Open Vacancies

The Club takes children from learning to swim right through to National competitive squads - currently training over 680 swimmers in over 80 sessions per week, across 4 main pools including the 50m Olympic sized pool located at the Mountbatten Centre.

• We take great pride in our work with the local community and our very successful Learn to Swim Programme, run in a number of locations throughout Portsmouth designed to encourage swimmers of all abilities to enter a competitive environment with enjoyment being the main focus.
• We compete on the local, regional and national stage and during this time the club has seen members selected for international representation at junior and senior level, including competing at Olympic Games, and has produced two world champions & an MBE.
• The club is led by a committee with a fresh vision for Portsmouth Northsea to be a Swimmer Centred, Coach Led, Committee Supported club. We have an ambitious plan to develop the club and take it to the next level.

Vacancy Closed 5 May: Learn to Swim and Academy Head

Contract Type: Permanent

Working Hours: Full-time

Location: Portsmouth Mountbatten Leisure Centre, St. Edmund's Catholic School

Salary: TBC depending on experience

Closing Date: 5^th May 2023

Job Description

Portsmouth Northsea Swimming Club is seeking an Academy and Learn to Swim Head. The Club is Swim Mark accredited and welcomes members of all ages and abilities from Learn to swim to competitive Masters, including Performance/Competitive/Development squads, Para, and Academy programmes.  Our Academy Programme trains at the Mountbatten Centre and the Learn to Swim section at the St. Edmunds School pool.  

The Club is committed to raise the standards of swimming within the local area, so we are looking for an individual with passion for quality teaching and coaching, who actively pursues inclusion and diversity. Applicants should be inspirational; highly motivated and proven leaders, able to work on their own initiative and as part of a team to lead the club’s successful Academy and Learn to Swim Sections. A positive, proactive professional attitude and prior experience in a similar role is essential.

In the Learn to Swim Programme you will have the opportunity to lead develop and manage our team of swimming teachers to guide, support and develop swimmers as they progress into the Academy Programme. In the Academy programme you will have the opportunity to lead develop and manage our team of swimming coaches and to guide, support and develop swimmers as they progress into Competitive/Development squads. We have recently increased our capacity in the Academy and Learn to Swim Programmes, so we are looking for someone who will proactively support the recruitment of swimmers, by creating links with schools and other swim school programmes within the city.

The successful applicant will need to provide an aquatic development programme aligned with the Swim England competitive pathway.

Essential requirements: 

• Hold a Swim England Level 2 Swimming Teacher certificate.
• Experience in managing and developing swimming teachers.
• Demonstrate a strong understanding of swimming to an appropriate level. 
• Be skills-focused with the ability to apply and share technical knowledge. 
• Have experience of working within a competitive swimming club environment. 
• Excellent time management, organisation, communication and administration skills. 
• Demonstrate wide experience of delivering swimming lessons for swim lesson providers, schools, disability and BAME participants.
• Able to motivate, lead and work well with a team. 
• Demonstrate sensitivity and respect for the needs of all involved with the club. 
• Support club activities that are undertaken. 
• Experience in creating and reviewing Health & Safety Risk Assessments.

Desired requirements:

• Experience in creating and managing disability inclusion in a Learn to Swim Programme. 

Responsibilities to include but not limited to: 

• Leading, managing, developing and communicating with a team of teachers and volunteers.
• Holding termly teacher meetings.
• Arranging rotas, deploying staff and ensuring all sessions are covered.
• Producing and delivering a termly plan for lessons at the appropriate level.
• Supporting the Club Manager in responding to parent emails/enquiries and providing feedback where appropriate together with collating termly swimmer evaluations.
• Booking and conducting trials and feeding back to team administrator to take forward.
• Producing and updating evaluation criteria for each ability, to incorporate Swim England framework and awards.
• Management of badges and club awards in conjunction with the Club Manager.
• Management of Academy Fast Track sessions in collaboration with the Head Coach.
• Collating recommendations and agreeing promotions with the Head Coach and sending to the Club Manager.
• Working closely with the Head Coach and Junior Lead to ensure Academy, Junior, Club and Learn to Swim are aligned and arranging squad trials and delivering skill development courses during the holiday periods.
• Preparing/updating/amending lane allocations for all members and sessions.
• Arranging (with administrative and volunteer support) termly Galas for Academy, Development.
• Support the Learn to Swim Coordinator in collecting and checking the monthly timesheets for the teaching staff.
• Developing initiatives to promote Learn to Swim and Academy and generate more revenue streams.  
• Develop links with schools and other swim schools.
• Monitoring attendance.
• Assess best practices on how technology can support the administration of the Learn to Swim programme, and recommend process improvements.
• Evaluating swimmers on a lesson-by-lesson basis to ensure that they learn all of the necessary skills.
• Treating all swimmers fairly and providing regular individual feedback at the appropriate level.
• Actively encourage swimmers in the importance of preparing for exercise.
• Carrying out CPD wherever possible to maintain up to date knowledge.
• Ensuring the safeguarding of all participants at all times and maintaining contact with Welfare for issues concerning swimmers or parent behaviour in line with the Club Code of Conduct and Swim England Wavepower.

An enhanced DBS check and references will form part of the suitability for the role. A full driving licence is also essential, along with the ability to travel to our training and competition venues.

If you wish to discuss this role prior to application, please contact the Club via the details below and request a discussion.

How to apply

Please send a CV and covering letter explaining why you would be suitable for the role along with all necessary experience and coaching qualifications to PNSC Vice Chair, Ryan Clay ([email protected]).