Head Swim Coach

Full Job Description

Head Coach (Swimming)

Organisation: City of Glasgow Swim Team

Location: Glasgow

Job Type: Full-time

Hours: 35 per week

Salary: £45,000 to £55,000 (dependent on experience) per annum plus pension and other benefits

Closing Date: 18:00, Monday 8th April 2024

About the Organisation:

Established for over 40 years, the City of Glasgow Swim Team is one of Scotland and the UK's leading, performance swimming clubs. Based at the famous Tollcross International Swimming Centre with feeder pools around the city, the club have a growing membership and an ambitious appetite for further success and progression. Recent accolades include winning multiple Scottish Swimming National League titles for every division since the event was launched, winning top club at the Scottish National Age Group Championships for the past two years and placing over 50 swimmers on Scottish National Squad programmes. City of Glasgow Swim Team have also trained and celebrated former and current Commonwealth, Olympic and Paralympic athletes.

City of Glasgow Swim Team run an enviable programme from novice to elite level and facilitates a popular and growing Masters programme. There are 10 coaches in the team and a Club Development Officer that will report to the successful candidate.

About the appointment:

Following the exciting external promotion of the current Head Coach, we now are seeking to discuss this senior appointment with interested, enthusiastic, hardworking, and highly qualified swim coaches to take over and lead the swimming programme at City of Glasgow Swim Team.

The Head Coach (Swimming) will report to the City of Glasgow Swim Team (COGST) Executive Committee and will be responsible for:

• Leading the development, organisation and implementation of the club’s coaching and competition pathway, to ensure all swimmers are given the opportunity to maximise their potential, including attending appropriate swimming competitions across the whole pathway
• Lead the coaching of the COGST High Performance Squad
• Embed and develop a high-performance culture at COGST championing a winning well ethos and positive coaching behaviours across all programme activity
• Supporting the COGST committee in achieving relevant Scottish Swimming AquaMark Level 3 accreditation programmes to ensure continued success as a competitive swimming club at all levels and ensure continued introduction of competitive swimmers from learn to swim
• Effectively lead and develop the existing team of coaches to ensure that they are successful, keep up to date with technical developments in swimming and reach their full potential as coaches
• Organise, attend and supervise annual training camps, including overseas venues
• Build and maintain strong relationships with our partners which include Scottish Swimming, Glasgow Life, Sport Scotland Institute of Sport, Glasgow School of Sport and Athlete Focused who provide strength and conditioning to our athletes
• Developing effective collaborative working relationships with performance support practitioners and key British Swimming and Scottish Swimming staff
• Create stronger ties with the Universities within Glasgow to grow Glasgow as a Scottish Swimming Performance Hub
• Support the organising committee with the organisation of the Glasgow International Swim Meet
• Complete any other activities deemed necessary to ensure the smooth running and successful improvement of the club
• Attend relevant training and CPD as required
• Attend and provide relevant reports for the monthly COGST Committee meetings
• Drive own performance development plan, actively identifying new areas for learning
• committing to a culture of continual improvement
• Contribute to the delivery of the annual Scottish Swimming national programme activities and attend relevant Scottish Swimming Performance/Coaching groups, as agreed in advance with the Scottish Swimming National Coach
• Will be required to work with persons under 18 years of age
• Comply with all relevant Scottish Swimming policies and procedures, particularly those associated with athlete wellbeing as set down by Scottish Swimming and in particular policies relating to equity, diversity and inclusion

Locations of Work:

• Coaching will take place at venues across the city of Glasgow although travel to other venues across the UK for competitions will be a requirement of the role as will attendance at an annual overseas camp.
• The position requires regular work at weekends, evenings and early morning training sessions.

About the candidate:

• Suitable candidates will already have a depth of significant experience of coaching within a swimming club setting and will be able to demonstrate a portfolio of developing athletes to senior international representation.
• This role is a strategical leadership appointment, closely partnered with Scottish Swimming and it is expected that the successful candidate with opportunities to will be a positive role model for the coaching community and work closely with the national governing body in a range of areas.

Soft Skills/Qualifications:

• Minimum level 3 coaching or UK equivalent qualification
• Ideally educated to degree level
• Strong IT Skills, HyTek, Team Unify, and other swim specific software
• Social media/marketing experience advantageous
• Excellent communication and planning skills are vital, along with the ability to easily engage and build trust with swimmers and coaches under their charge.
• Current safeguarding and disclosure checks in place which would then be renewable

Other benefits:

• Pension 4% contribution from COGST
• 29 paid days holiday plus 6.5 days public holidays
• COGST kit supplied
• Travel expenses for competitions
• Financial support for training

Application Process:

Applications are welcome from all sections of the community and should demonstrate current coaching skills/competencies and all relevant experience and qualifications gained thus far.

The successful candidates will be organised, proactive and capable of working both independently as well as leading and developing an effective wider coaching team.

To apply for the position, please send a current resume and covering letter explaining why you would be suitable for the role to Paul Burgess (COGST President) at

For an informal conversation about the role in advance of any application, please contact Paul Burgess on 07590 465 537

Interview process:

Interviews are expected to be held during March/ April and may include a practical coaching session as well as standard competency interview questions.

Appointments can be made with immediate effect but will be subject to successful completion of Disclosure Scotland, safeguarding checks, and positive references.