Club Participation Officer (City of Derry RFC)

Job Description & Person Specification

CLUB PARTICIPATION OFFICER (CITY OF DERRY RFC)

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

Role Purpose: To provide rugby development services on behalf of the postholder’s allocated club for Primary schools, Secondary schools and Community organisations within a local authority Council catchment area.

Location: City of Derry RFC

Job Background: Ulster Rugby has created this new post through partnership with City of Derry RFC and Derry City & Strabane District Council in order to deliver the Governing Body investment programme.

Accountable to: Operationally - Allocated Club Contact

Functionally - Participation Rugby Lead

Key Relationships: Officers & Members

Regional Rugby Staff

School staff & pupils

Community organisations

Appropriate DCSDC Council staff

Other Ulster Rugby Officers

Domestic Communications Manager

Contract Type: Fixed term from the date of commencement to 31st March 2028 (with possibility of extension dependent on funding).

Full time (35 hours per week)

Salary: £27,300 gross per annum

Key Responsibilities:

• Delivering programme targets relating to increase in club participation.
• Visit Primary & Secondary schools with the aim of promoting and developing all facets of the game of rugby union in a positive, safe & healthy manner.
• Deliver rugby participation programmes within community-based settings and encourage linkages back to allocated rugby club.
• Support curriculum & extracurricular based rugby modules in Primary & Secondary schools within catchment area.
• Work with your allocated club to support volunteers and assist them with on field development.
• Under the guidance of the Participation Rugby Lead, deliver blitzes, extravaganzas & competitions.
• Completion of regular reports in a timely, accurate & competent manner as requested by Regional staff and Council Steering group. Submission of these fully completed reports (including the collation and entry of participant data onto IRFU Portal information system) within agreed timescales.
• Maintain effective relationships with those detailed in Key Relationships.
• Portray a competent & professional image of the IRFU (Ulster Branch) at all times.
• Maintain accurate and up to date records on all aspects of work.
• Fulfil all coaching & development obligations throughout the term of the contract.

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, knowledge, skills/abilities and behaviours outlined below.

Qualifications	IRFU Stage 1 (Children’s Coaching Course) or Stage 2 (Youth Coaching Course) Coaching Qualification or equivalent. Candidates with Stage 3 (Senior Coaching Course) may be shortlisted on condition that successful candidate attends an appropriate course at the earliest opportunity.
Experience	Demonstrable experience of coaching at Stage 1, Stage 2 OR Stage 3 of the LTPD pathway (age 6-18)
Knowledge	Understanding & commitment to the IRFU Child Safeguarding policy in relation to dealing with underage players
Skills & Abilities	Ability to interact positively with colleagues, club volunteers, schoolteachers & children Good communication skills Good organisation and time management skills Good administration skills with the ability to produce written reports to deadlines
Behaviours	Proven ability to work unsupervised Can appropriately use own initiative Self-motivated Good team player
Circumstances	Able to work flexible hours, including weekends & evenings Access to a form of transport insured for business use that will permit the post holder to meet the requirements of the post in full Be prepared to undertake an Access NI check Eligible to live and work in the UK

Desirable Criteria:

The following criteria are preferred but are not essential. However, we reserve the right to apply some or all of the desirable criteria listed below to facilitate shortlisting.

Qualifications	IRFU Coaching Qualification at Stage 3 LTPD (Senior Coaching Course) (or equivalent)
Experience	Previous experience in the delivery of sporting programmes to colleges, clubs & schools Previous experience delivering female participation programmes Previous experience of organising, managing & evaluating events

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 fixed term contract from date of commencement until 31st March 2028 (with the possibility of extension beyond this date dependent on funding being continued). 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 Wednesday 1st July 2026.

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/