Water Polo New Zealand (WPNZ) is seeking an ambitious, part-time Women’s National Head Coach to lead our Senior Women’s - the White Caps, and Development squads through the remainder of this 2028 Olympic cycle. The successful candidate will be responsible for planning and scheduling high-performance training camps, athlete selection and attendance at pinnacle events and build an internationally competitive squad for the Olympic qualification events. The pinnacle events will include World Aquatics World Cups, 2027 World Championships, Oceania Challenge and the World Aquatics Olympic qualifier in 2028.
Purpose of the Role
The purpose of this role is to:
Enable effective delivery of the Women’s White Caps campaigns and feeder events
Provide coaching leadership and coordination for pinnacle events for the White Caps and Development Squad
Strengthen leadership, relationships, standards, and communication across the campaign environment
Enhance White Caps and Development Squad athlete experience, wellbeing, and performance readiness
Key Events:
World Aquatics Div 2 preparation and competition, Dec 2026 (assume Europe)
2027 World Cup Finals - February (if qualify)
2027 World Aquatics Worlds preparation and competition, June 2027, Hungary
3-4 months centralisation (NZ and Europe) Aug/Sept/Oct/Nov
Oceania Olympic Challenge AUS vs NZL in Australia, December 2027
2028 last chance World Aquatics Olympic Qualifier April.
Role Overview:
Position: Senior Women’s National Head Coach
Commitment: Part-time (0.5FTE)
Term: November 2026 - LA Olympic Games July 2028
Location: Flexible, (with national and international travel requirements)
Objective: Lead the Olympic campaign cycle, develop talent and a world class team, oversee the programme and coach at pinnacle events including lead in preparation.
What We Are Looking For:
Proven track record in elite women’s water polo coaching, ideally at the international or high-level international club tier.
Strong tactical knowledge and a deep understanding of women’s Olympic-level competition standards and the women’s game.
Exceptional leadership, communication, and athlete-management skills.
The ability to collaborate with WPNZ and High Performance Sport New Zealand (HPSNZ) to foster a winning team culture.
