Head Coach

This is a landmark opportunity to lead Boccia UK’s performance coaching programme as we establish our first-ever Head Coach position. The role combines strategic vision with hands-on coaching, shaping our journey towards LA 2028 and our broader ambitions for 2032.

This vacancy has a full candidate pack including personal specification, please view it here: (copy & paste the below link into your browser)
https://pages.globalsportsjobs.com/hubfs/candidate%20pack_BOCCIA%20FINAL.pdf

Location: Remote, with extensive domestic and international travel (including regular camps/attendance in Loughborough and Inverclyde). Ideally based in the Midlands for easier access across the UK, but flexibility will be considered for the right candidate.

About Boccia UK

Following a stellar performance at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, where we celebrated our third consecutive gold medal, Boccia UK is aiming even higher. With seven World Class Programme (WCP) athletes ranked in the world’s top 10 and two of our teams/pairs also in the top 10, we are building momentum towards the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games and beyond.

Boccia, a dynamic Paralympic sport played exclusively by individuals with physical impairments, blends precision, strategy, and teamwork. Classifications ensure fair competition, split into four categories for men and women, showcasing the pinnacle of inclusion and athletic excellence.

Our performance principles — collaboration, ambition, relationships, and evolution — alongside athlete-centred development, drive us forward. By 2032, we aspire to become the world’s leading boccia nation, and this Head Coach role is central to achieving that vision.

The global boccia landscape is evolving, with nations such as Hong Kong and Korea dominating the Paris 2024 medal table. To remain competitive, we are committed to reducing this gap by investing in key objectives, including this pivotal leadership role.

About the Role

This is a landmark opportunity to lead Boccia UK’s performance coaching programme as we establish our first-ever Head Coach position. The role combines strategic vision with hands-on coaching, shaping our journey towards LA 2028 and our broader ambitions for 2032.

While a background in Boccia is not essential, we are seeking a candidate with a strong performance coaching pedigree, particularly in technical and tactical coaching, skill acquisition, and innovative athlete development. This reflects our open and forward-thinking approach to identifying the best talent to lead our athletes and teams.

Key Objectives include:
• Supporting athletes to maximise their potential and achieve podium finishes at major events, including the 11 medal events at the LA 2028 Paralympic Games.
• Leading a world-class coaching team, enhancing coach-athlete contact time, domestic training models, and high-performance planning.
• Inspiring excellence and driving innovation across the World Class Programme (WCP).

The Impact You’ll Make

• Lead and mentor a world-class coaching team to deliver medal-winning performances.
• Empower athletes to reach their full potential and excel on the international stage.
• Drive Boccia UK’s long-term vision to become the world’s leading boccia nation by 2032.
• Shape and deliver strategies to address global competition challenges, ensuring the UK remains at the forefront of the sport.

What You’ll Be Doing

Coaching Leadership

• Develop and oversee high-performance training environments for WCP athletes, managing training volumes and intensity.
• Lead Periodised Performance Planning, aligning training and competition strategies across the Paralympic cycle.
• Steer preparation and performance at major championships, fostering a winning mentality.
• Mentor Performance Coaches and embed a culture of collaboration, shared learning, and excellence.
• Provide leadership in coach development and CPD initiatives.
• Collaborate with the Performance Director and Senior Leadership Team, contributing to Boccia UK’s strategic and operational planning.

Coaching & Performance Delivery

• Design and deliver cutting-edge technical and tactical training programmes tailored to competition demands.
• Lead on-court coaching, aligning training sessions with performance objectives.
• Work alongside multidisciplinary performance support teams to ensure integrated athlete support.
• Oversee Individual Athlete Plans (IAPs), managing training loads for peak performance.

Pathway Development

• Partner with the Head of Performance Pathways to support seamless athlete progression from talent pathways to the WCP.
• Contribute to the growth and development of future coaches across the Home Nations.

What We’re Looking For

We are seeking an exceptional leader with:

• Proven high-performance coaching experience, ideally within Paralympic or elite-level sport.
• A track record of leading athletes, teams, and coaches to success at European, World, Olympic, or Paralympic levels, with evidence of medal-winning performances.
• Expertise in technical and tactical coaching, as well as skill acquisition, with the ability to adapt to boccia’s unique demands.
• Outstanding leadership and mentoring skills, with experience managing multidisciplinary teams.
• A strong commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in sport.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and problem-solving abilities.
• A recognised sports coaching qualification.

Why Join Us?

This role is not just a job — it’s an opportunity to shape the future of British sport. You’ll lead athletes on a journey of growth and achievement, drive innovation in coaching, and contribute to one of the most exciting Paralympic programmes in the UK.

As part of Boccia UK, you’ll play a key role in:

• Addressing global challenges, including closing the gap with top-performing nations like Hong Kong and Korea.
• Creating a legacy of success for LA 2028 and beyond.

Be part of an ambitious, innovative team committed to making Boccia UK a global leader.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary for the right candidate.
• Pension – Boccia UK provides pension benefits to employees through Standard Life.
• Laptop and essential office costs, plus expenses paid when working away from the place of work.
• Generous holiday package, including bank holidays.
• Employee bonus scheme linked to behavioural and performance outcomes.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Boccia UK is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of its work. We welcome applications from all sections of the community and are dedicated to creating an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive.

As part of our commitment, Boccia UK participates in the UK Government’s Disability Confident scheme. This includes the 'Offer an Interview' scheme, whereby all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role are guaranteed an interview. Employers participating in the Disability Confident scheme make this pledge to ensure disabled candidates have a fair opportunity to showcase their abilities.

If you're passionate about performance coaching and want to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of boccia in the UK, we would love to hear from you.

Boccia UK is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of its work.

To apply for this exciting opportunity, simply click "Apply," and you will be redirected to the Global Sports Jobs website, where you can submit your CV and cover letter.

If you would like any additional information about the vacancy, please email Tom Martin at tm@globalsportsjobs.com 

Optional: To go the extra mile, we encourage you to submit a short video (2-3 minutes) introducing yourself and covering the following (sending to the above email address):

• Why you are passionate about this role
• How your experience aligns with the key responsibilities
• What makes you the ideal candidate

While the video is optional, it offers a great opportunity to stand out and give us a sense of your motivation and personality.

View the full candidate pack for this vacancy here:
(copy & paste below link into browser)
https://pages.globalsportsjobs.com/hubfs/candidate%20pack_BOCCIA%20FINAL.pdf

Timeline:
Closing date: 31st January 2025
Interviews: Week commencing 24th February 2025

We look forward to reviewing your application!

Join us on our mission to become the world’s leading boccia nation by 2032.