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Vacancy - Swim Ireland NCD S&C Practitioner

As part of its Performance strategy for the Los Angeles 2028 and Brisbane 2032 Olympic/Paralympic cycles, Swim Ireland Performance will offer an initial 1-year part-time coaching contract for a practitioner who has ambitions to direct their skills and experience to that of Strength & Conditioning delivery in a performance sport environment. For the successful applicant, the National Centre (Dublin) will offer formal and informal professional development and education, ultimately enabling the practitioner to deliver at the highest levels of the sport.

One of the key pillars within the Performance Strategy is to provide strategic coaching opportunities within and for centralised Performance environments in an endeavor to amplify athlete opportunity and outcome across the 2028 and 2032 Olympic & Paralympic Games. The successful candidate will support the physical preparation of athletes based in National Centre (Dublin) with a primary responsibility for athletes within the Development section of the Programme, as well as benefiting from opportunities to work within the National Centre (Limerick) and the National Centre (Ulster) on occasions.

The Practitioner will be responsible to the Assistant Head Coach of the National Centre (Dublin) and will be formally mentored by all relevant members of Swim Ireland’s Performance Department throughout their tenure. As a Performance team, all will work collaboratively to lead and deliver world-class Performance programmes in the National Aquatics Centre (Dublin), the University of Limerick (Limerick) and the Bangor Aurora Aquatic & Leisure Complex (Bangor).

The successful applicant will provide valuable input and contribution to and for Strength & Conditioning coaching initiatives within the Performance programme as a whole, while also gaining exposure to other Sport Science interventions carried out by Swim Ireland Performance staff. The successful applicant will operate according to the Swim Ireland Performance Plan, assisting in the preparation of the Centre’s athletes for relevant international meets in the period 2024-2028.

Our Vision for Performance Swimming:

“Through a unified endeavour across Irish aquatics, power a dynamic system and an ever-evolving culture to develop and support identified aquatic talent, those who are driven to stand on World & Olympic podiums”

Central to achieving this Vision are a core set of principles:

- A commitment to a long-term Performance programme which is focused on recurrent success not on short-term Olympic cycles;
- A dedication to the development of a system that can enable the full potential of our athletes repeatedly rather than one-off successes based on individual athletes;
- A programme that aspires to consistently deliver Olympic, World Championship and Commonwealth success;
- A Performance programme that is centered on the people within the system – athletes, coaches, and practitioners, and in developing their capabilities to ensure that they reach world class standards to ensure Irish swimming success;
- An aspiration to make membership of the Performance programme a positive journey for all, leaving people in a better place for having been part of it and creating an aspiration for others to be involved.

Applicants must display:

- A passion for the development of a Performance and/or Performance Pathway programme and a desire to be part of the journey that promotes the development of such athletes, helping to ensure that all individuals within the programme are given the opportunity to maximise their potential.
- Personality and character that can be developed into leadership, with an ability to effectively establish and maintain strong relationships with athletes and key partners and build a high level of credibility within and for the Performance programme.
- Strong communication skills and display an ability to help direct the development of the programme in both the short and the long term.
- An ability to aid in the progression of the Swim Ireland Performance programme as a whole to ensure continued and furthered success, with the National Centre and the National Centres being key contributors to this.

Applicants must understand that they will:

- Support athletes to transition towards a Performance environment which can lead them to success on the international stage.
- Plan for and attend swim meets and/or swim camps to support National Centre, National Programme and/or Regional Squad/Programme athletes as and when required.
- Work all contracted hours to fulfil the requirements of the post, which will, at times, include unsocial hours including early mornings, evenings and weekends when necessary. This is a part-time post and paid on a contractual basis.
- Travel within Ireland for meetings and secondments as necessary.
- Hold and maintain a recognised United Kingdom Strength & Conditioning Association (UKSCA) and/or National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA) coaching qualification/accreditation (or international equivalent), or display the capability to attain such a qualification/accreditation within the term of the contract.

We would particularly welcome applications from female candidates and/or black & minority ethnic candidates, who are currently under-represented in the Performance Team as a whole. We always appoint on merit. Applications should be made by submitting the following to the Swim Ireland Head of Sports Science & Sports Medicine Kevin McGuigan via kevinmcguigan@swimireland.ie:

- A cover letter to include a personal statement addressing the points above, and why the applicant believes that their personality, skills, experience and values meet the requirements of the position.
- A comprehensive CV relevant to the position, including three referees.

The closing date for applications is 1200 GMT on Monday 25th November 2024 with interviews currently scheduled for the same week. The position will be offered on an hourly contracted basis of approximately 12 hours per week during 2025, with a proposed start date of Monday 6th January 2025 as part of a one-year contract.

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