Sport Program Sr. Manager & Biathlon Head Coach

Major Tasks, Responsibilities and Accountability

Overall

The primary role of the Sport Program Sr. Manager & Biathlon Head Coach is to manage, lead, expand and develop Soldier Hollows cross-country skiing and biathlon youth and development programs, including Team Soldier Hollow, youth development programs and youth recruitment programs. The Sport Program Sr. Manager & Biathlon Head Coach oversees the daily operation and administration of those programs and works collaboratively within the Soldier Hollow and UOLF planning process to develop strategies and methodologies to set and achieve program goals (short- and long-term). The Sport Program Sr. Manager & Biathlon Head Coach will design and direct recruitment efforts at all levels of the program, create and implement athlete development plans aligned with U.S. Ski & Snowboard and U.S. Biathlon National Training Systems, and provide coaching and support to program participants that aims to develop champions both in sport and in life. The Sport Program Sr. Manager & Biathlon Head Coach must have strong technical, teaching, coaching, organizational and communication skills.

Program Leadership

• Lead participant recruitment and retention efforts focused on significant growth in the numbers of participants at every level, and the retention of those participants through U20.
• Recruit professional and volunteer assistant coaches to accommodate participation growth while keeping program costs low.
• Ensure the ongoing training of all coaches, both in-house using a clear and concise participant training and development curriculum and defined annual training plan and ensure that all staff coaches are progressing annually through the NGB coach certification program.
• Ensure that all youth coaches are actively engaged in PSIA training and certification (including volunteers).
• Ensure the fundamental technical development of participants at all levels, using skill progressions, video, and skills testing (1-2 times annually) with documentation delivered to each athlete demonstrating their technical progression(U14+).
• Educate the parents of participants by codifying a clear and integrated development philosophy at every level, sharing that philosophy with the parents and participants, and periodically hosting parent education sessions to ensure their knowledge of the development philosophy.
• Develop program structures and systems that meet progressively higher levels of U.S. Ski & Snowboard Club Certification and document those systems and structures for club certification review.
• Lead efforts to develop program participant demographics that reflect the demographics of the local community (gender, race, economic).
• Encourage athletes to participate in other sports beyond skiing as appropriate for their age group and competitive goals. Manage relationships with other youth sport organizations in the community to enhance opportunities for cross training.
• Use participant/parent surveys and feedback groups to understand what participants value and ensure that program structures take this into account.
• Work with other programs and tech admins to develop a means of efficiently measuring participant retention.
• Actively educate participants and parents by providing relevant educational material, providing avenues to track annual training (U16 & up) as a means of educating athletes about their personal progress.
• Use competition to help participants explore themselves and their capabilities and for personal development
• Encourage independent training outside of organized sessions for all age groups so that ultimately the majority of training the participants do is coach-guided but done independently (U18+).

Program Administration

• As necessary, develop a code of conduct, parent guide, development philosophy, team handbook, team policies, skills evaluation and training diary and ensure that all participants and parents acknowledge and adhere to codes, policies and procedures.
• Assist with the development and ongoing engagement of a community cross country/biathlon club as an extension of Team Soldier Hollow to foster community support and integration.
• Recruit and hire staff for all levels of the sport program ensure staff complete all hiring requirements.
• Ensure the alignment and integration of biathlon programming at all levels, and an integrated philosophy that incorporates biathlon into all aspects of the programming.
• Develop and manage annual Soldier Hollow sport budget under the guidance of the General Manager.
• Train, schedule and manage Soldier Hollow sport and coaching staff.

• Create and maintain relationships within the Nordic community to include local clubs, university sport programs and other organizations that may use Soldier Hollow facilities for programs or competitions.
• Manage the Team Soldier Hollow and youth program aspects of the Soldier Hollow web site including online registration and use of social media as a means of informing parents and the community about club activities, programs, achievements, opportunities, news and events.
• Lead and deliver Team SOHO fundraising efforts as determined annually.
• Oversee the management and development of the biathlon range and rollerski trail.
• Manage the Team SOHO dryland training, locker room, ski room and administrative areas, including displays of the Team SOHO vision and values
• Direct Team SOHO equipment activities (including uniforms)
• Develop local Team SOHO sponsorships
• Lead SafeSport implementation at Soldier Hollow and across Team SOHO
• Work alongside the Soldier Hollow Senior Manager of Facilities and the Soldier Hollow Event Coordinator to lead or assist the organization of skiing and biathlon competitions and events at Soldier Hollow.

Program oversight

• Team SOHO
• Soldier Hollow youth cross country ski and biathlon programs, including but not limited to Kickers and Gliders and Activ8.
• Assist Nordic Center Supervisor in scheduling, oversight and implementation of youth programs including Charter School Ski Program, Public School skiing visits, and the High School Mountain Bike Ski Program.

Communication

• Plan and implement recruitment opportunities for programs, such as school outreach and after school programs.
• Ongoing with parents and participants through regular forums, team administration platforms, education sessions, individual meetings and social media.
• Work with marketing staff on marketing/promotional plans for the Soldier Hollow Sport program.
• Ongoing w/ facilities staff (snow grooming, rollerskiing, trails) to ensure high quality delivery of the practice venue.
• Team manuals, policies and feedback mechanisms including participant surveys.
• Produce a regular sport program newsletter.
• Communicate and promote the accomplishments of Team SOHO in the local media.

Required Knowledge and Essential Skills

• Extensive knowledge/experience of cross country and biathlon skiing at national and youth development levels.
• Extensive knowledge of cross country and biathlon equipment, including waxing, facilities, and biathlon firearms.
• Excellent organizational, coordination, oral and written skills.
• Proactive and positive attitude, and able to work independently.
• Must work well in a team environment with the ability to lead.
• Proficiency with PC applications and Microsoft Office programs, such as Word, Excel, Power Point, Google.
• Flexible work schedule.

Miscellaneous

• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Strong coaching expertise in cross country skiing and biathlon (3+ years preferred)
• U.S. Ski and Snowboard certification Level 2 or commiserate experience
• U.S. Biathlon Level 200 certification or commiserate experience
• University degree, with qualifications in exercise science or related field a plus
• Safe Sport Certified, CPR/First Aid may be acquired after hired.

Environmental Job Requirements

• Ability to work outdoors in all temperature/weather extremes.

Required In-House Training

• UAF Orientation
• Sexual Harassment
• Drug & Alcohol

This job description is not an employment agreement or contract. Management has the exclusive right to alter the scope of work within the framework of the job description at any time without prior notice.