Head Coach

Strathcona Nordic Ski Club 

Position: Head Coach

Employer: Strathcona Nordic Ski Club (SNSC)

Status: Full-time, year-round

Salary: $50,000 to $58,000 per year, based on skills and experience

Start date: May 1, 2027

Reports to: SNSC Board of Directors

Apply to: admin@strathconanordics.com

Nature and scope

Under the direction of the SNSC Board of Directors or its delegates, the Head Coach develops and carries out the club's coaching and athlete development plan, and performs administrative, general club and communications tasks as assigned.

The Head Coach may be subcontracted to Cross Country BC (CCBC) as a course facilitator or for specific provincial athlete development tasks. In that case the Head Coach reports to CCBC as directed by the SNSC Board, and may receive additional compensation at the Board's discretion. The Head Coach may also be subcontracted to other organizations at the Board's discretion.

Hours of work

Normal hours are 8 hours per day, five days per week. Longer hours are usually required during club and provincial camps, race trips and related travel, and work often includes weekends. Hours are balanced over each month, or over each quarter during the competition season (November 15 to March 31). Extended hours must be discussed with and approved by the Board in advance.

Compensation and benefits

  • Salary of $50,000 to $58,000 per year, based on skills and experience

  • Annual increase in line with the BC Consumer Price Index, capped at 4%, at the Board's discretion

  • Basic and extended medical coverage for the employee through the Courtenay Chamber of Commerce Group Plan, paid by the club

  • Four weeks (20 days) of vacation per year, with up to one week carried over

  • 15 paid sick days per year

  • Gym membership of the employee's choice, up to $500 per year

  • Club vehicle for club business. Personal use is allowed within set limits and is a taxable benefit.

  • Travel costs and further training covered for club ski activities

  • NCCP licence and SNSC membership paid by the club

Athlete development

  • Under the direction of the SNSC Athlete and Coach Development Committee, prepare an annual club athlete development and racing plan consistent with Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) guidelines for each stage, and present it to the Board at a spring or fall meeting.

  • Coach the club teams directly: the Junior Race Team and the Masters Race Team.

  • Provide, monitor and support athletes' annual training plans according to their LTAD stage, including encouraging athletes to track their training, evaluating it and giving feedback.

  • Run weekly training, with a minimum of two sessions per week per program. The schedule varies by season and team. Volunteer coaches run training during the Head Coach's vacation.

  • Lead club teams to regional, provincial and national races according to the annual racing program.

  • Organize, plan and report on race trips in line with club expense policies.

  • Communicate regularly with coaches, athletes and parents of junior athletes about programs, training, camps and trips.

  • Work closely with the Marmots coaches on planning and on the development of Marmots athletes.

  • Organize and deliver regional camps as set out in the SNSC Athlete Development Program, generally fall (September), winter (Christmas) and spring (May).

  • Recommend identified Junior Team talent to the SNSC and CCBC athlete development committees.

  • Create opportunities for Junior and Marmots athletes to ski with Jackrabbit groups, to build role modelling and club involvement.

  • Report on the athlete development program to the Board.

Coach development

  • Lead and mentor SNSC volunteer coaches who deliver the club's LTAD programs, with a primary focus on race team coaches.

  • Support Skill Development Program coaches with refresher sessions and informal consultation.

  • Help volunteer coaches with youth development and racing programs, including year-round training, session planning, race preparation and debriefing.

  • Consult with volunteer coaches who ask for help with their personal coach development plans.

  • Help keep coaches and coordinators informed of their liability insurance responsibilities.

  • Support the Coach Development Director with planning and scheduling annual club coach certification courses.

  • Schedule and deliver winter on-snow refresher clinics for all club coaches, and where useful, dryland clinics for race team coaches and ski preparation workshops.

  • Deliver NCCP courses in the region and elsewhere in the province with CCBC, if eligible and as assigned.

Other activities

  • Take part in club activities for the general membership as directed by the Board, such as wax clinics and coach refreshers.

  • Network with coaches in complementary summer sports (for example track and field, cross-country running, triathlon, cycling and mountain biking, and rowing) to find and recruit athletes interested in cross-country skiing, and report on recruitment opportunities.

  • Report external requests for services or coaching activities to the Board.

Administration and communication

  • Keep a work and activity log and a vehicle mileage log, and provide summary reports on request.

  • Keep a record of participants in every session coached, including training, racing, camps and transportation in the club vehicle, and report this monthly for billing.

  • Plan and document all activities in advance in monthly activity plans, following Nordiq Canada club insurance requirements.

  • Give the Club Coordinator timely information on upcoming training, camps, weekly activities and news for members, including race results and team selections. Parts of this may be delegated to another club member.

  • Help SNSC directors with season and activity planning.

  • Liaise with the Mount Washington Nordic Manager during the ski season on club activities, grooming needs and schedules. Review specific requests for Mount Washington resources with the Club President or Board first.

  • Liaise with CCBC promptly on scheduling and coordination of regional activities.

  • Present Head Coach activity reports at monthly Board meetings, and an annual report at the Annual General Meeting.

Personal development and evaluation

  • Document and carry out a personal development plan, and report on progress each year with the annual report.

  • Take part in formal and informal coaching evaluations by athletes, Board delegates and CCBC where applicable.

  • Act ethically with athletes and volunteer coaches at all times, and follow the Nordiq Canada Code of Conduct and Ethics, the SNSC codes of conduct, and SNSC policies and procedures.

Qualifications

  • Advanced classic and skate skier with rollerski skills

  • Fit, athletic and able to spend long days outside skiing with athletes

  • Minimum NCCP T2T certification, with the goal of working toward Competition Development (L2C) within the first year of employment

  • A current NCCP licence, maintained throughout employment

  • Knowledge of the Long-Term Athlete Development model

  • Waxing and ski preparation skills

  • Proven ability to lead volunteers, volunteer coaches, staff and race support teams

  • Ability to engage and motivate athletes, with strong communication and interpersonal skills

  • Ability to work with, and take direction from, a volunteer board of directors

  • Ability to work with all members of the club, other clubs, Cross Country BC and Nordiq Canada

  • Comfort with word processing, spreadsheets, and apps and devices used for athlete development

  • A valid Class 5 driver's licence or equivalent

  • Ability to meet all Nordiq Canada Safe Sport requirements for coaches, including Safe Sport training and a current criminal record check kept on file with the club