Role Introduction

Eton College Boat Club is seeking to appoint a high calibre rowing coach to oversee its senior rowing programme with particular focus on the 1st VIII. The successful candidate will have a proven track record of coaching high performing crews.

The Coach of the VIII reports directly to the Master-in-Charge of Rowing and will work alongside a talented teacher to select and coach the school 1st VIII. Training predominately takes place at the Olympic Lake at Dorney.

Eton College has one of the largest, best equipped and most successful junior rowing programmes in the world. Well over 300 boys from the age of 13 to 18 choose to row each year and we are committed to giving each of them the best possible experience of the sport and invest heavily in facilities, equipment and staff to support that aim. Each year, a number of Eton rowers are often selected for national teams and members of the 1st VIII are regularly offered rowing scholarships at American universities.

Interviews will take place on Monday 15th July 2024

Main Duties

Coaching

• Construct the training and coaching programme for the senior squad and advise the heads of the Colts and Junior Colts as required;
• Oversee the development of boys in senior crews, including providing suitable pastoral support where appropriate;
• Ensure that selection policy is transparent and that school guidelines are followed;
• Once selected, coach the 1^st VIII alongside the teacher assigned to the VIII;
• Training and development of coaches including organising and/or delivering INSET where appropriate;
• Attend, and help organise, training camps out of term time;
• The ordering of equipment and repairs (in discussion with the team of Boatmen);
• Attend weekly operations meeting chaired by the Master in Charge of Rowing (MiCRo);
• Liaise with MicRo on issues raised by the school, House Masters, parents and Old Etonians;
• Assist MicRo with the administration and day to day running of the Boat Club;
• Guide boys through the GB rowing trials procedure and accompany Eton candidates at trials;
• Liaise with representatives of US rowing programmes and advise boys on applying to US universities based on their rowing ability;
• Undertake any other reasonable requests made by MicRo, the Head Master or Lower Master.

Child Protection and Health and Safety:

• Ensuring that students’ health and safety is prioritised above all else, both when they are on school premises and when they are engaged in school activities elsewhere;
• All positions at Eton are classed as ‘regulated activity’ as per the Keeping Children Safe in Education 2023 guidance, therefore a good understanding of safeguarding procedures is essential;
• Commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, including but not limited to, completing safeguarding training as required, and ensuring any safeguarding updates issued by the College are read and understood;
• Understand and comply with procedures and legislation relating to confidentiality.

Working Pattern

• This is a fixed-term contract from 1 September 2024 to 31 July 2025;
• Given the nature this role, the exact hours of work are undefined and will fluctuate at different points in the year. However, it is anticipated that the post holder will be expected to work for approximately 20 hours per week during Eton College term time (32 weeks per year). These hours will be set by mutual agreement with the MiCRo, but are likely to fall during all afternoons from Monday to Saturday each week;
• In addition, the postholder will be required to work during all rowing camps, competitions and GB trials during the year. Exactly how these hours fall will be communicated to the postholder in advance, and it is expected that this will total in the region of approximately 893 hours per year;
• Therefore, the total number of working hours for the role is approximately 1,533 hours per year, and exactly how these are worked will be discussed further at interview. Please note, if there is an agreement with the successful candidate that they will work less hours then the advertised salary will be pro-rated accordingly;
• The post holder is entitled to 5.6 weeks of holiday (inclusive of bank holidays) each academic year. If a bank holiday falls during a school term period, the post holder will be required to work this day and will receive an additional day’s holiday in lieu;
• The post holder must use all their entitlement (including any days in lieu) during the first arising periods of school holidays, provided they are not the periods where they are required to work;
• Any remaining weeks are deemed to be non-working weeks.

The Ideal Candidate

To be successful in this role, the incumbent should have:

• A passion for rowing and a proven track record as a successful coach sufficient to coach a top level school rowing crew;
• Experience of coaching pupils aged 13-18 would be advantageous;
• Considerable experience with modern telemetry equipment;
• Experience of working successfully as part of a team and as an individual;
• An ability to tackle difficult issues with tact and diplomacy and the desire to create win-win solutions;
• Strong people management skills;
• Excellent pastoral instincts when dealing with students;
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships and collaborate with a wide range of people;
• A calm and professional manner.

Benefits

Eton College offers a wide range of benefits, including a generous pension scheme, Employee Assistance Programme, enhanced Maternity / Paternity scheme, a cycle to work scheme, subsidised lunches during term time, free or heavily discounted access to the College’s sport and leisure facilities and discounts at local retailers and businesses.

About the College

We are an equal opportunities employer and are seeking applications from suitable candidates from all backgrounds. We are dedicated to creating and sustaining an environment that values individuality and difference and celebrates the diversity of both staff and pupils by fostering perseverance, tolerance and integrity. We believe in equal opportunity for everyone, irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation or socio-economic background.

DISCLOSURE CHECKS

Eton College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including, but not limited to, reference checks with past employers, an Enhanced Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (including Barred List information), an online search and, where applicable, Prohibition checks. If you are successful in your application, you will be required to complete a DBS Disclosure Application Form.  Any information disclosed will be handled in accordance with any guidance and/or Code of Practice published by the DBS. The College is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore all convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings (including those which would normally be considered as “spent” under the Act) must be declared, subject to the DBS filtering rules. It is a criminal offence for any person who is barred from working with children to attempt to apply for a position at the College.

Eton College