Head Swim Coach - Aberdeen Sports Village

Aberdeen Sports Village is the premier sport and exercise facility in Scotland, hosting an array of world class sporting facilities.  A partnership between the University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen City Council and sportscotland, the Sports Village first opened to the public in August 2009.  The addition of the Aquatics Centre in May 2014 added another dimension to the Sports Village, which now offers an unrivalled array of world class facilities; indoor and outdoor, dry and wet; that caters for the needs of everyone in the community from recreational exerciser to performance athlete.  Facilities include indoor and outdoor athletics, full size indoor football pitch, spectacular fitness suite and performance gym, exercise studios, large sports hall, squash courts, water-based hockey pitch outdoor grass pitch, 50m x 10 lane training and competition swimming pool, 25m x 6 lane pool with full diving facilities up to 10m, health suite, spectator seating, cafes and meeting rooms.

The City of Aberdeen Swim Team (COAST) is a composite swimming club, established in 1995, to provide the best age group and youth swimmers in Aberdeen with enhanced training opportunities.  A recent review of both COAST and performance swimming in Aberdeen has provided a refreshed vision and direction for the programme, developing further partnerships and opportunities to enhance the programme, approach and results.  Leading the programme for the best age and youth swimmers, working with and supporting the Performance Swim Coach at the University of Aberdeen and overseeing the support to the member clubs, the COAST Head Coach will play a critical role in the future success of swimming in Aberdeen. 

Purpose:

Aberdeen Sports Village wishes to recruit an enthusiastic and passionate individual to lead and manage the City of Aberdeen Swim Team programme at Aberdeen Sports Village.

Grade:   Grade H:  from £32,004 per annum

Hours of work:   Full-time; 36.5 hour per week

Other relevant information:

This appointment will be made subject to the terms and conditions of employment of Aberdeen Sports Village.   If appropriate to the post, ASV will request a PVG Scheme Record prior to employment, as part of their recruitment procedures.  The interview date is still to be confirmed.

Aim:

The COAST Head Coach will be employed and managed by ASV and will have direct line management responsibilities for the COAST Assistant Coach, also a full time position employed by ASV.  The Head Coach will be part of a Performance Swimming Management Committee, representative of partners involved in the programme, including representatives from Scottish Swimming, ASV, the University of Aberdeen and the COAST Committee.

The successful candidate will be motivated and dynamic; and interested in developing their career within performance swimming.  This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced swimming coach to further develop their career within performance development in a busy and vibrant sports development environment in one of the country’s leading sporting facilities.

Description of Duties:

• Lead and manage all aspects of the COAST swimming programme to support the development of age group and youth swimmers
• Deliver a comprehensive coaching programme which supports the development of age and youth swimmers with the long term aim of them being successful senior level swimmers
• Support the development of an integrated local pathway which supports training opportunities for the best youth swimmers in the area
• Work with and support the University of Aberdeen High Performance Swimming Coach ensuring an integrated local pathway linked / aligned to performance; contributing positively to an environment and conducive to delivering performance coaching
• Provide management, development and leadership to the COAST Assistant Coach and other paid and voluntary club coaches
• Work with sportscotland Institute of Sport staff to enhance swimmer development through the integration and application of sport science and medicine support
• Lead on the evaluation and continual improvement of the COAST programme
• Effectively communicate with swimmers, parents / carers and key partners including; ASV, University of Aberdeen, other educational establishments, the COAST Committee, member clubs and Scottish Swimming.

Person specification

Education and Qualifications
eg.  Academic, technical and professional education and training

ESSENTIAL

Qualified UKCC Swimming Coach Level 3 or Level 2 working towards Level 3 (or equivalent overseas award)

Pass in Standard Grade English (or equivalent)

DESIRABLE

Pass in Higher English (or equivalent)

Sports-related degree

Work and other relevant experience (including training).
eg. Specialist knowledge, levels of experience, skills, supervisory experience, research

ESSENTIAL

Knowledge, experience and understanding of age / youth swimmer development, particularly in the areas of technical, physiological, social, performance behaviours and mind-set

Proven track record of coaching and developing swimmers at age / youth level, producing results at senior levels

Knowledge, experience and understanding of different coaching philosophies and coach development

Demonstrable mentoring experience

Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office

DESIRABLE

Experience of working within National programmes

Understanding of modern, worldwide coaching techniques that incorporate progressive sports science and sports medicine

Personal Qualities and Abilities
eg.  Initiative, leadership, ability to work on own or with others, communication skills

ESSENTIAL

Outstanding leadership skills and motivational skills

Excellent verbal and written communication skills; and adaptable interpersonal skills

Self-motivated, enthusiastic, with a positive outlook

Excellent organisational and planning skills

DESIRABLE

Ability to deliver plans of work and reports within specified timescales

Ability to show initiative and leadership

Other
eg. Special circumstances (if any) appropriate to the job such as unsociable hours, travelling, physical requirements etc.

ESSENTIAL

Willingness to work flexible and unsocial hours, as required

Commitment to sport, physical activity and health

An eye for detail and an ability to complete reports to a high standard as appropriate

DESIRABLE

Flexible approach to work

Clean driving licence

Application details

Please send a copy of your CV, and a supporting letter of application by applying below.

OR

Post: HR Administrator, Aberdeen Sports Village, Linksfield Road, Aberdeen, AB24 5RU

Closing date:  29th January 2016

Aberdeen Sports Village pursues a policy of equal opportunities in the appointment and promotion of staff.