Jockey Coaching and Performance Development Lead
This is an exciting opportunity for an exceptional individual to have a significant impact on the strategy for jockey coaching and performance development. Working closely with a team of Jockey Coaches and delivery partners this role will contribute to, positively influence and enhance the current provision for jockeys as high performance athletes.
The Jockey Coaching Programme (JCP) has been in operation for nine years having started with a pilot programme in 2011. It is managed by The British Racing School (BRS) for the British Horseracing Authority (BHA). To maintain the progress, development, momentum and engagement of jockey coaching, the JCP is to be enhanced and extended to include specialist coaches and coaches attached to each of the Injured Jockeys’ Fund (IJF) centres. It is the aim that all amateur, claiming and profession jockeys will engage in continuous professional development. Coaching activity is complemented by an inclusive structure of education and training based on a comprehensive athlete development curriculum.
Building on these foundations the industry is now poised to take jockey coaching and development to the next level and a critical priority is to enhance and ensure consistency of leadership, management and coaching across the programme.
Hours of Work:
37 hours per work which may include evenings, on weekends and Public Holidays.
Location:
This is a national role and the location can be flexible. The role will include extensive travel to the British Racing School (BRS) in Newmarket, other racing centres and regional sites.
Responsible for:
Panel of up to 22 peripatetic freelance, part time Jockey Coaches, of which 3 to 4 will become full time BRS employees.
Contract:
Permanent
Salary:
£45,000 – £50,000
Purpose of the Post:
- To lead the progression and delivery of jockey coaching and development. To ensure that leadership and management aligns to the BHA and stakeholder strategy for jockey training and development.
- To create a cohesive and systematic approach to jockey coaching and development, gaining buy-in from jockeys, employers, jockeys’ agents and industry bodies.
- To work closely and in collaboration with industry bodies, UK Coaching and 1st4sport and other related stakeholders to ensure provision of coaching and development for jockeys is relevant, effective and of the highest standard.
- To partner with other key delivery organisations to support the provision of technical development of racing’s jockeys.
- Develop and embed a culture of continuous professional development in jockeys that sits within and contributes to the wider benefit of British horseracing.
- Maximise the opportunities for coaching and development for jockeys as athletes.
Main key responsibilities
- To complement and enhance the current provision for jockeys through specialist coaching provision both regionally and at IJF centres.
- To create a jockey mentoring programme, including the recruitment of more female coaches/mentors
- Ensuring the overarching curriculum is available to all claiming jockeys including lifestyle and career support.
- To develop a culture of career long coaching and development which continues post claiming status.
- To ensure increased and continuing engagement with within-career transition and signposting to sports psychology and other professional support.
- Work with relevant stakeholder to develop appropriate talent pathways, recognising diversity and inclusion.
- Engage with international racing jurisdictions to promote and share good practice in jockey development.
- Create blended learning opportunities across the wider curriculum to take account of different learning styles and regional challenges.
- Engage with key influencers (including employers and jockeys’ agents) on a jockey’s career to create a culture and philosophy of support, development and lifelong learning.
- Develop a clear strategy for assessing and recording the effectiveness of coaching and training so that it can be evaluated and reported to industry funding providers and key stakeholders.
- Contributing to the budgeting process to support the jockey coaching and training programme
Person Specification
Qualifications
- Degree (or equivalent experience) in the coaching and athlete development environment
Experience
- Experience of sports coaching and athlete development programmes.
- Experience of developing and delivering learning journeys within a sporting context.
- Experience of working with stakeholder partnerships with diverse learning delivery arrangements.
Knowledge and skills
- Leadership skills, including the ability to engage and communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders.
- Skilled in building and maintaining productive working relationships.
- Effective presentation and communication skills that can motivate/facilitate behavioural change.
- An interest in sport and recognition of the importance of promoting and supporting diversity/inclusion, safeguarding, anti-doping and participant welfare.An appreciation of cost-effective education/training/coaching delivery.
The British Racing School is an equal opportunities employer. We take the safeguarding very seriously, the successful candidate will be required to provide 2 references, undergo a DBS check and all qualifications will be clarified with the awarding body.
Applications will only be accepted on a BRS application form which can be downloaded here BRS application form for employment and should be returned to Carol.Bramhill@brs.org.uk no later than 01/02/2020 accompanied by a CV and cover letter. Interviews for this position will be held on 17th February.