athletes, coaches, volunteers, and parents.
• sportscotland institute of sport.
• British Rowing / GB Rowing Team.
• Schools and universities.
• Local authorities including North Lanarkshire Council.

Key Responsibilities

Play a central role in the day-to-day coaching operations of the Scottish Rowing Performance Pathway Programme, working as part of the coaching team under the guidance of the Lead Performance Pathway Coach to:

• Identify athletes in clubs, normally in the under 19 and under 23 age groups, with the potential to represent the GB Rowing Team in Olympic and Paralympic disciplines and / or the Scotland Rowing Team in Commonwealth disciplines.
• Provide technical expertise to these identified rowers and their coaches including remote support and in-situ programme visits where appropriate.
• Build strong and mutually beneficial working relationships with university partner programmes and collaborate on initiatives supporting long-term athlete development.
• Manage and co-ordinate the support services provided by the sportscotland institute of sport to named athletes on the Scottish Rowing Performance Programme.
•  Plan and oversee the delivery of a programme of national camps and other athlete development initiatives to support the progression of rowers in the under 19 and under 23 age groups.
• Deliver high-quality coaching sessions to identified athletes training as part of a centralised performance pathway group at the Scottish Rowing Centre.
• Support identified Scottish rowers studying at US universities including the provision of coaching and competition opportunities during winter and summer holidays and facilitating smooth transitions back into Scottish club programmes.
• Attend GB Rowing Team trials, camps, and competitions as appropriate.
• Contribute, where appropriate, to coach education within Scottish Rowing.

Role specific responsibilities include:

• Lead the delivery of the Scottish Rowing Junior Academy programme including the design of the programme curriculum for both athletes and coaches, management of volunteer coaches and practitioners, and co-ordination of coaching support.
• Provide coaching support and guidance for identified Para rowers and their coaches in clubs, linking in with the GB Rowing Team coaches as appropriate.
• Support the identification and development of new athletes into the sport with the potential for future Olympic success. This will include linking in with the GB Rowing Team Olympic Performance Pathway and associated talent ID initiatives, camps and other activities where appropriate.
• Participate in regular coaching and practitioner team meetings to review athlete progress, share updates and ideas, and discuss best practice.
• Work with the Head of Performance and Pathways and the Scotland Rowing Team Manager to select and organise the Scotland Rowing Team for the Home International Rowing
• Regatta. Act as the Lead Coach (Junior team) for the Scotland Rowing Team for that event and for any other event where selected to do so (Scotland and / or Great Britain).
• Together with the Lead Performance Lifestyle Practitioner provide guidance and advice to talented athletes, their coaches and parents, particularly around key transition points including school to university and post-university.
• Produce updates and reports where appropriate for the Head of Performance and Pathways and the Scottish Rowing High Performance Group (HPG) and deputise as required for the Lead Performance Pathway Coach at HPG meetings.
• Maintain the Scottish Rowing performance boat fleet and other equipment on a day-to-day basis, ensuring that all equipment is kept in a good condition.
• Promote a positive image of Scottish Rowing at all times and work with the Sports Programme Co-Ordinator to ensure that regular programme updates and successes are communicated via the Scottish Rowing website and social media channels.
• Promote a positive, collaborative, and supportive team culture which prioritises and supports good health and wellbeing for both coaches and athletes.
• Any other reasonable task that may be required by Scottish Rowing.

How to apply

Scottish Rowing is committed to selecting staff solely based on their ability to do the job for which they are being recruited and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. Given the underrepresentation in performance coaching roles in Scotland we would encourage applications from suitably qualified women.

In accordance with Scottish Rowing’s Child Protection Policy, the successful candidate will be appointed subject to membership of the PVG Scheme.

For a candidate specification, application and monitoring forms see our website. Or you can contact Carol Ann Ellis, Scottish Rowing Administrator:

Telephone: 01698 250206

Email: [email protected]

To apply for the role, please send a covering letter outlining your skills and experience relative to the role, along with a copy of your CV, and monitoring form by email to [email protected], or by post to Scottish Rowing, Scottish Rowing Centre, 366 Hamilton Road, Motherwell, ML1 3ED.

For an informal and confidential discussion about this role please contact Lee Boucher, Scottish Rowing Head of Performance and Pathways by email at: [email protected]

Applications for this position close at 11:59pm on Sunday 16th July 2023.

Interviews will be held in Glasgow on Wednesday 26th July 2023.

Location: Scottish Rowing Centre, Strathclyde Park, Motherwell, ML1 3ED. With regular travel across Scotland / UK.

Responsible To: Lead Performance Pathway Coach / Head of Performance and Pathways

Salary: £30,000

Type: Full-time, fixed term until end of July 2025 (or 2 years) with the intention to extend subject to funding.

Application Dates: From Tuesday 13th June 2023 to Sunday 16th July 2023