Head Coach Vacancy

03 Jun 2026

Contract type: Self-employed engagement. Rate of pay competitive, based on qualifications and experience 

Qualification: Swim England senior swimming coach certificate (level 3) or equivalent (exceptional level 2 candidates will be considered) 

Time commitment: Part-time. c.15 hrs/week poolside + planning. Plus c.25 hrs/month galas on average.

Location: Clitheroe, Ribble Valley

Hourly rate: competitive, based on experience 

Closing date: 20 July 2026

Starting date: 24 August 2026

The opportunity 

This is a rare opportunity for an ambitious coach to take full ownership of a proven, high-performing programme — and take it further. 

Clitheroe Dolphins is a SwimMark accredited competitive swimming club at the heart of the Ribble Valley, and right now we are one of the standout performance stories in East Lancashire. Exciting opportunity to take over a programme in the strongest position in the club’s history, and we are looking for the person who will continue that success and write its next chapter. 

A record we want you to build on
  • Continue to compete with clubs and squads way above our size. 13th in the medal table across the entire North West, ahead of far larger programmes whilst being top of the podium in East Lancashire.
  • Continually produce National Championship qualifiers. One of the standout milestones of our pathway.   
  • Striving for an ever-growing County medals count. Advertising the supreme talent from a small club. 
  • A thriving Masters section producing British Masters national success and Lancashire inter-county representatives. 
  • The Dolphins Dash — our first-ever hosted meet, now established and praised across the North West circuit and looking to roll out further.

Who you need to be 

We're looking for a coach with the ambition and ability to offer exceptional swimming coaching: to sustain our current level of performance, keep swimmers progressing to county, regional and national level, and push the club on again. 

You will have genuine autonomy to lead. Working with a supportive, elected committee, you will own the coaching programme end to end — from our development squads through to county, regional and national performers. For a coach ready to step up and run their own programme, few clubs offer a platform like this: a proven pathway, athletes already delivering at regional and national level, an engaged volunteer base and a community behind you.

The role 

Programme leadership

  • Own the annual plan. Design and deliver a progressive, periodised training and competition plan for all squads, aligned with the Aquatics GB Optimal Athlete Development Framework and LTAD principles.
  • Set the direction. Shape the strategic coaching direction of the club in partnership with the committee, including agreed performance targets. 
  • Lead from poolside. Coach the club’s top squads, setting clear performance expectations and standards. 
  • Oversee quality. Take responsibility for all poolside activity, ensuring high-quality, safe coaching across every squad. 

Performance and athlete development

  • Track progression. Monitor swimmer development against agreed performance objectives, maintaining accurate attendance, performance and PB records. 
  • Build the pathway. Coordinate squad structure and swimmer movements, ensuring a consistent, effective pathway from entry level through to performance training.
  • Develop talent. Identify, develop and retain talented swimmers, supporting progression towards county, regional and national qualification. 
  • Deliver on race day. Lead team selection, attend designated competitions, galas and training camps, and provide post-competition performance reviews.   

People and culture

  • Grow the coaching team. Lead, mentor and develop club coaches, holding regular coaching meetings and keeping knowledge, skills and qualifications current. 
  • Build relationships. Work positively and professionally with swimmers, parents, coaches, officials and volunteers. 
  • Champion the culture. Foster an inclusive, positive, high-performance environment where every swimmer — from grassroots to national level — is treated as an individual. 
  • Report and represent. Update the committee on programme and performance progress, and represent the club externally as agreed. 

Governance

  • Comply fully with all Swim England and club safeguarding and welfare policies.
  • Undertake continuing professional development relevant to the role.

What success looks like 

  • A strengthened swimmer pathway, with more athletes achieving at county, regional and national level year on year.  
  • A developing coaching team with clear progression and shared standards.  
  • A club culture that continues to punch way above its weight — and enjoys doing it.

About you

  • Swim England Senior Swimming Coach Certificate / ASA Level 3 (or equivalent) preferred; strong Level 2 coaches with relevant competitive experience will be considered. 
  • Proven experience coaching competitive swimmers in a club performance environment, with a track record of developing athletes through county, regional and, ideally, national competition. 
  • Strong technical knowledge of stroke development and a sound understanding of LTAD principles.
  • An inspiring leader and communicator, able to motivate swimmers, coaches, parents and volunteers alike.
  • Organised, reliable and committed, with the ambition to make this programme your own.
  • Enhanced DBS clearance, current safeguarding training and right to work in the UK (or willingness to obtain prior to appointment).

Hours and rate of pay

This is a self-employed engagement with clearly agreed commitments: 

  • Face-to-face coaching: poolside delivery across the club’s squad programme currently requires c.15 hours per week 
  • Planning time: Paid time in addition to poolside hours for session planning, periodised programme design, squad reviews and coach team coordination. 
  • Gala and competition attendance:  team support at county, regional and national meets, league fixtures and the club’s own hosted events currently requires c.25 hours per month 

Rates are competitive (like our members) — reflective of qualifications and experience, and will be discussed openly at interview. If any more information is needed, please reach out by email to arrange a conversation.

About Clitheroe Dolphins 

We are a proud, community-focused competitive swimming club based in the Ribble Valley, catering for swimmers from the upper end of the Swim England Learn to Swim pathway through to national championship aspirants. We are volunteer-run, SwimMark accredited, and firmly believe no two swimmers are the same — every athlete in our programme is developed as an individual. Our ambition is simple: to be the club where East Lancashire’s best swimmers are made. 

How to apply

Please send your CV and a covering letter outlining your coaching philosophy, relevant experience and what you would bring to the next chapter of Clitheroe Dolphins to [email protected] before 20 July 2026. Informal conversations with the committee are warmly encouraged ahead of application — reach out by email and we’ll get in touch to set up a call.  

Clitheroe Dolphins ASC is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Appointment is subject to satisfactory references, enhanced DBS clearance and safeguarding compliance.

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