Academy Athletic Development Coach in Belfast

Job Description & Person Specification

ACADEMY ATHLETIC DEVELOPMENT COACH

Affidea Stadium, 134 Mount Merrion Avenue, Belfast, BT6 0FT

Role Purpose: The post holder will work under the direction of the Lead Academy Athletic Development Coach, to provide athletic development and sport science support to Academy and National Talent Squad players.

Accountable To: Lead Academy Athletic Development Coach

Functional Manager: Academy Manager

Key Relationships: Key Relationships Academy staff
Academy players
Age Grade players
Athletic Performance team
Regional Development staff

Location: The majority of the duties will be performed at Affidea Stadium, 134 Mount Merrion Avenue, Belfast, BT6 0FT and Newforge Sports Complex, 18b Newforge Lane, Belfast, BT9 5NW but will also involve travel to any other training facilities used by the Ulster Rugby Academy squad and associated stakeholders (i.e., schools).

Contract Type: Fixed term contract, full-time hours

Salary: In the region of £30,000 gross per annum

Key Responsibilities:

• Work with other Academy athletic development staff to effectively deliver all aspects of athletic development and sport science support to players within the Ulster Academy and NTS programmes.
• Work with other Academy athletic development staff to design and deliver speed, agility, strength, power and conditioning programs to Academy and National Talent Squad players.
• Responsible for the strength and power planning and programming, liaising with the Lead Academy Athletic Development Coach regarding delivery and alignment between Ulster Academy and NTS programmes.
• To help facilitate data collection using GPS systems and other technologies providing insights into training load and athletic development. Working with the Senior and Academy Performance staff to ensure alignment between programmes.
• Work with other Academy athletic development staff to implement Ulster Rugby assessment & monitoring protocols across Academy and NTS programmes, providing data analysis of information to players, coaches and wider support staff.
• To effectively plan and facilitate training schedules for talent and pathway programmes in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team and in conjunction with players club and school training commitments.
• Develop excellent working relationships with school & club coaches and deliver athletic development support to National Talent squad players within identified schools & clubs.
• Where needed, collaborate with the Senior Athletic Performance team and provide coaching support to the Senior Team.
• Develop excellent working relationships with Academy team coaches & Performance support staff working with the Academy and Pathway.
• Support the development and monitoring of players within the National Talent programme, working closely with National Athletic Performance staff to ensure optimum development of players.

The duties and responsibilities outlined above are not exhaustive and the post holder may be required to undertake additional duties to meet the needs of the organisation.

Essential Criteria:

Applicants must, at the closing date for applications, be able to display and provide evidence of the following qualifications/training, experience, specialist knowledge, skills/abilities and behaviours outlined below in this person specification.

Qualifications / Training	A qualification at degree level (or equivalent) in the area of sport and exercise science, strength and conditioning, human movement or related discipline.
Experience	A minimum of 3 years practical experience (including voluntary and part-time work) of the provision of athletic development and/or sport science to athletes to improve performance. Experience in the coaching of strength, power, conditioning, linear and multidirectional speed programmes to athletes. Experience in assessment & monitoring of players to influence the development of the athletic development programme.
Knowledge	Understanding the role of athletic development and sport science within a high-performance environment. Knowledge in programming strength, power, conditioning, linear and multidirectional speed for the developing player. Understanding of GPS systems in the assessment and monitoring of players. With ability to interpret and action data related to performance. An understanding of the LTAD process
Skills & Abilities	Established coaching and programming skills around the development of strength, power, conditioning, linear and multidirectional speed. Ability to work effectively with colleagues both within Ulster Rugby and the IRFU. Excellent ability to collaborate within a multi-disciplinary team and share responsibility for player development and programme management. Ability to implement innovative ideas and to influence athlete and coach support programmes. Ability to work under pressure & prioritise own workload. Excellent problem solving and decision-making skills.
Behaviours	Open minded with a view to adopting new practices. Highly motivated with a passion for high-performance sport. Adaptable and flexible in working arrangements to support the needs of the organisation.
Circumstances	Available to work irregular and unsocial hours as required involving work outside normal office hours, at evenings, weekends and bank holidays. Must be eligible to live and work in the UK.

Desirable Criteria:

Experience

Experience in the use of Microsoft Office packages, athlete management and GPS systems for processing, exporting, storing, analysing and tracking data to optimise performance and measure change. Experience and understanding of Tableau and/or Power Bi Previous experience in working within Rugby Union. MSc in the area of Sport and Exercise Science, Strength and Conditioning, Human Movement or related discipline.

PLEASE NOTE:

Initial short listing will take place against the criteria outlined in Qualifications, Experience & Circumstances. It is the applicant’s responsibility to demonstrate clearly on the application form, in the appropriate place, how they meet the criteria as advertised for this post.

High attention to detail, particularly in written communications will be assessed on the basis of the application form and application forms containing numerous errors will be disregarded.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities and Behaviours will be assessed at interview and/or via practical assessment.

We reserve the right to enhance the essential criteria to facilitate shortlisting. Should this be required some or all of the desirable criteria listed will be applied.

The post is being offered on a full-time, fixed term contract. To apply, please upload a copy of your CV and complete the short online application form. The closing date for completed application forms is no later than 9:00am on Monday 21st September 2026.

The successful candidate must, by the closing date for receipt of applications, be eligible to live and work in the United Kingdom. Applications from candidates who are not eligible to live and work in the United Kingdom by the closing date for applications will not be considered.

Applicants are strongly advised to read the guidance notes at the start of the application form prior to completion. CVs or emails expressing an interest in the position without completing the online application form will be disregarded.

Ulster Rugby is an equal opportunities employer and as such welcomes applications from all persons regardless of race, creed, gender, disability, family status or sexual orientation.

If your role involves working with children and young people you may be subject to vetting through Access NI/Garda Vetting Bureau. Please note that we are committed to equal opportunities for all and will not preclude applicants with criminal convictions.

For more information please refer to the IRFU Vetting Policy https://www.irishrugby.ie/playing-the-game/spirit-of-rugby/safeguarding/recruitment/