Strength and Conditioning Coach & Performance Sport / HTAP Lead

Post Title: Strength and Conditioning Coach – Performance Sport and HTAP Lead SBU/Department: Health Fitness and Performance, University of Hertfordshire Sports Village

FTE: 0.8 FTE (32 hours per week)

Duration of Contract: Permanent

Salary: HSV5-6 £26,937 - £31,856 (pro rata) plus performance related pay

Annual Leave: 23 days pro rata

Location: University of Hertfordshire Sports Village, De-Havilland, Hatfield

Performance Herts are experienced UKSCA accredited strength and conditioning professionals based at the University of Hertfordshire.  We provide S&C support to a wide range of athletes in a multitude of sports, from grass root development to Olympic performers along with delivering on University degree modules and Nationally Accredited Courses and Workshops.

Our partners, clients and athletes include: UKSI, UKSCA, England Squash, England Golf, Arsenal Women’s FC Academy, England Women’s FA, England Netball, Saracens Mavericks Netball Super League Franchise, TASS, University Scholars, County & Regional Swimming, Netball, Cricket, Golf amongst others.

Our vision is to be the Region’s leading Strength and Conditioning facility and service provider. To help us achieve our vision we are looking to recruit an experienced and highly qualified Strength and Conditioning coach to join our team.

Our work enables athletes to optimise their performance, avoid injury, peak for major competitions, and educate them in areas such as recovery methods, nutrition and anti-doping.

Main duties & responsibilities

Main duties of the Strength & Conditioning role will include but is not limited to: Delivering 1-2-1 / group S&C sessions, creating annual periodised plans, writing training programmes, implementing fitness testing and screenings, reporting on data from diagnostic testing, working alongside physiotherapists & coaches, assisting in the day to day running of the high performance gym, writing & delivery of workshops / University lectures & practical’s, mentoring internship students and seeking new business opportunities.

Main duties of the Performance Sports / HTAP (Hertfordshire Talented Athlete Programme) Lead role will include but is not limited to: Being responsible and accountable for the programme (Performance Sport or HTAP), being the main liaison between stakeholders involved in that programme, overseeing the strength and conditioning provision on the programme, ensuring open communication with technical coaches, organising events and workshops, arranging MDT meetings, athlete communication and reviews. 

Skills and experience required

Proven experience in the provision of S&C services including coaching athletes to improve performance is essential for this role, as well as experience performing needs analyses, planning and implementing diagnostics and monitoring systems and strategic planning of training based on the results. You will also have experience with social media for marketing purposes.

Excellent IT skills with respect to Microsoft Office, especially Excel, will be required as well as being organised and a good communicator. Experience providing athlete support and understanding the needs of athletes in a high-performance environment, managing budgets and with another University or the TASS organisation would be desirable.

You will need to be a knowledgeable, skilled, personable, self-motivated individual with excellent coaching skills and the ability to adapt to the environment augment performance, excellent presentation and communication skills. You must be able to use your own initiative, be pro-active, work well under pressure and be able to work as part of a busy and multidisciplinary team. 

Qualifications required

An undergraduate degree in S&C, sports science, or related area specialising in the physical preparation of athletes, UKSCA accreditation (or ability to obtain within 6 months), UK Anti-Doping, and Introduction to Clean Sport are essential for this role. Desirable qualifications would include: APDL qualification, BWL qualification and a Postgraduate degree in S&C, sports science, or related area specialising in the physical preparation of athletes.

Employee Benefits include 

• A competitive salary with opportunities to progress 

• Annual bonus 

• Free Gym Membership 

• Specific induction and ongoing support, training, development and progression opportunities 

• Up to 26 days annual leave per year + 8 Bank Holidays, sick pay & pension scheme 

• Access to University and Associated College courses 

• UNiDays, TOTUM and Galleria discount cards 

• Discounted travel on UNO buses 

• Regular staff social events 

• Exercise ‘Healthy Hour’ 

• And much more . . . 

REHABILITATION OF OFFENDERS ACT

DISCLOSURE AND BARRING SERVICE

This post is exempt under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 as amended. The University requires that the successful applicant who is offered employment will be subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure Barring Service before the appointment is confirmed. An Enhanced Disclosure will be required and this will include details of cautions, reprimands or final warnings, as well as convictions. The University of Hertfordshire complies with the 'Code of Practice for Registered Persons and other recipients of Disclosure Information'. DBS Checks may be renewed in line with policy.

Overseas applicants and UK applicants who have lived abroad 

Successful applicants who have lived outside the UK, for 12 months or more (whether continuously or in total), in the last 10 years, will be required to produce a ‘Certificate of Good Character/Conduct’ from each of those countries.

Please view the job description and person specification for a full list of the duties and essential criteria. Please attach a personal statement showing clearly how your skills and experience match the Person Specification.

We regret that we are unable to offer UKVI sponsorship for this post; applicants will either hold UK Right to Work or demonstrate access to UK Right to Work before an offer is made.

Contact Details/Informal Enquiries: For an informal discussion about this post please contact Max Honigsbaum, Head of Strength and Conditioning / TASS Lead by phone 01707 281002 or by email m.honigsbaum@herts.ac.uk 

Closing Date: Friday 26 July 2024 

Interview Dates: Tuesday 06 & Wednesday 07 August 2024 (Please indicate preference of days when applying)

Reference Number: 060435

Date advert placed: 05 July 2024  

Our vision is to transform lives and UH is committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and building a diverse community. We welcome applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of their protected characteristics, and recognise there are different ways applicants may achieve the criteria in this document. We offer a range of employee benefits including generous annual leave, flexible location opportunities within the UK, discounted Sports Village memberships, personal and professional development and family-friendly policies. #GoHerts

Apply online at https://www.jobs.herts.ac.uk/go/060435