Location: Sandy Bay Sailing Club, Hobart
Employment: Part-time (0.8 FTE/32hrs a week) with seasonal variation

About Sandy Bay Sailing Club (SBSC)

Sandy Bay Sailing Club is one of Australia’s leading family sailing clubs, based on the spectacular River Derwent in Hobart, Tasmania. We’re an historic, volunteer-powered dinghy club with a big focus on developing young sailors — from first-timers through to high-performance racing sailors.

Our friendly and easy-going culture is built around Respect, Integrity, Teamwork, and Excellence. The club is busy, social, and purpose-driven — a place where kids, teens, parents and coaches build skills, friendships and a genuine love of the sport.

About the Role

This is our key “make it happen” role. As our Sailing Operations Manager, you’ll have a direct impact on our club helping implement our club strategy and lifting the overall quality of what we deliver. Reporting to the SBSC Commodore, you’ll ensure a safety-first culture, plan and deliver great weekly training, build a stronger coaching team, help our sailors progress, manage a range of operational and administrative tasks to keep the club running smoothly and be on-site and on-water when needed.

Key Responsibilities

• Safety & Compliance
  • Implement and reinforce a robust safety-first culture
  • Ensure compliance with SBSC, Australian Sailing and Child Safe expectations and regulations
• Sailing Program Operations & Delivery
  • Plan, manage and oversee our calendar of sailing programs
  • Build and manage coaching rosters and oversee session plans
  • Lead and personally deliver sailing programs, with particular responsibility for our Green Fleet programme
• Coach, Instructor and Sailor Development
  
  • Build and maintain a strong coaching/instructor group
  • Support accreditation, qualifications and development for coaches/instructors
  • Ensure individual sailor progression from beginner to high performance
• Club Administration and Communications
  
  • Maintain and communicate a clear annual training and event calendar
  • Manage program and event set-up/registration processes
  • Handle basic administrative tasks and communications associated with managing our membership base
  • Support our Discover Sailing Centre annual review processes and general program administration
• Equipment, Facilities & Readiness
  
  • Manage inventory and maintenance of club equipment, including training and safety boats and club dinghies
  • Help keep our club facilities and grounds functional, clean, safe and organised

What Success Looks Like

• Everyone at the club has a safety-first mentality
• Members and families feel involved, informed, and excited to be part of SBSC
• Sailing programs are high quality, running reliably and safely
• Sailors clearly improve over the season
• Coaches and instructors feel supported, capable, and are growing their craft
• Admin and communications are consistent, timely, and professional
• Participation grows across junior, youth, and adult programs

Skills & Experience

Essential

• Experience as a sailor and qualified Coach across multiple classes
• Track record of running and improving sailing operations and coaching programmes (club level or higher)
• Strong organisation/admin/communication skills
• Strong commitment to safety and inclusion
• Ability to mentor and manage coaches/instructors across ages and stages
• Australian Sailing Powerboat Operator Certificate (or transferable equivalent)
• Tasmanian Employee Registration to Work with Vulnerable People (or ability to obtain)
• Tasmanian Motor Boat Licence (or transferable equivalent)

Availability Expectations (32 hrs/week)

Peak season (Sept–Apr) includes on-site hours at our facility, weekly sessions, some Saturdays, school holiday programs and occasional evenings for rostering/coordination. Off-season focuses on planning, coach development, and program improvements.

Compensation

Compensation level will be commensurate with the role and the experience of the individual hired. This role includes regular Saturday work as part of ordinary hours. Occasional peak weeks up to 38 hours will be managed primarily through TOIL, with a capped TOIL bank and quarterly workload review.

How to Apply

Send a cover letter and summary of relevant experience to the SBSC Commodore, Simon Hooper, at commodore@sandybaysailingclub.org.au
Enquiries: Simon Hooper (Commodore) – 0418 316 187