University of Glasgow Student Services Programme Lead

Working as part of the Sport Development Team you will lead the delivery and development of Physical Preparation for sports clubs and individual athletes across University of Glasgow. You will be responsible for the recruitment, development and mentorship of student interns to aid in the delivery and expansion of physical preparation support across student athletes and clubs. You will be responsible for delivering improvement in the athlete physical standards and welfare and therefore ensuring the level of training days lost to injuries are minimised. In addition, you will lead and deliver Strength and Conditioning training qualifications providing opportunities for students to develop transversal skills and professional competencies alongside their degrees, whilst also enhancing the availability of skilled coaches to deliver programs. You will be expected to work early mornings, evenings and occasional weekends to fulfil the requirements of the role.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Design and deliver high-quality strength and conditioning programmes for performance squads and individual sports bursary athletes.
• Manage, develop and supervise student interns to extend strength and conditioning provision across development and recreational sport programmes.
• Lead the delivery and ongoing development of strength and conditioning qualifications to enhance the professional competencies of student coaches.
• Provide academic and applied support to undergraduate and postgraduate research projects within sport performance environments.
• Collaborate with internal and external coaching staff to align physical preparation programmes with performance objectives and long-term athlete development.
• Contribute to the achievement of agreed Key Performance Indicators in line with the strategic priorities of UofG Sport and GUSA.
• Maintain effective interdisciplinary communication to ensure appropriate training loads and holistic support for student athletes.
• Drive continuous improvement in physical preparation standards and the quality of performance environments across sports programmes.
• Contribute to wider organisational priorities, including active lifestyle delivery, athlete recruitment, partnership development, and the promotion of athlete welfare.

Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills & Experience

Knowledge/Qualifications

• Essential:
• A1 Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 8 (Scottish Vocational Qualification level 4, Higher National Diploma) or equivalent in Sports and Exercise Science or other relevant subject, and experience of personal development in a similar role.
• A2 Accredited UKSCA Strength and Conditioning Coach or ability to evidence imminent accreditation.
• A3 Evidence of further Strength and Conditioning, Weightlifting and other relevant qualifications.
• A4 Current First Aid Qualification (minimum Emergency First Aid) or ability to gain accredited status prior to post commencing.
• A5 Well-developed knowledge and understanding of the organisation & structure of British / Scottish Student Sport, including competition programming, opportunities, and structural organisation.
• Desirable:
• B1 Post Graduate Qualification in Strength and Conditioning, Sports Science or other relevant subject.
• B2 UKSCA S&C Trainer Tutor /Assessor Qualification.
• B3 Accreditation in Sports Science or other professional field.
• B4 Familiarity with using TeamBuilder or other programming software to guide athlete training.
• B5 ISAK Anthropometry Level 1 Qualification.

Skills

• Essential:
• C1 Excellent coaching skills.
• C2 Demonstrable organisation and administrative skills.
• C3 Effective leadership skills.
• C4 Good communication skills, both verbal and written.
• C5 Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• C6 Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• C7 High quality presentation and interpersonal skills.
• C8 Ability to work effectively with athletes of varied ages, backgrounds and skill levels, including young people and students.
• C9 Good IT skills, including understanding of Microsoft packages.
• Desirable:
• D1 Ability to take initiative and innovate within the agreed dimensions and duties of the role.
• D2 Highly agile and able to adapt within the ever-evolving digital landscape.
• D3 Leadership skills with a high degree of emotional intelligence and the ability to inspire and empower others to drive change.
• D4 Ability to ‘set the standard’ in providing outstanding customer service, with a high degree of empathy and understanding.

Experience

• Essential:
• E1 Previous experience of coaching in a high-performance environment.
• E2 Proven experience in high‑performance coaching, including designing, delivering, monitoring, and reviewing training programmes.
• E3 Demonstrable experience of managing, mentoring, and developing other coaches.
• E4 Experience of developing, reviewing, and enhancing aspects of student experience (or equivalent).
• E5 Track record of developing, delivering, and sustaining effective partnerships.
• E6 Experience communicating clearly and building constructive working relationships across internal and external organisations.
• Desirable:
• F1 Competed or coached in a high-performance environment.
• F2 Experience of working in a university sporting environment.
• F3 Experience coaching group exercise classes for a diverse range of non‑athlete populations.
• F4 Experience providing gym support for a diverse range of non‑athlete population.

Terms and Conditions

Salary will be Grade 6, £33,951 - £37,694 per annum. This post is full time and fixed term for up to 9 months from start date. Closing date: 23:45 19th July 2026.

As a valued member of our team, you can expect:

• A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.
• An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full time staff, pension, benefits and discount packages.
• A flexible approach to working.
• A commitment to support your health and wellbeing, including a free 6-month UofG Sport membership for all new staff joining the University.

We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under‑represented within the University. We endorse the principles of Athena Swan and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University. We are investing in our organisation, and we will invest in you too.

Please visit our website for more information.