Head Swim Coach and Aquatics Training Schemes Manager - REQ001358

Job title: Head Swim Coach and Aquatics Training Schemes Manager

Salary: PO3 £41,511 - £44,711

Hours: 37 hours (Full time)

Contract: Permanent

Location: John Charles Centre for Sport (Aquatics Centre) with some travel to other leisure centres as required

About you

As an Aquatics Training Schemes Manager and Head Coach, you will bring to the role:

Level 3 Swimming Coach Qualification
Extensive experience of coaching and leading a large swimming coaching programme, at the high competitive level
Extensive experience of nurturing and developing young people through sport
Excellent partnership, relationship and people management skills
Extensive experience of managing a large aquatics pathway

About the role

As our next Training Scheme Manager and Head Swimming Coach, you are experienced, enthusiastic and motivated to lead a large swimming programme and oversee our Diving and Artistic Swimming schemes. You’ll thrive on nurturing ability, supporting and leading a talented team of coaches, ensuring the highest standards of coaching, inclusion and safeguarding for over 500 young people.

The role has a dual remit of Head Coach of the Swimming Training Scheme and Aquatic Training Scheme Manager which involves overseeing the diving and artistic swimming training schemes as line manager for the swimming team and Head Diving Coach and Head Artistic Swimming Coach.

The successful candidate will be someone who has an outstanding experience of swim coaching and pathway development; is an effective manager of coaches and builds and maintains excellent relationships with colleague’s partners and participants. You will collaborate closely with the volunteer led clubs (City of Leeds Swimming Club, City of Leeds Diving Club and City of Leeds Synchronised Swimming Club) to continue the successful competitive outlets for the Council’s aquatic training schemes. The schemes aim to enable young people to develop in their aquatic discipline and reach their individual potential, in partnership with the national governing body.

You will use your extensive swim coaching experience and skills to continue the Swimming Training Scheme and outstanding performance of the City of Leeds Swimming Club including providing mentoring and development to the wider coaching team, ensuring a robust pathway for athletes. You will also work closely with the Diving and Artistic Swimming programmes to support their development and operations.

A degree is an essential qualification for this role.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

The role is integral to Leeds City Council’s Active Leeds Service has 17 Leisure Centre’s including 14 pools and 12 gyms and a development team working with communities and delivering commissioned activities. Active Leeds vision is for Leeds to be the best city to be active in and we aim to make a difference every day, working with people and their communities, so they are at the heart of all we do. We want everyone to move more in a way that works for them.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply

Please complete the online application form.

Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Katy Bowden, Development Manager Call 07712216624 or email katy.bowden@leeds.gov.uk

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children’s barred list will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.

We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds and the communities we serve. Leeds City Council is recognised in Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index 2024. We are also an Age-friendly Employer, a Mindful Employer and a Disability Confident Leader.

All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six month probationary period.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, candidates must consider their own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker route before applying.â€¯To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the 'standard' salary rate of at least £38,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. For more information visit Skilled Worker visa on the government website. Please ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job purpose

To effectively lead the performance Aquatics Training Schemes and manage the work of the team of coaches responsible for the training schemes.

To ensure the effective and efficient management of resources within the training schemes.

To develop and lead strategic partnerships with professional and voluntary agencies for the benefit of increasing aquatics training scheme opportunities for the City of Leeds.

Responsibilities

To manage and lead the training schemes in relation to culture, safeguarding and welfare, health and safety, work programmes, development plans and staff appraisals.
To act as Head Coach for the Swimming Training Scheme and provide coaching to elite swimmers.
To provide coaching to all swimmers as may be required within the training scheme.
To support the implementation of performance management information systems, and produce reports as required illustrating continuous improvement.
To assist in the production of effective marketing and publicity materials that promotes the schemes, raises awareness and improves the profile of the schemes and Leeds City Council.
To take the strategic lead on developing efficient and effective systems and procedures for areas, such as Safeguarding and Welfare, Health and Safety, Performance Management, Equity and Equality, Marketing, Events, Coaches and Volunteers etc.
To contribute to the effective management of the Active Leeds Service, undertaking project work and producing reports as required.
To ensure that effective working partnerships are developed with colleagues across the Council, Clubs, Governing Bodies and partner organisations.
To oversee and support the identification, promotion and application of external funding opportunities.
To lead on the development and delivery of strategic aquatic plans as and when required.
To Play an active role in the recruitment and development of coaches and support staff.
To assist the Aquatics Manager in the provision of coach education courses relevant to the delivery of aquatics training schemes.
To lead on work in Active Leeds to create and develop sporting pathways, building capacity and widening opportunities to increase regular participation through local and national initiatives.
To co-ordinate the development, delivery and monitoring of city-wide training scheme development plans.
To ensure effective links are maintained with Sport England, Yorkshire Sport Foundation and other key agencies involved in the delivery of sport and physical activity.
To work with partners to deliver Talent Identification programmes.
To regularly liaise with Elected Members and Senior Officers to inform and advise of strategic developments.
To undertake any other duties which may be assigned from time to time and that are commensurate with the grade of the post.
To undertake the accountabilities of the post in accordance with council policies including the Safeguarding of Young People and Vulnerable Adults, Equal Opportunities, Health & Safety policies and Financial Regulations.

The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.

Qualifications Swim England Level 3 Coach qualification

Essential requirements It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post. Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.

Excellent written and verbal communication, inter-personal and presentation skills to effectively communicate with a range of organisations and individuals.
Good organisational and time-management skills, with the ability to prioritise tasks and manage complex projects.
A knowledge of performance management and an ability to produce and monitor work programmes and development plans
Ability to work as part of a team, while being self-motivated to work on own initiative, including identifying needs and resolving problems with practical solutions.
Ability to work under pressure, within tight budgets and deadlines.
Ability to manage, lead, develop, negotiate, motivate and influence the direction of the training schemes and individual staff.
Good skills in relation to policy/strategy development.
Ability to translate strategic direction into practical actions.
Ability to effectively manage budgets and other resources.
Ability to identify and manage risks within the remit of the job.
In-depth understanding of Safeguarding and Welfare of young people and managing staff in relation to this.
In-depth understanding and knowledge of the aquatic delivery process
Knowledge of local, regional and national strategic plans and policies, and an understanding of the implications for local delivery.
Understanding of general Health and Safety systems and issues.
Detailed knowledge and appreciation of equal opportunities and diversity issues in relation to employment and service delivery.
Detailed knowledge and understanding of national and local sports structures, such as Governing Bodies of Sport and current sport development initiatives.
Extensive experience in aquatics.
Extensive experience of planning, leading and co-ordinating a range of projects, schemes events and people.
Experience of managing and monitoring safeguarding and welfare of young people procedures.
Experience of managing and leading the work of others, especially in relation to work programmes and development plans.
Experience of working with, supporting and influencing a range of partners and organisations.
Experience of managing budgets and other resources.
Experience of establishing and monitoring performance management systems to achieve continuous improvement.
An understanding of IT and its application to the training scheme environment.
Experience of successfully applying for and securing external funds or resources.
Experience or an understanding of the principles of sports marketing and promotion.

Essential Behavioural & other Characteristics

Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities.
Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity policies of Leeds City Council.
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.

Desirable requirements It is desirable that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post. Candidates are not required to meet all the desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between candidates.

Full, clean driving licence.
Understanding of the local government process and current issues facing local authorities
Evidence of a wide range of general senior officer / management training.
Experience or an understanding of the role of sport in the social inclusion agenda.
Experience of working in a local authority.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

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