Assistant 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 the COAST Head Coach, the COAST Assistant 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 assistant, support and coach the City of Aberdeen Swim Team programme at Aberdeen Sports Village.

Grade:   F (£21,792 - £25,265)

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 Assistant Coach will be employed and managed by ASV and will be line manged directly by the COAST Head Coach, also a full time position employed by ASV.  Both COAST coaches 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 development 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:

Work closely with the COAST Head Coach in the co-ordination of 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
Provide development and leadership to other paid and voluntary club coaches involved in the COAST programme
Assist in 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. Provide cover for the Head Coach when necessary and appropriate.

Person specification

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

ESSENTIAL

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

Pass in Standard Grade English (or equivalent)

DESIRABLE

Qualified UKCC Swimming Coach Level 3

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 and different coaching philosophies

Proven track record of coaching and developing swimmers at age / youth level

Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office

DESIRABLE

Experience of working within National / governing body programmes

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

ESSENTIAL

Excellent 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 by applying below.

Closing date:  31 May 2016

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