Sports Development Officer (Leeds)
Sport & Physical Activity is going through a transformation. Already one of the top UK Universities for sport, with a large development programme and a broad range of facilities, we are seeking to employ a full time Sports Development Officer (Coaching and Community) to develop our growing coaching infrastructure and community engagement programme.
Corporate Services
Sport & Physical Activity
Sports Development Officer (Coaching and Community)
You will be responsible for the development and delivery of a professionally driven coaching service at the University, the management of the coach education programme and the development of student placement schemes. In addition, you will act as the district coordinator for the West Yorkshire Sport Extended Activities Project and continue the development of the University sports volunteer programmes.
This post offers an exciting opportunity for an experienced and enthusiastic individual to drive forward both coaching and community engagement at the University.
The successful candidate will be an enthusiastic, committed and professional individual. Ideally you will:
- Have coach and/or volunteer management experience
- Have demonstrable team leadership and project management skills
- Have a degree or equivalent qualification in a related area
- Have coaching qualifications(s) in related disciplines
- Have some strategic sports development experience
- Be a visionary thinker and introduce new ideas to the service.
- Have excellent communication skills and the ability to think creatively.
University Grade 6 (£23,002-£27,466 p.a.)
For further information please visit www.leeds.ac.uk/sports or for informal enquiries contact Patrick Craig, Sport & Physical Activity, tel +44 (0)113 343 7541 or email p.m.craig@leeds.ac.uk
To apply on line please visit http://www.leeds.ac.uk and click on ‘jobs’. Alternatively application forms are available from Charlotte Lea-Robbins (tel 0113 3435080 / email c.lea-robbins@leeds.ac.uk)
Job ref 011033 Closing date 22 July 2008
Interviews will be held on 5 August.
Further Particulars
Responsible to: Sports Development Manager
Hours of Duty: 35hrs per week. The post holder may be required to work some evenings and weekends, so some flexibility will be required.
Purpose of Post: This post seeks to deliver a professionally driven coaching service at the University, manage the coach education programme and develop the student placement schemes. In addition, you will act as the district coordinator for the West Yorkshire Sport Extended Activities Project and continue the development of the University sports volunteer programmes.
Further Information
With a proud tradition and an ambitious future vision, the University of Leeds offers an exciting environment for its entire staff. We want to build on over a century of achievement and we now have a new ambition to be ranked in the top 50 universities in the world by 2015. Our staff will be crucial in achieving this vision and we are looking for additional people to play a part in our future.
Sport & Physical Activity’s vision is to become “The leading UK University provider of services for sport and physical activity, recognised for our outstanding provision from participation through to excellence”. This means that all our members and customers, whether students, staff or members of the public, will enjoy a high quality experience – whether using physical activity as a tool to improve health and wellbeing, for support as an elite sportsman or woman, taking up a new activity, as a member of a sport club or volunteering on one of our projects in the community. The University’s commitment to the development of facilities includes the building of a 200 station fitness suite and a 25m 8 lane swimming pool (to open 2009/10), the development of a second Sports Centre on the Western Campus, and the upgrading of outdoor grass facilities at Weetwood,
Our staff are professional and enthusiastic about the opportunities we offer, and work as a team to fulfil our ambitious vision. Supported in a structured management environment, you will become knowledgeable about our offering, able to provide an excellent customer service, and will be trained and supported to deliver the high expectations of your role. Our commitment to this is demonstrated by the fact that the Sport & Physical Activity Service has recently been awarded Investors in People (IIP) accreditation.
The University of Leeds continues to invest in its staff, their health and wellbeing and has recently launched a new ‘Benefits+’ initiative. This is a package of support that both part and full time staff may access – including childcare, cycle to work scheme, final salary pension scheme, learning4life and more.
The Sport Development Officer (Coaching and Community) will be based within the Sports Development Team, situated at the University sports centre.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Coach Development
• To be responsible to the Coach Development Group for the development and implementation of the Coaching Strategy for the University.
• To coordinate an ongoing quality coach education and development programme based on national standards and the principals of quality assurance.
• To be responsible for the innovation of courses provided to the University community ensuring that the needs of academic and non academic partners are incorporated into the programme.
• To provide a CPD programme to develop paid and volunteer coaches within the University.
• To promote equity in coach development and coaching provision as a key theme to overcome barriers and enable excluded or hard to reach groups to participate in sport on a daily basis and remove barriers to coaching.
Coach Management
• To establish and implement systems to inclusively and effectively recruit, develop and deploy coaches
• To ensure that all coaches are managed through the utilisation of the central coach management information system.
• To ensure that annual review/analysis of coach recruitment & deployment is conducted and incorporated into coach recruitment & deployment plans
• To ensure that annual coach recruitment & deployment plans are implemented to meet organisational and players needs
• To ensure that equitable practices are incorporated into coach recruitment plans
• To ensure that all coaches employed under appropriate terms and conditions with contracts that are in line with those offered to staff employed to fulfil similar roles
• To develop and implement appropriate coach management systems (including induction, training needs analysis and continuous professional development).
• To appoint and manage instructors / coaches employed ensuring that qualifications and relevant licenses / professional memberships are checked and Leeds University Union / Sport & Physical Activity standards maintained.
• To work closely with the Human Resources department to ensure the employment and management of coaches is legal and transparent.
• To link with relevant team members to provide a CPD training programme for instructors and coaches ensuring industry educational requirements.
Community Engagement Programme
• To oversee the administration of the Hyde Park Time Trial, a University community engagement and volunteering initiative.
• To build on existing foundations a system for the sports placement programme in conjunction with the Access and Community Engagement department
• To widen and develop further the placement activity to encompass a wider range of schools, sports organisations, national governing body programmes, sports clubs and support the City Council’s activity.
• To act as District Coordinator for the West Yorkshire Sport Extended Activities project.
• To develop an effective marketing and recruitment plan for the sports placement programme involving key internal University partners, such as Sport and Exercise Sciences.
• To develop effective training programmes and procedures for all participants including CRB checks, child protection courses and arranging other appropriate courses.
• To act as the single point of contact for sporting placements for student and key local external partners (LCC, SSCO partnerships, schools and colleges) and the Access and Community Engagement department.
• To work together with the Access and Community Engagement department to ensure that sports outreach work is an effective recruitment tool for the University.
• To organise key events at the University to bring young people coached by sports placement students to the University.
• To develop and implement a tracking mechanism in consultation with schools and the Access and Community Engagement department.
• To be responsible for placements and the training of sports ambassadors and their coaching delivery in schools and community groups.
• To seek funding for this programme and demonstrate its added value to the students' personal development sports development in the community and raising the university’s profile.
• To actively recruit volunteers for participation programmes and events.
• To work closely with the Access and Community Engagement department in the enhancement of the role of sport in the recruitment process.
• To run events for prospective students of the University in conjunction with other University departments.
• To assist in the development, organisation and delivery of a full range of activities provided through the implementation of the university’s sport and physical activity strategy.
• To undertake the role of Team Manager on any sports tournaments, if and when required.
Other Responsibilities
• The post holder will share some responsibility for the professional development of the Sports Development Support Worker (Coaching and Community).
• To undertake other duties that may be assigned by the line manager.
Other Information
The next two years are an exciting time for the University and for Sport & Physical Activity, as the University’s swimming pool and health and fitness centre are being constructed. This does mean, however, that changes to this role are a possibility as structures within Sport & Physical Activity will be reviewed.
Career Expectation
The University of Leeds is committed to developing its staff. All staff participate in the Staff Review and Development scheme and we continue to work with individuals supporting them to maximise their potential.
Progression to a higher grade is dependent on an individual taking on an increased level of responsibility. Vacancies that arise within the area or across the wider University are advertised within ‘the Recruiter’ vacancy bulletin to allow staff to apply for wider career development opportunities.
Person Specification
Essential
Desirable
Knowledge and Experience
• A high level of accuracy and attention to detail
• Experience of working in a customer focussed environment
• Commitment to continuous service improvements to realise our vision
• A commitment to providing an excellent customer service
• Computer literate
• Excellent numeracy and literacy skills
• Experience of cash handling
Communication Skills
• Team oriented with the proven ability to contribute to a team
• Excellent communication and inter-personal skills, with the ability and willingness to inform persuade, negotiate and influence others in a helpful manner.
• Excellent telephone manner
• Outgoing, energetic and enthusiastic personality
• Ability to maintain a positive attitude in the face of unexpected and stressful situations.
• Professional in appearance and behaviour
• Ability to work responsibly on own initiative as well as in a team
• Be resourceful and have the ability to work under pressure
• Have a helpful attitude towards customers and fellow staff members of the team
• Willingness to undertake further training/learn a new skill
• A willingness and ability to communicate with a diverse customer base Knowledge and Experience
• Experience in budgetary control
• Relevant experience in the HE sector
• An enthusiasm for sport and physical activity
• Experience of using a Leisure Management System
• Promotional and marketing experience within sport
• Previous experience of volunteer placement schemes
How to Apply
Completed applications should be returned to Charlotte Lea-Robbins, Sport & Physical Activity, Sports Centre, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, email c.lea-robbins@leeds.ac.uk quoting job ref xxxx not later than 22nd July 2008
Applications should include the following:
• A completed application form. If you wish to download an application form please visit http://www.leeds.ac.uk/hr/policy/forms.htm
• A Curriculum Vitae/information requested on page 2 of the form.
• Equal Opportunities Monitoring form (Enclosed). Please return the Form in a separate envelope (enclosed) marked 'EOs Monitoring'. If you wish to complete the Equal Opportunities monitoring form on line please visit:
http://tldynamic.leeds.ac.uk/equalopps/
Replies will be treated in complete confidence.
If you are selected for interview you can expect to hear from the University not later than 4 weeks after the closing date. If you are not selected for interview the University will not contact you again.
Please note that if you are appointed to this post you must be able to supply proof of the right to work in the UK. If you do not have the right to work in the UK the University will apply to the Border and Immigration Agency (formerly known as the Home Office) to obtain a Work Permit for you. We are obliged by European law to appoint people who are citizens of the European Economic Area (EEA) where possible. A Work Permit will therefore only usually be granted by the Border and Immigration Agency where there is a skills shortage for a particular post.
A Criminal Records Disclosure is not required for this position however applicants who have unspent convictions must indicate this in section 9 of the application form and must declare the nature of the conviction to the Recruitment and Administrative Co-ordinator.
Disabled Applicants
The post is located in The University of Leeds’ Sports Centre. Disabled applicants wishing to review access to the building are invited to contact the department direct. Additional information may be sought from Disability Services, e-mail disability@leeds.ac.uk or tel + 44 (0)113 343 3927.
Disabled applicants are not obliged to inform employers of their disability but will still be covered by the Disability Discrimination Act once their disability becomes known.
Data Protection
The information you provide in your application will be used to consider your suitability for the post for which you have applied. If your application is not successful the information will be disposed of confidentially after 6 months. If your application is successful and you are appointed, your information and future data will be processed in accordance with the University's Data Protection Code of Practice. A copy of this code can be obtained from either the University's Human Resources Department or by visiting:
http://www.leeds.ac.uk/hr/policy/index.htm
Health and Safety Responsibilities
You are required to adhere to and comply with the provisions of the Health and Safety at Work Act, related Regulations, and act in accordance with the University’s Policy on Health and Safety which can be accessed via:
http://www.leeds.ac.uk/safety/ul_only/usp/uspindex.htm.
In addition you are also required to co-operate with regard to the implementation of the Health and Safety arrangements and should not interfere with or misuse anything provided in the interest of Health, Safety and Welfare at Work.
For more information on the University and terms and conditions of appointments please visit http://www.leeds.ac.uk
Equality and Diversity Statement
The University of Leeds is proud to be a multi-cultural community. We value diversity, and are determined to ensure:
• that we treat all individuals fairly, with dignity and respect;
• that the opportunities we provide are open to all;
• that we provide a safe, supportive and welcoming environment – for staff, for students and for visitors.
We recognise that we still have work to do to secure a truly inclusive community, and we are committed to a wide-ranging plan of action to tackle discrimination and to promote diversity.
The Equality and Diversity Statement forms part of the University’s Equality and Diversity Policy, which applies to staff and students alike and is available on the University’s website at:
http://www.equality.leeds.ac.uk/ed/policy/
The University has published the following policy and code of practice which are linked to the Equality and Diversity policy. They are also available on the University’s website:
• The Race Equality Policy,
• The Code of Practice on Harassment and Bullying
Further policies are being developed, and will be made available on the University’s website in due course.
Further information and advice are available from The Equality Service, Telephone: +44 (0)113 343 3927 or by email to equality@leeds.ac.uk
Hours of Work
The normal full-time hours of work for Clerical, Technical and Ancillary staff are 35 hours per week.
The precise times of work are by arrangement within the Department. It may be possible for there to be some flexibility over the number of hours worked each week to meet departmental needs. Part-time jobs for example, may involve arrangements under which more hours a week are worked during University term-time and fewer during vacations.
Holiday Entitlement
The holiday year for clerical, technical and ancillary staff runs from 1 October to 30 September. The leave entitlement is 25 days (5 weeks), pro-rata for part time staff. In addition there is an average of 15 ½ days holiday a year for public holidays and days when the University is officially closed.
Unused leave may not usually be carried over from one year to another. However by agreement with the Head of Schools/Services, employees may carry forward up to one week’s leave for a maximum of 3 months.
Pension and Assurance Scheme
University runs its own final salary pension scheme for support staff. An explanatory booklet is sent to staff when they start work.