This paper is about job descriptions. First, there is a definition of job description and an outline of the different characteristics that a job description should have. Then there is a job description provided for a football coach at a high school in order to show an example of what a good job description should look like.
Job Description for a Coach in the VA Education System
Coaches are responsible for anywhere between 30-50 people at a given time. The role combines skills associated with leadership, technical expertise, communication and organization. These are all skills that I am fostering with my current education in order to put myself in a better position to assume a role as a coach.
A good job description takes into account a number of characteristics, including a job title, a purpose statement, a description of the position in broad, a list of duties or tasks to be performed, the key functional responsibilities and a description of the relationships within the organization. Furthermore, the job description should include the key traits, skills and attributes required for performance of the job (SBA.gov, 2013). The job description for a coach in the VA education system should reflect these. The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that there are 71,400 positions for sports coaches in the U.S., the unemployment rate is 9% (above average) and that the median salary is just $28,740, so while this can be a prestigious position at the high end it is actually a fairly low-paying job for most of the people who hold the position. Nevertheless, this is a dream job for me and this job description will describe the role of a starting position as an assistant coach with a high school football team.
Job Title: Associate Football Coach, High School
Tasks: This position, answering to the Head Coach and to the Principal, involves providing coaching services to the high school football team. The specific emphasis will be determined but tasks will include designing and running drills, developing fitness programs, providing individual training for students of high school age, either on the varsity or junior varsity clubs.
This is a year-round position. The hours are part-time in the off-season and may involve some work in other tasks at the physical education department. The Associate Coach will work with players to develop their skills and fitness. The role will require 35-40 hours per week during the off-season and up to 60 hours per week during August-November when the season is running.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Extensive knowledge about fitness is required. It is expected that the ideal candidate will have either a physical education degree or will have been a student athlete in the past. Preference will be given to former football players because of the need for specialized knowledge about tactics, strategies and the types of exercises that football players must engage in.
Organizational skills are also required for this position. Experience in a role or with an educational background that highlights the ability to organize scarce resources will be an asset. The role involves working with anywhere from 30-50 student athletes at a given point in time, so the ability to work well with high school students is particularly useful. There will be extensive planning of practices, strategies and team travel required as part of the position, so the organizational abilities should be transferable to a number of different tasks.
Computer skills are also a requirement. There will be some training provided on the drill design software, but the Associate Coach will need to come with skills in Word, Excel, PowerPoint as well as email and Internet. Fluency in English is mandatory for this position.
Because this position requires working with minors, the successful candidate must pass a background check prior to starting the position.
Educational Requirements
Completion of a four-year degree program is highly-recommended. The type of degree is not specified but preference will be given to those who have studied physical education, management or leadership as these skills are most directly applicable to the job.
Selection Methods
The candidates will first be screened on the basis of their resumes, to ensure that the candidates meet the basic requirements for the position. The second step in the selection process will be a teleconference interview with the Head Coach and the HR Director. This interview will be used to judge the fit, as the Associate Coach will have a close working relationship with the Head Coach, so there needs to be compatibility. The use of the teleconference interview is a time-saving measure that also allows for the list of candidates to be refined, and for the candidates to avoid travel until they make the final shortlist.
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