Assistant Coach

Overview Harvard University, a diverse and welcoming community, seeks to advance its mission through excellence in teaching, research, and service. This role is within the Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences and supports student development through athletics, leadership, and mentorship. Job Summary Under the supervision of the Head Coach, the purpose of this position is to use athletics as a tool to educate college students. The role involves mentoring student-athletes, fostering work ethic, discipline, resilience, teamwork, goal-setting, leadership, and personal development over four years at Harvard. The position assists in planning, directing, and coaching the women’s inter-collegiate lightweight rowing program and may supervise other assistant coaches. It plays a leadership role as liaison with athletics departments and may serve as acting head coach when needed. Requires collegiate-level coaching experience or comparable experience at professional or high-performance levels. This is a one-year term position renewable at the discretion of the Head Coach and Athletic Director. Job-Specific Responsibilities Athlete Team Management: Assist in developing, coordinating, and planning practices and competitions to develop student-athlete skills and maintain competitive performance. Develop, coordinate, and plan portions of practices and game management aligned with the Head Coach’s strategic vision. Analyze video to scout opponents and develop team development strategies. Recruit and retain student-athletes in alignment with values of excellence and inclusion. Lead and communicate with students to generate enthusiasm for the team; support education integration through athletics. Operational Complexity: Assist in developing and executing team strategy, logistics, and direction; operate within budget; ensure compliance with university, Ivy League, NCAA, and related rules. Coordinate with less-experienced coaches to implement objectives; participate in professional development and adopt best practices. Assist head coach in problem resolution and communicate effectively with the Head Coach and athletics administrators. Communication & Influence: Support viewership and media interest consistent with the sport; assist in influencing public interest where applicable. People Management: Mentor seasonal assistant coaches and contribute to team leadership and development. In addition, responsibilities include instructing rowing techniques, communicating goals and expectations, coaching multiple boat classes, providing feedback, expanding coaching knowledge, operating equipment (launch), assisting with competition setup and visiting team logistics, travel with team, developing social media strategy, assisting with facility operations, and handling team travel logistics. Administrative and Compliance: Adhere to health and safety policies; evaluate prospective student-athletes; communicate with prospects during recruiting; plan official visits; adhere to recruiting budgets; collect and review data. Working Conditions Evening and weekend work required; frequent travel; exposure to extreme environmental conditions, including heat, cold, rain, and high noise levels. Work Format On-site Physical Requirements Must be able to lift equipment associated with the sport. Qualifications Basic Qualifications Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required. Minimum of 5 years of crew coaching and/or rowing experience at the collegiate, national, and/or Olympic level. Additional Qualifications and Skills Coaching experience with lightweight rowers preferred. Substantial mastery of sport-specific knowledge and relevant issues. Understanding of Harvard and Ivy League athletics philosophy and policies. Moderate management and leadership knowledge. Familiarity with Peach System preferred. Certificates and Licenses Valid driver's license required. CPR and First Aid required. Additional Information Appointment End Date: 06/30/2027 Standard Hours/Schedule: 35 hours per week Compensation Range/Rate: $50,000-$78,000 annual Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position Pre-Employment Screening: Identity, Education, Criminal, and DMV checks Note: This role is not eligible for Paid Time Off (PTO). Benefits and Equal Opportunity Harvard offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support well-being and work-life balance, including health coverage, retirement plans, wellbeing resources, professional development, and campus perks. Harvard is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or other protected characteristics. All candidates are considered without regard to these factors. #J-18808-Ljbffr