Swim Head Coach

Virgin Active South Africa (Pty) Ltd; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Virgin Active South Africa (Pty) Ltd invites an experienced Head Coach to lead the Chad Le Clos Swim Academy’s competitive programme. You will inspire swimmers of all abilities, deliver structured coaching and ensure high-performance progression with a strong focus on member experience.

You will manage staff, partners and contractor resources, drive participation and growth, and collaborate with club leadership to meet business objectives while upholding safety and brand standards.

Qualifications

• Matric/NSC certificate required.
• Swimming SA Level 1 Coaching Qualification or higher required.
• Minimum 2 years' swimming coaching experience.
• Experience coaching children and adults across multiple levels.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the competitive swimming programme at the club.
• Deliver the academy programme in line with standards.
• Coach and develop swimmers from entry to Elite and Masters.
• Develop and implement training programmes aligned to the coaching framework.
• Monitor swimmer performance, progression, and attendance.
• Provide regular feedback to swimmers and parents.
• Ensure proper assessment, grouping and progression by ability.
• Drive participation in galas, competitions and events.
• Lead, manage and develop assistant coaches and contractors.

Skills

Leadership & team management

Coaching experience

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Commercial awareness

Programme development

CPD & training delivery

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Matric / NSC Certificate

Swimming SA Level 1 Coaching Qualification or higher

First Aid & CPR/AED certification

Job description

Your Purpose

To change people’s lives for the better through wellness by delivering unreasonable hospitality and creating memorable member experiences.

As Head Coach of the Virgin Active Chad Le Clos Swim Academy, you will lead the competitive swimming programme at club level, inspiring swimmers of all abilities to achieve their potential through structured, inclusive and engaging coaching.

You will be responsible for creating a high-performance swimming environment while ensuring an exceptional member experience, strong swimmer progression and sustainable growth of the academy.

Your Duties & Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the competitive swimming programme at the club.


• Deliver the Virgin Active Chad Le Clos Swim Academy programme in line with academy, Virgin Active and CLEC standards.


• Coach and develop swimmers across the academy pathway, from entry-level squads through to Elite and Masters.


• Develop and implement effective training programmes aligned to the CLEC coaching framework.


• Monitor swimmer performance, progression, attendance and retention.


• Provide regular feedback and communication to swimmers and parents.


• Ensure swimmers are appropriately assessed, grouped and progressed according to ability and performance.


• Drive swimmer participation in galas, competitions, clinics and academy events.


• Lead, manage and develop assistant coaches and contractors within the programme.


• Manage coaching resources and contractor utilisation effectively.


• Work closely with the Club General Manager, Regional Coach and CLEC Operations Team to achieve programme and business objectives.


• Drive membership growth, revenue, occupancy and retention within the competitive swimming programme.


• Maintain accurate attendance, swimmer, programme and operational records using approved Virgin Active systems.


• Ensure compliance with all Health & Safety, safeguarding and operational requirements.


• Maintain the required professional presentation and brand standards as a representative of Virgin Active and the Chad Le Clos brand.


• Participate in required training, workshops, CPD and performance reviews.


• Contribute to a positive, collaborative and high-performance coaching culture.


• Take ownership of the overall performance and success of the swimming programme.

We Can't Live Without…

• Matric / NSC Certificate.


• Swimming South Africa Level 1 Coaching Qualification or higher.


• Valid First Aid and CPR/AED certification.


• Minimum 2 years' swimming coaching experience, preferably within a club or academy environment.


• Experience coaching children and adults across multiple swimming levels.


• Demonstrated ability to deliver structured coaching programmes and measurable swimmer progression.


• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.


• Strong organisational and administrative skills.


• Understanding of pool safety, hygiene and safeguarding requirements.


• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.


• Proactive approach with the ability to take initiative.


• Ability to work effectively with all levels of the business, from frontline employees to senior stakeholders.


• Ability to work with relevant business and operational systems.


• Experience leading or managing a swimming programme.


• Experience managing or mentoring coaches and contractors.


• Ability to inspire and motivate individuals and teams.


• Strong commercial awareness and understanding of programme profitability.


• A genuine passion for changing people's lives through swimming and wellness.


• Adaptability and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced and changing environment.


• Curiosity and a willingness to learn, develop and grow.


• A winning mentality and commitment to achieving results.


• A growth mindset.


• Ability to work independently and take ownership.


• Strong decision-making skills and accountability.


• Action-oriented approach.


• Desire to create memorable experiences for members and swimmers.


• Additional swimming or coaching qualifications.


• Competitive swimming or high-performance coaching experience.


• Strong knowledge of competitive swimming and swimmer development pathways.


• Wellness knowledge beyond traditional health club environments.


• High emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills.


• Ability to make quick, confident and effective decisions.


• Ability to work collaboratively across different teams and departments.


• Experience working with recognised swimming academies, clubs or high-performance programmes.

What Success Looks Like

Success in this role will be measured through:

Commercial Performance

• Swim membership growth against budget.


• Swim revenue against budget.


• Sustainable and profitable programme performance.


• Effective management of coaching and contractor costs.

Member & Swimmer Experience

• Positive parent and swimmer feedback.


• Consistent attendance and engagement.


• High-quality coaching and member interactions.

Swimmer Development

• Measurable improvement in swimmer performance.


• Improved personal bests and technical development.


• Increased gala participation and qualification.


• Progression of swimmers through the academy pathway.


• Squad occupancy and attendance.
  
• Effective squad structures and scheduling.


• Consistent delivery of the academy curriculum.


• Accurate programme administration and reporting.

Leadership

• Effective management and development of coaches and contractors.


• Strong collaboration with Virgin Active, CLEC and club leadership.


• Consistent achievement of Health & Safety and Brand Standards.


• Ongoing professional development and CPD compliance.

Our Culture

We are looking for someone who:

• Puts people first.


• Takes ownership.


• Has a genuine passion for wellness and swimming.


• Wants to make a positive difference every day.


• Is ambitious and results-driven.


• Is curious and always looking to improve.


• Has a growth mindset.


• Is prepared to go above and beyond to achieve success.