RNRU Rugby Development Officer Vacancy

The Royal Navy Rugby Union (RNRU) is looking for a committed, enthusiastic and flexible individual as full time Rugby Development Officer (RDO) to join it’s small team of individuals who directly support all Rugby Union activity within the Royal Navy and Royal Marines.

The successful applicant will ideally have previous Service experience/knowledge, a minimum of an England Rugby Coaching Award (or equivalent) and be willing to travel to support Rugby delivery in the main Service sites around the UK including Portsmouth, Plymouth and Scotland.

Directly responsible for delivery of rugby at the community level, the RDO will develop and deliver a full programme of community rugby including managing the core RNRU community competitions – the Navy Cup, the Inverdale Challenge, 7s competitions and the Beach Rugby tournament.

The RDO will also be responsible for monitoring and developing players, match officials and coaches across the Royal Navy and Royal Marines.

Interested applicants should submit a full CV and a covering letter explaining their previous experience and suitability for the position to the RNRU Company Secretary, Anthony.King149@mod.gov.uk by 23 Feb 23. Interviews will be conducted during the week commencing 27 Feb 23.

Hours of Work: 37 hours per week

Place of Work: Hybrid - office space will be available at HMS Temeraire and/or HMS Drake however a degree of remote and flexible working will be required. With prior notice and planning travel on behalf of the RNRU will be required.

Salary: £30,000 pa depending on experience and qualifications.

Anticipated start date: 1 May 23.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Essential

• IT skills – MS Office suite of applications
• England Rugby Coaching Award/minimum L2 RFU
• UK Driving Licence and the ability to drive long distances
• Must be able to communicate effectively with a wide range of individuals from a variety of stakeholders and establish good working relationships.
• Display attitudes and behaviours that respect and value diversity and promote equality of opportunity.

Desirable

• Desirable – prior knowledge and experience of the administration/organisation of sport within the UK Armed Forces.
• Desirable – RFU Coach Educator.
• Desirable – knowledge of the administration and development of Rugby Union, particularly at grassroots level.Desirable – administration of public and non-public funds and an understanding of funding sources for Service sport, both public and non-public.
• Desirable – Knowledge of the organisation of the Navy at Command and Unit level.

Nature And Scope
Primary responsibilities include:

• Support and develop all Community level clubs across all regions (North, East and West) across the Royal Navy and Royal Marines to ensure sustainability and development in accordance with the strategic objectives of the Constituent Body (CB) (RNRU) and RFU Strategic Plan. Delivering the key objective of increasing participation within the adult game.
• Deliver a sustainable Grass Roots delivery programme in conjunction with the Sports Development Team, across all establishments, platforms, and units.
• Co-ordination of all RNRU resources to service and support the growth of Rugby Union from Grassroots to Academy level for both male and female participants, officials and coaches.
• Deliver and/or co-ordinate the delivery of England Rugby Coaching Awards.
• Where possible and practical, implement the programmes developed in partnership with the RFU to deliver local initiatives to increase participation.
• Assist the Director of Community Rugby (DoCR) and Sports Development Officer (SDO) in the design and implementation of an annual action plan of targets and objectives to meet the needs of the RFU Strategic Plan and RNRU Strategy.
• Promote core values of the game and develop the game of rugby union through the implementation of planned opportunities for large numbers of people to enjoy participation in the game at all levels.
• Maintain regular communication with key personnel at all levels with all clubs, including those on front line units, ensuring that each region is visited regularly as part of a structured development and engagement programme.
• Support and advise Devonport Services RFC and United Services Portsmouth RFC with achieving and maintaining L2 accreditation standards.
• Maintain RNRU areas on the RFU Game Management System (GMS).
• Build an understanding with each club maintaining and updating a list of clubs with comment on their sustainability on a traffic light report through the use of the online club development tool within GMS.
• Act as Vice Chair to the RNRU Community Rugby Development Committee to establish, develop and maintain rugby in the Community area, including Academy Squads.
• Liaise with key volunteers to provide appropriate playing, teaching, coaching, officiating and first aid/safeguarding structures and support within service clubs.
• Engage and support both affiliated clubs to identify club equipment/facility needs and where appropriate, assist in the request of development of RNRU annual grants.
• Act as the lead for Coach Development Manager for the RNRU, ensuring regular contact with all active coaches in the Community area.
• Support and advise Assistant Directors of Rugby for the Men’s Academy and Women’s Development Squads as required.
• Attend RNRU Executive meetings in lieu of the DoCR when required.
• Identify additional funding opportunities from the RFU in support of Community initiatives.
• Work with the Sports Development Team and other relevant partners to build and manage a delivery network of coaches, volunteers, and team managers, to assist in the delivery of the development programme and community competitions.
• Encourage the growth of Community competitions at all levels, reviewing structures annually to ensure competitions continue to deliver as intended.
• Any other duties appropriate to the post, devoting time to new development programmes and reactive issues as directed by the RNRU DoCR.

•  The RDO is to attend fixtures and events appropriate to Community Rugby and the wider RN Rugby Union, including the Youth Tournament at Twickenham in support of Army v Navy Fixture.