Purpose

The Senior Strength and Power Coach is accountable for establishing and maintaining world class technical expertise and service delivery to the Waratahs Super Rugby squad, identifying and contributing to innovation and research projects, and playing a major role in staff development through knowledge and experience sharing.

The Senior S&P coach will manage the technical delivery of strength and power, speed and conditioning content to the Super Rugby squad while taking a leading role in an interdisciplinary approach to performance support.

Key Accountabilities

Provide World Class Strength and Power Coaching and Programming

• As a member of the Waratahs performance team, work collaboratively with the coaches and practitioners to analyse the needs of the athlete and develop programs to meet appropriate performance goals that will lead to on field success
• As part of an interdisciplinary support team, implement programs, systems and reviews that ensure strength and power delivery is fully integrated to optimise player performance.
• Lead the delivery of strength and power development to the Super Rugby squad and wider NSW Waratahs contracted players
• Contribute to the delivery and programming of speed training across the Super Rugby squad.
• Interact with the Waratahs Academy programs to ensure players are being effectively prepared for future performance demands of Super Rugby preparation
• Ensure an appropriate level of individualization is incorporated into each player’s performance plan.
• Develop effective periodised plans with appropriate adjustments to ensure it’s progressive and current
• Contribute, as required, to the rehab and reconditioning of injured players to ensure they return to the field ready to perform.
• Be highly active in your own learning to ensure that training modalities are in line with current trends and research.
•  Attend home matches and some away travel where required by head of performance

Lead the Implementation and Delivery of Speed Sessions

• Working with the S&P team, take a leading role in the development of speed, acceleration and agility capability at the club.
• Lead the transfer of training in the gym to on field speed

Maintain Comprehensive S&P Data Recording

• Ensure full compliance with all player data reporting requirements outlined in the Waratahs-Rugby Australia High Performance Agreement.
• Provide guidance for the NSW Waratahs Sport Scientist to ensure that player data reporting requirements are consistent for Waratah’s S&P’s across all pathway and development programs.
• Provide accurate, detailed and insightful reports when required on the S&P performance of the squads and our players

Oversee the Day-to-Day Maintenance and Operations of the S&C Environment

• Ensure gym is kept in the condition befitting a high-performance training environment
• Take an active role in ensuring the S&P department is resourced to the level required for a high-performance program
• Daily maintenance of the S&P equipment and software

Professional Development

• Take an active role in the professional development of the HP team
• Have a proactive attitude to your own professional development
• Contribute to the ongoing evolution of the high-performance program across the club.

Contribute to the Goals of Each Squad, Including the Culture of the Team

• Provide strong leadership to the players around the demands and behaviours required to be an elite rugby player
• Contribute to our desired culture of a professional, hardworking team with player well-being at the centre.

Capabilities, Experience, and Qualification Expectations

Qualifications Required

• Min 6+ years fulltime equivalent experience in the provision and application of strength and conditioning support to high performance athletes either in Olympic or professional sport environments
• Masters in Sport Science, Strength and Conditioning or a related field
• ASCA Level 2 or international equivalent
  • ASCA Level 3 or international equivalent is desirable yet not required
• Level 1 & 2 Anti-Doping Certificate (ASADA)
• Keep Australian Sport Honest Certificate
• First Aid and Resuscitation certificate
• Working with Children Check
• Current driver’s licence

Experience 

• Breadth of experience in high performance sport across different sports and/or levels of the high-performance athlete pathway
• Proven success in utilising strength and conditioning knowledge for planning, periodising, innovating, and managing athletes across multiple seasons/campaigns to support medal-winning performance (or equivalent) at a senior level
• Experience in working as part of a diverse multi-disciplinary team to deliver high performance sport objectives in a complex environment
• Demonstrated capacity to provide timely, compelling, and concise advice to inform senior management to support decision making
• Proven ability to build and maintain effective relationships both internally and externally with a diverse range of stakeholders

Knowledge

• Demonstrated ability to understand and conceptualise complex processes and systems, communicating them in clear and concise terms for a range of audiences
• Highly developed communication skills including interpersonal, negotiation, influencing and representation
• Knowledge and understanding of the Australian high-performance sport system, and requirements of high-performance athletes and coaches
• Understanding of current trends, technological advances, and practices in elite sport coaching
• Intermediate/Advanced knowledge of MS Office and other sports specific computer programs. (e.g. SmartaBase, Visual Coaching Pro, R)