Job title: Lead Diving Coach
Salary: C3 £32,061 - £33,699

Hours: 45.5, various contracts available, including evenings, early mornings and weekends
Contract: Permanent
Location: John Charles Centre of Sport

As a Lead Diving Coach, you’ll thrive on developing athletes of all abilities and helping them reach their full potential within a supportive and professional coaching environment.

It’s not just about delivering sessions, it’s about inspiring progression, building confidence, and creating a positive experience for every participant.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

About you

As a Lead Diving Coach, you will bring to the role:
A Level 2 (or higher) National Governing Body coaching qualificationA reach rescue/ NPLQ qualification
Have clear understanding of the NGB competitive pathway, including competition conditions and recommended standards
Strong experience coaching diving to children and adults
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to engage and motivate participants
The ability to plan and deliver progressive, structured training sessions
A commitment to safety, safeguarding, and high-quality customer service

About the role

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in developing diving talent across Leeds while promoting participation in sport and physical activity for all. You’ll help shape an inclusive and high-quality coaching programme that supports both grassroots participation and elite performance.

As our next Lead Diving Coach, you’ll work alongside the Head Coach and Age Group Diving Coach to contribute to programme development, our competitive pathway and talent identification, helping to strengthen the future of diving within the city. You’ll lead engaging and progressive sessions, mentor other coaches, attend regional and national competitions, be available to cover sessions as required and attend Swim England and Aquatic GB camps if invited. You will support athletes in achieving their personal goals, whether they’re beginners or advancing through the competitive pathway.

The role is integral to our Active Leeds team, working collaboratively to deliver safe, enjoyable, and high-quality sport and physical activity programmes across our leisure centres. You’ll be part of a team committed to improving health, wellbeing, and opportunities for residents across Leeds.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply

Please upload your CV and complete a personal statement of no more than 500 words.

Read our guidance for further advice on completing your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact

Marc Holdsworth, Head Coach – marc.holdsworth@leeds.gov.uk

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children’s or Adults’ barred list as applicable will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.
This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Please ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job Purpose:

To assist the Head Diving Coach and Age Group Coach in effective delivery of Leeds City Council Diving Training Scheme.
To lead coach development of the Leeds City Council Learn to Dive programme.
When required support the programme manager in the talent identification process and programme development.
To co-ordinate daily workouts, annual training plans including goal setting and targets for developing athletes.
To assist the Head Diving Coach and Age Group Coach in educating staff in elite, competitive and learn to dive diving frameworks.

Responsibilities for Grade:

To instruct and lead individuals or groups in a sport/physical activity programme.
To develop a training programme which includes progressive and measurable practises for competition-based athletes and when necessary, create individual training plans.Specific to the dive training scheme
To use approved coaching practises to support the athletes in their development to achieve their full potential. Specific to the dive training scheme
To be able to work across different levels of the programme when required.
Understand the rules, regulations, and competition laws of the relevant sport. Specific to the dive training scheme
To be a positive role model, creating a fun and safe environment in which to motivate and encourage children and adults to participate in sport/physical activity under their care.
To promote and support all Leeds City Council sport/physical activity programmes.
To ensure the safety and control of the learners within the sport/physical activity lesson and to ensure that all relevant regulations applicable to the venues operation and activity are adhered to
To undertake administrative tasks in connection with the programmes of work i.e., session plans, class registers, monitoring and evaluation, parent / guardian feedback/customer, and recording information/records by which means required as part of the programme.
To ensure the safe use and storage of any equipment required during and after a session.
To comply with the commitments outlined in the Active Leeds service Values, focusing on individual needs, and ensuring standards are maintained.
To attend training, meetings, assessments, and forums to continually develop good practice and meet Active Leeds and Leeds City Council codes of conduct. Furthermore, continue professional development to keep up to date with NGB requirements.
To ensure good communication with Leisure Centre managers, the Business and Development teams when required.
To work with the NGB when required, this may include attending or running camps, programmes and or competitions (specific to sport/discipline).
To ensure safety and control of participants are in line with relevant regulations and centre’s operational procedures in terms of lifesaving and first aid as required (Aquatics Disciplines)
To undertake any other duties, as directed by the line manager which may be reasonably required of you, commensurate with your grade and level of responsibility.
Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade
Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities as necessary to ensure up to date knowledge and skills
Improve own practice through observation, evaluation, discussion with colleagues and development programmes.
Work collaboratively with colleagues, knowing when to seek help and advice.
Contribute to the overall ethos, work, and aims of the service by attending relevant meetings, training days/events as requested.
Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures e.g., child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality, and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person
Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding and promoting the values, standards, and equal opportunities of Leeds City Council.
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment or victimisation and any form of abuse of equal opportunities, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures.
The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and this role will be expected to work within these parameters.
The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.

Qualifications:

Level 2 or higher appropriate NGB qualification.

National Rescue Award for Swimming Teachers and Coaches or equivalent.

Person Specification: Method of Assessment will be through one or more of the following: Application Form, Test, Interview, and Certificate

Essential Requirements: It is essential that the Candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities: Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate on the application form that they meet all the essential requirements

Skills Required

Able to communicate effectively with children and adults.
Able to provide explanation and demonstrate appropriate sport/physical activity techniques using a variety of equipment to aid learning.
Able to adapt to the needs of individuals and different work situations
Able to deliver an appropriate sport/physical activity programme to children and adults
Able to work flexibly as part of a team.
Able to understand and interpret instructions
Able to demonstrate good organisational skills.
Able to demonstrate excellent customer care skills.
Able to lead in ensuring safety standards are followed in sessions and undertake necessary risk assessments.
Able to inspire and motivate participants in sport/physical activity.
Able to lead with session planning and implement progressive sport/physical activity sessions.
Able to lead with accurately assessing/recording and evaluating participant progress using the appropriate resources provided.
Able to provide information and advice to existing and potential customers regarding the sport/physical activity programme.

Knowledge Required

Hold an appropriate Level 2 or higher appropriate National Governing Body qualification
Hold or willing to obtain before commencement of employment the National Rescue Award for Swimming Teachers and Coaches or equivalent qualification.
Knowledge of your NGB’s award scheme and pathways.
Knowledge of Risk Assessments and Health and Safety guidelines.
Relevant knowledge of Child Protection and welfare guidance

Experience Required

Experience of coaching sport/physical activity to children and adults, through all stages of the framework, whether in groups or individuals.
Experience of working within a structured competitive or council programme.
Experience of using IT applications.
Experience of administrating tasks associated with a sport/physical activity framework.

Behavioural and other Characteristics required

Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities.
Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
Be aware of and support difference ensuring equality for all, working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity.
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.

Desirable Requirements: It is desirable that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role. Candidates are not required to meet all the Desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between acceptable candidates.

Knowledge Required:

Knowledge of sport/physical activity framework and pathways.
Knowledge of the NGB competitive pathway, and selection policies.
Knowledge of industry best practice for appropriate activity.

Experience Required:

Experience of coaching within a sport/physical activity programme.
Experience of working with sports/physical activity environment including coaching sports camps and holiday activities.
Experience of administrating tasks associated with a sport/physical activity framework.