Head Rowing Coach – Ross Rowing Club

Lead volunteer coaches to deliver programmes for rower development and fitness for junior, senior and masters rowers at Ross Rowing Club

Help shape the future of rowing at Ross.

Ross Rowing Club is seeking an enthusiastic and motivated Head Coach to help lead the next stage of our rowing development.

We are a thriving community rowing club on the River Wye, supporting juniors, seniors, masters and recreational rowers. We believe rowing should be accessible to all, while also supporting those who aspire to compete and achieve success at regional and national level. Our rowing strategy is built around a simple principle:Rowing for enjoyment, development and achievement.

We are now looking for a coach who can provide leadership, coordination and inspiration across our coaching programme.

The Role

This is an exciting opportunity for a coach who enjoys developing people as much as developing athletes.

Working alongside our Director of Rowing, Men’s Captain, Ladies’ Captain and Junior Captain, you will provide a strategic overview of coaching across the club while helping to strengthen and grow our coaching capability.

An initial focus will be supporting the continued development of our junior section, alongside helping us create clear pathways from Learn to Row through to long-term participation, racing and performance.

You will not be expected to coach every session. Instead, you will help shape the club’s coaching approach, support volunteer coaches and ensure members receive a high-quality rowing experience.

About Ross Rowing Club

Ross Rowing Club is a thriving community rowing club committed to providing opportunities for participation, development and achievement for people of all ages and abilities.

Our vision is: “To grow and develop as a thriving community rowing club that offers outstanding opportunities for participation, development and achievement, enabling every member to enjoy rowing at the level to which they aspire.”

We support recreational, junior, senior and masters rowing and aim to balance our community ethos with opportunities for competitive success.

Purpose of the Role

The Head Coach will provide strategic leadership for coaching across Ross Rowing Club.

The role is intended to strengthen coaching quality, develop coaches and coxes, support athlete progression and ensure a consistent approach to rowing development across the club.

While the Head Coach will have oversight of coaching throughout the club, an initial area of focus will be the development of the junior section.

The role will work closely with the Director of Rowing, Captains and volunteer coaches to support delivery of the club’s rowing strategy.

Key Responsibilities

Coaching Leadership

• Develop and oversee the club’s coaching programme.
• Promote a consistent coaching philosophy aligned to the club strategy.
• Support coaching activity across junior, recreational, senior and masters rowing.
• Advise on annual training and development plans.
• Provide guidance on crew development and performance pathways.

Coaching Development

• Mentor and support volunteer coaches.
• Help identify and develop future coaches within the club.
• Support coaches working towards British Rowing qualifications.
• Facilitate coach development and knowledge sharing.
• Promote high standards of coaching practice.

Junior Rowing Development

• Provide leadership and support to the junior coaching programme.
• Work with the Junior Captain/Co-ordinator to strengthen participation, development and retention.
• Develop a clear pathway from junior participation into competitive and lifelong rowing.
• Support junior athlete development, safety and welfare.
• Help improve member retention and progression following Learn to Row programmes.
• Support the development of recreational and competitive rowing pathways.
• Assist members in achieving their individual rowing goals.
• Encourage participation at all levels, from recreation through to national competition.

Coxing Development

• Support the development of a structured coxing pathway.
• Assist with recruitment, training and development of coxes.
• Promote recognition of coxing as a vital part of club success.

Planning and Coordination

• Work with the Director of Rowing and Captains to identify coaching priorities.
• Advise on training structures throughout the year.
• Support seasonal planning aligned to the club philosophy:
  • Autumn: Develop Rowers
  • Winter: Build Crews
  • Spring/Summer: Support Achievement
• Provide input into rowing development and coach deployment.

Culture and Standards

• Promote a positive, inclusive and supportive rowing environment.
• Support the club’s community values.
• Encourage safe participation and good sportsmanship.
• Act as an ambassador for the club.

Person Specification

• Relevant rowing coaching experience.
• British Rowing Coaching Qualification (or equivalent experience).
• Experience coaching athletes of varying ages and abilities.
• Good technical understanding of rowing and crew development.
• Ability to motivate, communicate and build relationships.
• Ability to work effectively with volunteers.
• Commitment to safe, inclusive and athlete-centred coaching.
• Enhanced DBS clearance (or willingness to obtain).
• Experience leading coaching programmes.
• Experience developing junior rowing programmes.
• Experience supporting coach education and mentoring.
• Experience of community sports club environments.
• First Aid qualification.
• British Rowing Coach Licence.

What Success Will Look Like

Within the first 12-18 months, the successful candidate will have helped the club to:

• Strengthen the junior rowing programme.
• Improve the transition from Learn to Row into long-term membership.
• Increase coaching capacity and capability.
• Establish clearer coaching structures and pathways.
• Improve development opportunities for coxes.
• Support stronger retention across all sections.
• Create a more coordinated and sustainable coaching programme.
• Enable more members to achieve their chosen rowing ambitions.

What You’ll Be Doing

Coaching Leadership

• Provide leadership and direction for coaching across all sections of the club.
• Help implement the club’s rowing strategy and coaching philosophy.
• Support the planning and coordination of rowing development throughout the year.
• Work closely with club captains and volunteer coaches.
• Mentor and support volunteer coaches.
• Help identify and develop future coaches within the club.
• Encourage and support coaching qualifications and learning opportunities.
• Promote consistency and good practice across the coaching team.

Junior Development

• Support and strengthen the junior rowing programme.
• Work with the Junior Captain/co-ordinator to develop participation, progression and retention.
• Help create an environment where young people can thrive, whether their goal is recreation or competition.

Member Development

• Support pathways from Learn to Row into regular club rowing.
• Help members develop confidence, skills and ambition.
• Assist the club in balancing recreational participation and competitive opportunities.

Coxing Development

• Help establish and develop a sustainable coxing pathway.
• Support recruitment, training and development of coxes.

What We Offer

• A positive, ambitious and supportive club environment.
• The opportunity to help shape the future direction of rowing at Ross.
• An engaged volunteer leadership team.
• Flexibility around working hours and delivery.
• The chance to influence coaching across juniors, recreational rowing, masters and competitive squads.

Reporting to: Director of Rowing

Responsible for: Leadership and coordination of rowing coaching across the club.

Why Join Ross Rowing Club?

Ross is a club that values community as highly as competition.

We’re proud of our welcoming atmosphere, successful Learn to Row programme and growing ambitions. We’re investing in coaching, coxing and athlete development because we believe strong coaching underpins everything we do.

If you’re passionate about helping rowers, coaches and coxes develop and want to play a key role in shaping the future of a community rowing club, we’d love to hear from you.

Salary: £20–£25 per hour, dependent on qualifications and experience.

Type: Flexible hours, estimated 8–15 hours per week depending on season and agreed priorities.

Application Dates: From Friday 23rd October 2026 to Sunday 15th November 2026

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