Welsh Rowing – National Coach Senior Programme

Welsh Rowing is the national governing body for rowing in Wales. We are looking to appoint a highly motivated full-time coach to work on our National Senior Pathway.

With 6 Universities in Wales affiliated to Welsh Rowing, this is an opportunity for someone to oversee the development of talented Welsh athletes and increase our exposure and success at domestic and international competition in both flat water and beach sprint disciplines.

Purpose of the Job

We are looking to recruit a coach who has the experience and enthusiasm to identify talented senior athletes and their coaches, impacting on their development by supporting them to ultimately reach Wales and GB selection, in both river and beach sprint rowing.

The role will be working alongside Welsh Universities to aid their performance ambitions by offering support with their novice and established performance athletes, as well as working with performance athletes at their clubs.

Whilst offering coaching support to universities and clubs the post holder will also be expected to arrange regular training for identified senior performance athletes to train together.

The post holder will also be expected to work with beach sprint athletes and identify future athletes as part of the wider HIR and Commonwealth programmes. In order to be successful, they must have a strong knowledge of the Beach Sprints Discipline.

This is an exciting opportunity for a coach to be involved with a Welsh Commonwealth team for 2026.

Line Management

The post-holder is responsible to the CEO.

Role Responsibilities

• Development and delivery of a Senior Camp programme- primarily this will consist of athletes based in Wales with camps for a wider range of athletes in the build up to events such as HIRR, HIRBS and Commonwealth Games.
• Develop and deliver the Welsh National camp programme. This will include residential camps, trials and competitions both within the UK and abroad, for both river and Beach sprints athletes.
• Monitor the development of Welsh eligible senior, U23 and Para-Rowing programme athletes.
• Coordination of the Welsh Senior team for Home International Rowing Regatta and Home International Beach Sprints identifying key crews where appropriate.
• Involvement with the Team Wales Commonwealth Rowing Team.
• Support Welsh Universities in identifying and developing talented athletes at novice level or those with an extensive rowing background.
• Creating relationships with identified coaches and organising development opportunities, formal and informal, for these coaches.
• Identification of athletes for the Welsh Rowing Athlete Support Programme.
• Assisting identified athletes and coaches within their own club environments.
• Identify opportunities alongside club and university coaches, for Welsh eligible athletes to be part of high-quality composite crews which can achieve on the national stage.
• Attendance at competitions and trials for monitoring and networking purposes.
• Creating relationships with Universities in Wales.
• Linking proactively with British Rowing and British Rowing Olympic Pathway Programme Coaches.
• Actively engage in CPD opportunities.

General Responsibilities

These include:

• Following Welsh Rowing’s Policies and Procedures, ensuring that these are consistently applied by staff and rowers for whom the post-holder is responsible. Special attention must be given to Welsh Rowing’s Policies on safety, safeguarding and anti-doping.
• Representing Welsh Rowing as necessary at external events including National Conferences and forums.
• Such duties as may be reasonably required by the CEO to ensure the overall objectives of Welsh Rowing are met.

This list is not to be regarded as exclusive or exhaustive, as there may be other reasonable duties and requirements associated with the post, which Welsh Rowing may call upon the post-holder to perform from time to time.

Hours

The post-holder will work 36.5 hours per week, noting that to be successful, significant time in evenings and weekends will be needed.

The Benefits

In addition to your competitive basic salary, Welsh Rowing has a benefits package including a contributory pension scheme, CPD, free gym membership and childcare vouchers.

Location

The Welsh Rowing Office , gym facilities and boat house are based in Cardiff, however this is a field role and the expectation is that the coach will cover Wales and will need to travel accordingly.

Personal specification 

Essential 

• Full driving licence (preferably with the ability to tow trailers)
• Experience of developing multiple athletes to national and international representation
• Experience of co-ordination of squads of athletes, and of delivering camps and events
• Experience of delivering high-quality selection processes
• Previous experience of controlling budgets
• Ability to plan, collaborate, organise, and deliver programmes
• Well-developed organisational and communication skills, the ability to multi-task and work under pressure are crucial in this role
• British Rowing UKCC Level 2 or above
• RYA Powerboat Level 2 or international equivalent
• Excellent team leadership skills
• Excellent attention to detail
• High-level communication skills
• Well-developed active listening skills showing an ability to take direction as well as to direct
• High level drive and determination to succeed
• Highly skilled at creating positive working relationships with coaches and athletes.
• Commitment to equity and diversity
• A flexible approach to working, including evening and weekends

Desirable 

• Educated to degree level
• First aid qualification
• Experience of developing and mentoring coaches
• Experience of working with and providing development opportunities for coaches
• Ability to innovate and recognise potential
• Knowledge of the rowing community
• An innovative attitude to the development of sporting excellence
• Ability to speak Welsh

The successful candidate will be required to undergo an Enhanced DBS check.

Equal Opportunities

Welsh Rowing is committed to equal opportunities for all staff and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.

How to apply

To apply, please see here for an application form.

Applications should be returned to [email protected] by noon on Wednesday 22  March 2023.

Interviews will be held the week commencing 27  March 2023.

For an informal discussion on the role please contact Dan Fella, Chief Executive Officer, on 07792 071342 or email at [email protected].

Salary: circa £27,000 per annum

Type: 36.5 hours per week

Application Dates: From Tuesday 14th March 2023 to Wednesday 22nd March 2023