Job Vacancies
Chief Instructor:
The Hamble River Sailing Club is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to staff training and development. Elements of this job description may be re-negotiated periodically.
Job Purpose
To manage and be accountable for the day-to-day operation of the RYA Training School to enable adequate oversight of all processes relating to course booking and delivery, including responsibility for staff training, selection, mentoring and compliance with the RYA Code of Conduct. To ensure all training courses and procedures are run to high standards and maintain HRSC as a centre of excellence.
To support all sailing activities in the Club from Youth Sailing through to major Club open events. This will involve, but not limited to, on-shore activities, preparation, good care and management of the boats, and on-the-water instruction and coaching.
Context:
The Hamble River Sailing Club is a friendly and active club on the banks of the Hamble River. Founded in 1919, it runs regular dinghy sailing events, Wednesday night yacht racing in the summer, the Hamble Winter Series in the Autumn and numerous training sessions and other events, including social events. It is also an accredited RYA Training School. There is an active youth division and the club is very family friendly. The club employs two members of staff, the Club Manager and the Chief Instructor. Other roles, such as Vice Commodore and RYA Principal are filled by volunteers from the membership body. Club social and racing events are mainly run by Club members with the assistance of Club staff.
Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities
Reporting to the Vice-Commodore via the Principal of the Sailing School & Honorary Sailing Secretary; including but not limited to
Chief Instructor
- Manage and run the current year's calendar of courses, ensuring staffing and resources are organised in good time
- Devise the following year's training calendar ready for publication by the end of September. This will include both on-the-water and shore-based teaching activities for sailing and power; both youth and adult
- Have day-to-day responsibility for the standards of training, good care of the boats and wellbeing of the students and instructors.
- Take responsibility for staff training, selection, mentoring and compliance with the RYA Code of Conduct.
- Manage staff capability and disciplinary in line with club policies.
- Implement and manage a robust procedure to ensure Instructors are current in all required certication and that own certification is up to date
- Be readily available to deal with issues relating to course delivery, particularly issues arising from instructors and students.
- Work with the Principal to implement, review and update the Operations Manual for Training School procedures
- Prepare for and attend any RYA inspections
- Work with the Club Manager to market the RYA Training school to ensure that income targets are met, ensuring that available capacity is filled, and to maximise capacity to meet demand, including identifying quiet periods and possible solutions for filling them.
- Review and manage instructor training requirements. Identify and coach possible new instructors
- Assist in managing the relationship and administration with the Flagstaff Trust
- Implement a structured, documented procedure for awarding certicates, registering certicates internally and also with the RYA. Additionally, ensure each student needing one has an action plan, documenting areas for improvement.
- Promote benefits of club membership to attendees of the training school.
- Attend monthly Sailing Committee meetings and report on Training School activities
Finance / Admin
- Management of the training school budget, managing spending and allocating resources appropriately.
- Keep a record of all RYA courses being run, monies received and paid out in order to ensure all courses run at a profit.
- Prepare payments for instructors and other sailing related expenses for approval/signature.
- Maintain regulatory and statutory records as necessary, including Disclosure and Barring Checks (DBS) for instructors, risk assessments for on the water activities and first aid records for staff and volunteers
- Fulfil the necessary responsibilities as the Club's responsible person for first aid.
- To act as deputy Safeguarding Officer, and to work with and support the Club Safeguarding Officer as and when required.
- Receive incoming mail and e-mail and refer to appropriate person or committee.
- Receive telephone calls and messages and refer as needed.
- Arrange meetings and visits as requested.
- Update and maintain records of HRSC dinghy hire.
- Undertake other tasks that can be reasonably included within the responsibilities of this post.
- Ensure that timesheets are correctly completed and authorised by the Vice Commodore.
In addition, in order to maintain a high standard of professional service, the Chief Instructor is required to:
- To work in a co-operative, diplomatic and flexible manner.
- To foster and maintain good working relationships, acting as a courteous, friendly and business-like member of the Club team.
- To foster and maintain good working relationships with all members to ensure the smooth running of the Club on a day-to-day basis and on special occasions.
- To maintain good practice in terms of staff attendance, discipline and professional attitude in the Club; being familiar with and following guidelines as set out in the Club staff policy documents, including the staff handbook, with particular reference to Health and Safety.
- To keep the Club Manager and / or the Vice Commodore informed of any relevant matters concerning members or staff (see whistleblowing policy).
Hours of Work
This is a seasonal position, 37.5 hours per week from March to October.
There is a requirement to be flexible and vary hours to include weekends, bank holidays and school holidays to meet the needs of the Training School.
The Candidate
The successful candidate shall demonstrate:
Relevant RYA qualifications that as a minimum will include:
o RYA Senior Dinghy Instructor with tidal / river experience
o RYA Powerboat Instructor with tidal / river experience able to offer Powerboat 1/ 2 and Safety Boat courses
o RYA safe and fun certificate and to be prepared to undertake the RYA Welfare Officer Course on commencement in post
o RYA First aid and RYA Short Range Course
Experience of working as a senior instructor at a similar sailing school, and running courses for children
Experience and good working knowledge of boat maintenance
Appropriate ICT skills including working in MS Word and Excel
Be well motivated, demonstrating good leadership, show initiative and be capable of self direction
It is expected that the successful candidate, as RYA Chief Instructor, will reside in reasonable proximity of the Club.
Terms and Conditions of employment:
Salary is £28000 per annum payable monthly in arrears by bank transfer at the end of each month ("the monthly payment").
Holiday entitlement in any holiday year is 28 days including bank holidays, pro rata for part year.
To apply for the position please email your CV and cover letter to:
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Bar Staff
Hamble River Sailing Club are looking for part time bar staff, do you know of anyone looking for part time work that would be suitable for the role every Wednesday from April 2nd to September 10th and some ad hoc weekends. Must be aged 18+ with some bar experience.
if you would like to know more about either or both of the above roles please contact the office; call on 02380 45 20 70 or email admin@hrsc.org.uk
Last updated 10:21 on 9 April 2025
