Job Posting

SOGO Adventure Running - a program of the Foothills Orienteering Club - is currently hiring a Head Coach.

SOGO Adventure Running Level 1&2 Head Coach

Position location: Calgary, AB

Close to full-time work in the spring and fall, with part-time hours during the summer and winter)

ABOUT SOGO
At SOGO Adventure Running we embrace the joy of being active, having a great time outdoors and appreciating nature. We have a job opportunity available for a leadership-focused, kind, energetic, dependable, self-reliant individual who loves the outdoors, physical activity, and working with kids. We thrive on helping kids develop their navigation and physical literacy skills, all the while developing their confidence in outdoor settings, and their confidence as humans.

SOGO Adventure running delivers weekly community programs in Calgary, Cochrane and Bragg Creek and offers programs for Calgary Schools during the spring and fall. Our programs are about getting kids outside and moving in natural environments. Kids are introduced to the sport of orienteering through running, map-reading, navigation skills and lots of outdoor games.

We are seeking a Level 1&2 SOGO Adventure Running Head Coach

Responsibilities:

• Planning and delivery of SOGO Level 1&2  program:
  undefinedundefinedundefinedundefined
• Close collaboration with the SOGO Squirts Head Coach to deliver the SOGO Squirts program (which is held concurrently with SOGO Level 1/2 programs),
• Close collaboration with the SOGO@School & Groups Coordinator to find efficiencies, enhancements and cooperation between the two SOGO programs,
• Manage, motivate and provide leadership to hourly Coaches and volunteers before, during and after the sessions,
• Assist with the training and on-boarding of coaches and volunteers, 
• Collaboratively work with the SOGO Program Coordinator, the SOGO@School Coordinator and the SOGO Committee,
• Contribute to the evaluation and continual improvement of the SOGO Adventure Running program

Mandatory Skills:

• Excellent ability to communicate with, motivate and engage school aged children
• Exceptionally strong communication skills with parents, other coaches, volunteers and children
• Proven ability to work independently and from remote locations
• Ability to determine the most important things to work on in order to meet the overall goals of the program on budget and with minimal supervision
• Excellent customer service skills
• Advocate for the needs and safety of child participants
• Positive attitude
• Ability to guide children in conflict resolution
• Ability to develop and implement lesson plans
• Good level of fitness and understanding of the value of outdoor physical activity (including orienteering skills) for youth
• Flexible attitude, able and willing to jump in to address issues and assist our coaching team

These skills would be considered an asset:

• Prior experience coaching youth groups and/or experience coaching orienteering (or similar sport) to youth
• Orienteering skills and understanding of the physical, mental, and navigational skills required to participate in an orienteering course
• Understanding of Orienteering Canada’s Long Term Athlete Development guide
• Standard First Aid (this is a requirement, you will be required to get this if you don’t have it yet)
• Orienteering Canada Officials 100 certification (this is a requirement, you will be required to get this if you don’t have it yet)
• National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) qualifications
• High Five training experience or other relevant training regarding youth sport leadership
• Experience in volunteer management and/or leadership
• Experience working with Google Workspace and/or MS Office (or similar programs)

Training in orienteering and orienteering-related skills can be provided, if necessary. 

The SOGO Level 1 and 2 Head Coach is an hourly wage position - wage based on experience in the range of $24 - $26/hour. 

Working hours will be mainly during the weekday afternoons and evenings, and during the day on Saturday during the SOGO programming seasons. The hours of work vary during the year with the busiest times will be just before and during the spring and fall weekly SOGO programs. Here is an approximate look at how many hours/month to give you an idea of the seasonal nature of the work. There is some flexibility here, although April, May, June, the latter part of Aug, Sep, Oct and Nov are consistently busy. 

Jan: 8-12
Feb: 30-40
March; 80
April: 140
May: 140
June: 140
July; 40-60
Aug; 80
Sep: 140
Oct: 140
Nov; 100
Dec; 8-12

VEHICLE
A valid Alberta Class 5 driver’s license is required for this position. This position is provided with a vehicle (which transports equipment) to be used solely for SOGO.

PROGRAM STRUCTURE
Foothills Orienteering is a not-for-profit, volunteer-run sports club that provides orienteering training and competition opportunities for its members, and promotes the development of orienteering in Southern Alberta. The SOGO program is one of the club’s most important development programs. This program is guided by the club’s Junior Development Committee, which is chaired by the club’s VP Junior Development. The program is implemented by the SOGO Level 1&2  Head Coach and the Program Coordinator in collaboration with the other Head Coaches for SOGO Level 3 (ages 12-18), SOGO Squirts (ages 2-5), SOGO Access (our program for kids with disabilities integrated into our weekly programming), and SOGO@School/Groups.

The SOGO VALUES form the basis of everything we do at SOGO:

• Going for it 
• Keeping it fun
• Playing fair
• Staying Healthy
• Respecting others
• Respecting nature
• Being inclusive
• Giving back
• Getting muddy

All individuals involved with SOGO Adventure Running are expected to live by and actively promote the principles of SOGO. Read more about the SOGO Values here.

If you are interested in this role, please send your cover letter and resume to Charlotte MacNaughton (junior@orienteeringcalgary.ca) by Monday June 5th, 2023. The position will remain open until a suitable candidate is found. The successful candidate will work closely with the current Head Coach from hiring through to the end of August and will be the official Level 1 / 2 Coach starting in September.