JOB DESCRIPTION: HEAD COACH ROLE & RESPONSIBILITIES 

HOURS:  

The successful applicant will work on a minimum hour’s permanent contract on a full-time basis with approximately 40 hours per week.  

Approximately 10 weekly hours of this role will be dedicated to admin/office duties, whilst the remaining contracted hours are taken up with instruction and Duty Management tasks including reception and café work.  

Hours/shifts will vary and will be decided on a pro-rota basis, as agreed with the Centre Manager. The applicant must be available to work on Saturdays and may also be required to work on Sundays as needed. 

REPORTS TO:  

Line Manager: Coaching Manager 

Secondary Manager: Centre Managers 

PROBATIONARY PERIOD: 

All new staff members are subject to a probationary period of 6 months. An initial informal review will take place after 1 month with the Coaching and Centre Managers, with a formal review after 2 months. Your appointment will be confirmed on satisfactory completion of the 6-month period. During this probationary period, you will be given appropriate support and development opportunities to help you reach the required standards. Extension of the probationary period may be granted to enable the required standards to be achieved, but failure to do so could result in termination of your employment. 

EXPECTATIONS: 

Chimera Climbing is committed to delivering exceptional quality across our bouldering facilities in Tunbridge Wells, Chatham and Canterbury, with a focus on outstanding tuition, customer service, and cleanliness—all underpinned by our top priority: safety. We promote a diverse and accessible climbing community that is open to all in order to develop physical fitness, nurture talent, improve mental wellbeing and promote social inclusivity.  

We are committed to creating a professional, friendly and inviting climbing environment, and as part of the Chimera team you will be expected to reflect our philosophy in your working attitude. A passion for climbing, good customer service, an affable manner, and a willingness to integrate with the staff and the local climbing scene are all essential traits in a potential candidate. 

We are committed to creating a professional, friendly, and inviting climbing environment, and as part of the Chimera team you will be expected to reflect our philosophy in your day-to-day working attitude. 

Our staff are required to be polite, courteous, and willing to conduct every duty necessary to keep the centre running, no matter what their position. Although the key duties and responsibilities are listed below, as a member of the team you will be expected to meet and greet customers, guide them through the entry process, provide them with equipment, and serve them food and drink. At times, this will also include cleaning and tidying and may stretch to simple maintenance. 

You will be expected to integrate fully with the climbing scene and become part of the social life of the Centre. A passion for climbing is preferable trait, but the most important skill we are looking for in a candidate is their ability to relate personably to the public. 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:  

The role will include, and is not limited to the below: 

According to the staff hierarchy, the Head Coach reports to the Coaching Manager and is responsible for managing both Senior and Junior Coaches. This role is classified as a level-four position, holding the same level of seniority as a Duty Manager. 

The Head Coach is authorised to make reasonable coaching-related requests of junior staff. While Centre Managers (CMs) have overall seniority and the authority to veto decisions made by the Head Coach, they do not directly oversee coaching matters. 

However, when the Head Coach is working in a non-coaching capacity—such as fulfilling Duty Manager responsibilities or working on reception—they are line-managed by the Centre Managers. 

The role of Head Coach is to take responsibility for the ‘delivery’ aspect of Chimera Climbing Canterbury, but this could be elsewhere to meet the demands of the work. The successful applicant will work in parallel with the Coaching Manager to ensure that instructional and coaching standards are met. Duties include but are not limited to: 
 
To support operational efficiency, all PAYE employees must be prepared to temporarily take on the duties of any role at their level or below, if requested by their line manager. 

For example, a Duty Manager may be asked to cover the responsibilities of a Senior Coach when needed. 

PRIMARY DUTIES: 

Health & Safety:  

Safeguarding   

• Supporting the Coaching Manager with Safeguarding by ensuring all staff are trained and hold a valid certificate.  
• Collect and file staff Safeguarding certificates and inform the Coaching Manager of any training needed.   
• Regularly update the qualifications log on SharePoint.    

DBS  

• Supporting the Coaching Manager with DBS checks by ensuring all staff hold a valid certificate.  
• Send out DBS application invitations and perform document checks as instructed by the Coaching Manager.  

Quality Assurance:  

Staff Monitoring  

• Schedule and carry out regular instructor performance observations and coaching review. 
• Record of observation.  
• Support the Coaching Manager in training and assessing new coaches for competency sign-off. 

Record of Work  

• Record tasks.  
• Write weekly reports to be submitted to the Coaching and Centre Managers. 
• Youth Team Leadership and Programme Development 
• Organise, compose and annually review training plans for youth team. 
• Instructor Training & Development  

Staff Training   

• Schedule instructor training as instructed by the Coaching Manager.  
• Perform Instructor In-house inductions as instructed by the Coaching Manager.  
• Schedule regular 1-hour sessions with centre instructors.  

Instructor Support 

• Support instructors with writing lesson plans as necessary. 
• Provide ongoing support to instructors by offering guidance on lesson planning, group management, and coaching techniques. 

Personal Instruction / Coaching  

• Deliver instruction across all sessions and offerings within the Chimera programme. 

School and group bookings  

• Act as the first point of contact for school and group bookings, responding to enquiries.  
• Book schools and groups according to centre and instructor availability.  
• Ensure sessions are entered on Chimera’s booking systems and relevant instructors are allocated and scheduled on the rota.  
• Proactively build relationships with local schools and organisations to support and grow the local climbing community. 

Instructor Disciplinary   

• Report coaches’ misconduct to the Coaching Manager.   
• Provide verbal warnings as advised by the Coaching Manager.  
• Compose formal warning letters with approval from the Coaching or Centre Manager.  
• Take part in disciplinary meetings as requested.  

ESSENTIAL QUALITIES: 

• Extensive experience of indoor bouldering.  
• Development Coach Assessed.  
• Superb communication skills.  
• Proven leadership skills.  
• Ability to work with others.  
• Ability to take initiative and work independently.  
• Sociable and amenable attitude.  
• Previous experience of working in a customer service role.  
• Previous experience of working in a managerial role.  
• Good ICT skills.  
• Good numeracy and literacy.  
• Experience of climbing in multiple styles and settings.  
• Willingness to train regularly at the Centre to improve personal climbing.  

In addition to the primary duties mentioned above, you must act as Duty Manager and Centre Staff.  See DM and Centre Staff Job Description. Please be aware that there may also be occasional need to work in different capacities to cover absences. 

DESIRABLE QUALITIES AND QUALIFICATIONS: 

• 2 Day First Aid qualification.  
• Transferable DBS.  
• Experience of working in a climbing wall.  
• RCI / RCDI / SPA 
• CWI / CWDI / BWI 
• Performance Coach Trained

In addition to the primary duties mentioned above, you must act as Duty Manager and Centre Staff.  See DM and Centre Staff Job Description. Please be aware that there may also be an occasional need to work in different departments to cover absences.   

REFERENCES: 
 
The Applicant must provide two full references from previous employers. 
 
BENEFITS: 

All Chimera Climbing staff have access to free climbing at both centres together with reciprocal free climbing at the major walls in the South East. They also receive staff discounts in the café and shop.    

We actively support professional development within the company, and we believe in assisting our staff in the attainment of recognised awards in Mountain Training, Coaching, Instruction, First Aid and Route-Setting.  

Salary information available upon request or during the application process.

 (Note: This job description is solely for informational purposes and does not form part of the employment contract.)

To apply for this position, please complete application via the link: https://ca8e5c06022824.eu.deputy.com/jobs#/30JrvZy818pSfDXwSXBFQECTGSu

Closing Date: 24th August