Provincial Pathway Athletic Development Coach (Women’s Pathway).

Irish Sport; Dublin; Hybrid; EUR 52,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

Leinster Rugby is seeking a Provincial Pathway Athletic Development Coach (Women’s Pathway) to design, deliver, and coordinate athletic development programming for identified women’s pathway players across Leinster. The role requires collaboration with a multi-disciplinary team to deliver integrated performance services.

The successful candidate will lead regular testing, manage data and IDPs, and contribute to regional development pathways and club/university coaching initiatives, while

Qualifications

• Recognised degree or Higher National Diploma in Physical Education, Human Movement, or Exercise and Sports Science.
• Minimum of 2 years’ experience in a sports science (strength and conditioning) position within a performance-focused environment.
• Knowledge of the physical, psychological, technical (position specific), and tactical (style of play) demands associated with Rugby.
• Knowledge of the profiling and screening of athletic qualities.
• Knowledge of the application of Long-Term Athletic Development practices to young athletes.
• Established coaching and programming skills around injury prevention and return to play/perform criteria.
• Established coaching and programming skills around the development of plyometric ability, linear speed and rugby-specific movement skill integration.
• Established coaching and programming skills around rugby conditioning and integration with practice.
• Experience developing general and specific strength and power and recovery plans.

Responsibilities

• Design, deliver, and coordinate all individual athletic development programmes for identified women’s pathway players across Leinster.
• Lead the planning and implementation of regular athletic performance testing according to Provincial and National standards.
• Capture, store, and manage all athletic performance testing data and ensure it informs development programmes.
• Design and deliver athletic development, recovery, and game preparation elements as part of an integrated service team.
• Profile and manage Individual Development Plans (18–23) informed by core benchmarks.
• Collaborate within a multidisciplinary team to drive performance outcomes and ensure cohesive development.
• Maintain an up-to-date database of pathway players across platforms; track GPS data.
• Assist in Provincial Age Grade and Senior squads as required.
• Contribute to regional development pathway programmes and club/university coaching initiatives.
• Complete administrative duties as required.

Skills

Sports science knowledge

Coaching skills

Multi-disciplinary teamwork

Athlete development planning

IT literacy

Education

Degree in Physical Education / Human Movement / Exercise & Sports Science

Tools

Microsoft Office

VEO

Hudl

Teamworks

Job description

Provincial Pathway Athletic Development Coach (Women’s Pathway).

Sep 24, 2026

Leinster Rugby is seeking applications for the position of Provincial Pathway Athletic Development Coach (Women’s Pathway).

The role is responsible for the design, delivery, and coordination of the individual athletic development programming for all identified women’s pathway players across Leinster. Ensuring all aspects of the integrated programmes are planned and delivered to the highest standards and consistent with the stated Provincial and National objectives.

This is a full-time position, offered on a two-year fixed-term contract.

The closing date for applications is 12pm on Friday, 2 October 2026.

For more information, please see the job description below.

Leinster Rugby is an equal opportunities employer.

JOB DESCRIPTION AND RESPONSIBILITY STATEMENT

ROLE TITLE: Provincial Pathway Athletic Development Coach (Women’s Pathway)

ROLE AND PURPOSE:

The role is responsible for the design, delivery, and coordination of the individual athletic development programming for all identified women’s pathway players across Leinster. Ensuring all aspects of the integrated programmes are planned and delivered to the highest standards and consistent with the stated Provincial and National objectives.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS:

Operational:

Provincial Pathway Manager, Leinster Rugby and Head Pathway Athletic Performance Coach, Leinster Rugby

Functional:

Women’s National WNTS and Talent Identification Manager, IRFU, Women’s Strategy Manager, IRFU, and Head of Athletic Performance, Women’s Pathway, IRFU

WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:

• Pathway Athletic Development Coach, WNTS
• Other Provincial/Pathway Talent Coaches
• Academy and Pre-Academy Athletic Development Coaches
• Provincial and WNTS Physiotherapists
• Community Rugby Staff, Leinster Rugby
• Academy Staff and Coaches
• Club and University Coaches
• Provincial and National Age Grade and Senior Representative Teams

KEY QUALITIES:

• Recognised degree or Higher National Diploma in Physical Education, Human Movement, or Exercise and Sports Science
• A minimum of 2 years’ experience in a sports science (strength and conditioning) position within a performance-focused environment
• Knowledge of the physical, psychological, technical (position specific), and tactical (style of play) demands associated with Rugby
• Knowledge of the profiling and screening of athletic qualities
• Knowledge of the application of Long-Term Athletic Development practices to young athletes
• Established coaching and programming skills around injury prevention (relative to the demands of Rugby) and return to play/perform criteria (relative to different injury types)
• Established coaching and programming skills around the development of plyometric ability, linear speed (sprinting), multidirectional speed (COD/Reactive Agility), and Rugby specific movement skill integration
• Established coaching and programming skills around the development of Rugby specific conditioning, specifically as it relates to the functional integration of conditioning within the context of practice
• Established coaching and programming skills around the development of general and specific strength and power
• Established coaching and programming skills around the development of recovery and regeneration plans
• Excellent ability to work within a multi-disciplinary team and share responsibility for player development and programme management
• Excellent organisation, communication and teamwork skills with the proven ability to build and maintain effective professional relationships with players/coaches and key stakeholders across the performance pathway
• An adaptable, innovative, and flexible individual who can work collaboratively across a multi-disciplinary environment and irregular and unsocial hours
• Strong administrative and IT skills and experience – Microsoft Office, VEO, Hudl, Teamworks, etc.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Design, deliver, and coordinate all individual athletic development programmes for identified women’s pathway players across Leinster

• Lead the planning and implementation of regular athletic performance testing according to Provincial and National standards and established testing schedules
• Capture, store, and manage all athletic performance testing and training data and ensure that it is reviewed and informs the athletic development programmes for all women’s pathway players
• Design and deliver all athletic development, recovery, and game preparation elements for the pathway players as part of an integrated service team and alongside appointed pathway physiotherapists
• Profile, develop, and manage the key athletic development elements of Individual Development Plans for identified female players within the pathway (18-23) as informed by established core benchmarks
• Work within an integrated service team to deliver key Physical, Mental, Technical, Tactical, and Lifestyle skills to identified female players where applicable, and to drive individual performance outcomes, ensuring players experience a single cohesive development programme
• Assist in maintaining an accurate and up-to-date database of identified pathway players (depth charts, IDPs, etc.) across all agreed platforms
• Facilitate the collection and interpretation of GPS tracking of identified pathway players and track relative to individual IDP’s and established core benchmarks
• Assist in the preparation and development of Provincial Age Grade and Senior Representative female squads, as required by the Provincial Pathway Manager and the Coach and Player Development Manager
• Contribute to the Regional development pathway programmes (SRC) as required by the Area CPDOs and WDOs
• Contribute to club and/or university performance AD coaching programmes as directed by the Provincial Pathway Manager
• Contribute to general and targeted coach development initiatives as directed by the Provincial Pathway Manager and the Coach and Player Development Manager
• Liaise with school, university, and club coaches to track and monitor identified pathway players
• Complete all appropriate administrative duties as required by the Provincial Pathway Manager

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work required from this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and activities required. The holder of this position is required to respond with a flexible approach when tasks arise which are not specifically covered in this job description.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES:

• Key focus will be the quantity and quality of players developed through the women’s pathway programmes, consistent with the stated National and Provincial objectives, and as informed by established core benchmarks
• Deliver specific targets as agreed with the Provincial Pathway Manager and the Head of Athletic Performance, Women’s Pathway
• Establish efficient and effective work practices that drive agreed outcomes.
• Portray a competent and professional image of Leinster Rugby at all times
• Maintain accurate records, across agreed platforms, of female pathway players’ development, assessed against established benchmarks and/or agreed performance measures as included in IDP’s
• Ensure alignment and delivery of the winning teams and high performing people pillars of the Leinster Rugby strategic plan

Additional KPIs will be set and agreed on an annual basis