Job Summary
Our Tennis Club is seeking an engaged and development-oriented Head Tennis Coach to take overall responsibility for the club’s coaching programme and sporting activities.
The club has approximately 250 members and offers tennis for children, juniors and adults in an active and inclusive environment. Our facilities include three indoor hard courts, two recently upgraded outdoor artificial clay courts with floodlights, renovated changing rooms and common areas, as well as a dedicated coach’s office and meeting room.
The Head Coach will play a key role in developing the club’s training structure, organising players into suitable groups, planning tournaments and camps, supporting team tennis, and coordinating assistant coaches. The position includes approximately 30 hours of on-court coaching per week for around 40 weeks per year, together with planning, administration and sporting leadership.
We are looking for a qualified and motivated coach who enjoys working with players of different ages and levels and who wants to contribute to the long-term development of an ambitious tennis club on Norway’s west coast.
Venue and Company description
Venue and Club Description
Our Tennis Club is located at Hatlane in Ålesund, on Norway’s scenic west coast. The club has approximately 250 members and provides an active, welcoming and inclusive tennis environment for children, juniors and adults.
The club’s facilities include three indoor hard courts and two recently upgraded outdoor artificial clay courts with floodlights. The outdoor courts allow for an extended playing season when weather conditions are favourable. The venue also offers recently renovated changing rooms, common areas, and a dedicated coach’s office and meeting room.
Our Tennis Club is affiliated with the Norwegian Tennis Federation and has ambitions to further develop its coaching programme, competitive activities and membership base. The Head Coach will have an important role in shaping this development and will work closely with the Board, assistant coaches, volunteers, players and parents.
Ålesund is known for its distinctive architecture, coastal landscape and easy access to mountains, fjords and outdoor activities. The position offers an opportunity to combine a central role in an ambitious tennis club with a high quality of life in one of Norway’s most attractive coastal cities.
Job duties and responsibilities
The Head Coach will have overall responsibility for the club’s coaching programme and sporting activities. Key duties include:
- Planning, developing and delivering the club’s overall coaching programme
- Providing approximately 30 hours of on-court coaching per week for around 40 weeks per year
- Coaching children, juniors and adults at different playing levels
- Assessing players and organising them into suitable training groups
- Establishing new groups when required and supporting player progression between groups
- Developing the club’s annual sporting programme in cooperation with the Board
- Planning and delivering tournaments, training camps and other tennis activities
- Organising and supporting team tennis and the club’s competitive programme
- Coordinating, supervising and supporting assistant coaches
- Contributing to the development and education of the club’s coaching team
- Maintaining good communication with players, parents, coaches, volunteers and the Board
- Keeping the Board informed about sporting activities, development, needs and opportunities
- Contributing to the recruitment and retention of players and members
- Supporting the promotion and visibility of the club, including selected marketing and sponsorship activities
- Helping ensure that the club’s activities are inclusive, sustainable and accessible
- Carrying out relevant practical and administrative duties connected to the coaching programme and club facilities
Must learn and communicate in Norwegian after the first year.
Candidate qualifications and skills
We are looking for a motivated, reliable and development-oriented tennis professional who:
- Holds a recognised tennis coaching qualification, preferably equivalent to Norway’s Level 1 coaching certification or higher
- Has relevant experience coaching children, juniors and adults at different playing levels
- Is confident in planning, organising and delivering a structured coaching programme
- Has experience with competitions, team tennis, tournaments, camps or other tennis activities
- Can motivate players and create an inclusive, positive and enjoyable training environment
- Is able to organise players into suitable groups based on age, level and development needs
- Has strong leadership and communication skills
- Can coordinate and support assistant coaches and contribute to coach development
- Works well independently and in close cooperation with the club’s board and volunteers
- Is structured, solution-oriented and comfortable handling practical and administrative tasks
- Communicates effectively in English; knowledge of a Scandinavian language is an advantage
- Is willing to relocate to Ålesund and contribute actively to the long-term development of the club
- Personal suitability, commitment and the ability to build strong relationships with players, parents, coaches and club representatives will be given significant consideration.
Benefits
- A key role with significant influence on the sporting development of Ålesund Tennis Club
- The opportunity to shape and further develop the club’s coaching programme and competitive activities
- A permanent position with terms and salary agreed based on qualifications and experience
- A varied role combining on-court coaching, sporting leadership and programme development
- Modern facilities, including three indoor hard courts and two upgraded outdoor artificial clay courts with floodlights
- Access to recently renovated changing rooms, common areas, and a dedicated coach’s office and meeting room
- Opportunities for professional development and further coaching education
- A supportive, inclusive and ambitious club environment
- Close cooperation with the Board, assistant coaches and club volunteers
- The opportunity to live and work in Ålesund, surrounded by fjords, mountains and some of Norway’s most spectacular coastal scenery
- Possible flexibility in how the position is organised, including a shared-role arrangement where appropriate
