The club runs a progressive junior rowing programme with an inclusive and competitive ethos, catering for boys from J14–J18 and girls from J17–J18. The club has its roots in school rowing and maintains a close association with its founding school community, while also providing opportunities for children from a wider school area.

About the Role

Operating on the Thames tideway from our base in Chiswick, and with other land training in Hammersmith, the club is well equipped and trains before and after school, as well as at weekends. While they compete at local and national regattas and have enjoyed competitive success, 1863 Club also hold a proud legacy of promoting academic success alongside our members training ambitions – therefore are looking for a person who will continue to guide their rowers on a development path that aims to maintain and increase these goals.

The club are therefore seeking to appoint a new Head of Rowing to build on the club’s existing ethos, development and competitive success for the coming season and beyond,

The Head of Rowing will take overall responsibility for the coaching and development of the junior rowing programme across all squads, while also playing an active role in the organisation and management of the club’s rowing operations. They will lead weekday and weekend training sessions, predominantly on Sundays at weekends, working alongside a team of assistant and session coaches.

They are seeking a candidate that can seamlessly offer both their coaching as well as skills to organise, structure and motivate junior rowers to progress throughout the year groups. The role holder would work under the direction of our co-captains, but would be expected to work autonomously as well leading a small team. The approximate hours of the role are circa 25-30 hours a week with a combination of water and land training, organisational work, equipment maintenance and attendance at regattas. The successful role holder would:

- Be a motivational, confident and experienced coach who has the skills to develop an inclusive group of children into competent scullers and rowers

- With the lead co-captains, structure the training programme for each year group, with an emphasis on performance and competition

- Understand the highly academic nature of the member cohort and intertwine this into the club operations

- Be able to develop the children technically in sculling and rowing over the course of a season and support them with developing life skills and providing pastoral guidance.

- Be responsible for promoting and implementing the clubs and British Rowing polices in day to day operations and oversee that assistant/session coaches do the same

- Be able to maintain a fleet of boats and other equipment including boat set-up and basic repairs

- Be able to drive a vehicle with trailer (the equivalent of the B/E classification)

- Hold a British Rowing level 2 or equivalent coaching qualification

- Hold a RYA Powerboat level 2 certificate of equivalent

Ideally hold relevant Safety and First Aid certification

- Work with committee members to produce grant and funding applications and organise fundraiser events (charity runs, ergo events etc,.) in line with our charitable status.

Candidates who have experience working with junior age rowers or an experienced graduate with the right experience stated above; or those who may not have the current certification are encouraged to apply.

To apply for or to discuss the role please send an covering letter/email with CV to [email protected].

The club are expecting to appoint a suitable person as soon as the right candidate is found and hence encourage you to apply as soon as possible. 

The club is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all coaches and staff to share this commitment. Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to this post including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service. Applicants must have the existing right to work in the UK.