JOB DESCRIPTION

  

Job Title: Travel Race Coach

Department: Instruction

Reports To: Program Director

Remote/Onsite: Onsite (Remote work may be necessary pre-season for regatta schedule prep and pre-season communication with parents. Remote work will be necessary for pre-season training and meetings).

Creation Date: January 27, 2026

Compensation: Hourly, Based On Experience & Other Relevant Factors

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About the Organization: 

 

Sodus Bay Junior Sailing Association (SBJSA) is a three-season sailing education facility in Sodus Point, NY.  SBJSA offers summer youth instruction, community boating activities, spring and fall instructional programming for scholastic sailing teams, and various other instructional programs throughout the year. 

 

JOB SUMMARY: 

 

The Travel Race Coach works under the supervision of the Program Director. The Travel Race Coach is expected to provide teaching that emphasizes safety, proper handling of equipment, skill development, and provides an enjoyable experience for all participants in a manner consistent with the goals, values and mission of the SBJSA.

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The candidate should be a leader who is highly organized and self-motivated with excellent communication skills. A large part of this position includes communicating with parents, members, sailors, community members and other staff respectfully and effectively. Travel Race Coaches must possess a desire to work with youth and share the skills of sailing, water safety and environmental awareness and stewardship. 

 

This position requires regular travel to area regattas and interclubs. With this comes the responsibility of consistent communication to parents regarding travel to and from off-site locations, communication with area clubs and hosts, and exceptional care of equipment on and off campus. 

 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

 

• Assist the Program Director and organization in preparing a creative learning environment.

• Plan, prepare and teach daily sailing lessons on and off the water. Align all teachings with the SBJSA TRT curriculum and standards. To the best of your ability, adjust lesson plans to fit the needs and skill levels of enrolled TRT members. Write daily lesson plans prior to teaching and submit them to the Program Director. Maintain accurate records of each participant's skill development and assessments. Produce report cards/assessments for each program participant highlighting their growth. Ensure all records are submitted as requested. 

• Utilize the SBJSA TRT Curriculum Progression Diagram to ensure TRT members move through skill levels in a logical fashion and understand how they are advancing and learning through the curriculum. 

• Create and utilize effective “rainy day” programming pertinent for the TRT, when inclement weather prevents on-the-water activities.

• Maintain attendance records for all participants in your program/group. 

• Ensure you are in the possession of pertinent health/medical records & needs for all participants in your program/group. This includes offsite. 

• Creatively engage program participants in US Sailing REACH activities to foster sailing related teachings in STEM. 

• Demonstrate proper handling, care, and respect for all material, equipment, and facilities by example, through your own actions. Play a key role in maintenance of all equipment and minimize damage or loss thereof. Regularly inspect physical areas and equipment used by group participants members to ensure proper care and storage of equipment.

• Perform routine maintenance of boats and equipment on a daily basis as required.

• Be willing to carry out additional duties assigned by the Program Director (PD) and/or the SBJSA Board.

• Contribute ideas and project enthusiasm and energy. 

• Be willing to adapt and adjust to programmatic needs including teaching groups that may be outside of your preferences. Noting that SBJSA hires all Instructors to teach where needed and does not hire individuals to teach in a specific area for the whole summer. Instructor assignments are subject to change at any time depending upon the program needs and enrollment. 

• Cultivate and carry out a culture of respect in all operations.  This includes respect for people, respect for the facility, and respect for the boats and equipment.

• Supervise students to ensure their safety at all times, as well as participation and learning.

• Attend all staff meetings, clinics, trainings and workdays. Maintain certifications and training related to and required for the job. 

• Report any problems to the Program Supervisor. Ensure that all incident reports and equipment damage reports are submitted to the Program Director in an efficient and timely manner.

• When required, work some weekday evenings and some weekend days to support our Community Boating Program or other events, such as (and not limited to) Thursday Night Racing, Annual BBQ etc..

• Support SBJSA’s various grant program participation by collecting and submitting any information as requested that is needed for both data collection and evaluation purposes. Hold a high standard for organization of such information so that it may be accurately recorded and reported. Ex. daily lesson plans, progress reports, participant skill acquisition records.

• Uphold SBJSA’s high standards for safety. Be prepared through honing individual skills and attending trainings. Actively participate in and understand Emergency Action Plans and SBJSA’s related policies and protocols. 

• Uphold SBJSA’s rules as well as values. Serve as a role model for participants at all times including following and upholding those rules put forth in SBJSA Policies and Agreements. 

• Engage social-emotional learning practices to support youth skill development.

• Works collaboratively with other Instructors and CIT’s (Counselors in Training). Supports the CIT program through thoughtful coaching and modeling. Responsible for aspects of training CIT’s throughout the summer. 

• Schedule and attend regular meetings with the PD and/or Board Racing Committee/Director regarding the needs of the program, including the PD’s daily staff meetings/debriefs.

• Actively review and recruit other SBJSA participants to join or be prepared to join the race team as appropriate. Work with other Instructors to support this pipeline and co-facilitate on the water instruction as necessary to introduce younger sailors to racing and fostering teamwork. Do your best to breakdown any barriers younger sailors may have against joining the race team, ie. they feel intimidated or do not feel competitive. 

• If more than 1 race coach is on staff in a given year, those coaches must work together as a team to deliver the TRT curriculum and all other aspects of the job as defined in the manual. In the case where more than one race coach is hired one may act as and be hired as the Head Race Coach and the other may act as and be hired as the Assistant Race Coach, as determined by the program needs. 

• Collaborate with the Program Supervisor and SBJSA Director of Administration in planning the SBJSA interclub & regional regatta schedule and transportation of TRT members (by parents) and all necessary equipment. Be sure travel trailers are properly and safely loaded and hitched up before departure and that all boats and equipment on the trailers is secure and ready for transport. Ensure you are in possession of trailer registrations when offsite. 

• Plan, prepare and lead the Parent Orientation meetings for TRT Sessions A & B. Emphasize to parents their active participation as a necessary component of the TRT program: chaperoning interclubs, providing transportation, trailering boats. Ensure that all chaperone needs are met in advance of events. 

• Effectively and regularly communicate with parents in a timely fashion and in advance about the racing event schedule, as well as where volunteer assistance is needed or required in order for the team to travel (including transporting TRT members and towing boat trailers, etc), departure/arrival times, contact phone numbers at the destination yacht club, etc. Communication with TRT parents and team members needs to occur through SBJSA approved communication means, ex. Email or otherwise determined app. Primary communication is with parents, not TRT members. 

• Communicate with clubs in advance of attending interclubs and regattas, registering and signing up participants as far in advance as possible. 

• Communicate with parents regarding additional race fees as necessary. 

• Uphold a high standard of presentation for SBJSA at away events and on campus.

• All other duties as assigned.

 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES: 

 

• Strong leadership skills.

• Strong interpersonal skills.

• Positive attitude and approachable demeanor.

• Strong knowledge of sailing and sailboat racing.

• Strong customer service skills.

• Strong time management skills.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills; appropriately communicates with all levels of customers from campers, to parents, to Board of Directors.

• Sailing and powerboat operational skills and desire to share this knowledge with youth of all ages. 

• Ability to adapt to a changing environment and programmatic needs in order to support program needs.

• Ability to critically think and take appropriate action. Particularly when safety is involved.

• Possess knowledge and hands-on skills related to safety. 

• Ability to act as a team player and to step into leadership where and when required.

• Strong organization skills, attention to detail, and follow through to resolve any outstanding issues.

• Ability to work independently and apply critical thinking skills, particularly when off-site. 

 

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES (If Applicable):

 

• Supervise and teach youth ages 6-18.

• Assist in training and developing CITs to meet organizational needs.

• Assist in developing CIT skills and performance through training and coaching.

• Maintain confidential information of all program participants.

• Travel Race Team Coaches are not allowed to transport any SBJSA program participants and are responsible for communicating to parents or volunteers the transportation requirements and needs in each session. 

 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

 

• Must be at least 18  years of age by June 15th. 

• All certifications are required prior to active employment but are not necessary at the time of hire. 

• Successfully pass a background check: 

  • Must have NO felonious convictions

  • NO charges for child abuse or endangering the well being of a minor.

• The following Certifications are Required. SBJSA will reimburse for all fees related to required certifications:

  • Current U.S. Sailing Level 1 Instructor required 

  • Current American Red Cross First Aid, CPR, and AED certification required.

  • Current USSA SafeSport certification (renewed on a yearly basis).

  • NYS Safe Boating Card with at least 3 years of experience successfully operating small powerboats in the 12-18 ft range.

  • Current American Red Cross lifeguarding certification with the waterfront module. 

 

• Demonstrated experience leading small teams: setting expectations, monitoring performance, providing feedback, and administering both rewards and discipline.

• Demonstrated organizational, record-keeping, and reporting skills.

• Excellent interpersonal communication skills with all age groups and across all stakeholders (staff, students, parents, patrons, board members, and the local community).

 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• At least three summers of experience teaching in a sailing program.

• Current U.S. Sailing Level 2 Instructor and higher certifications are desirable (e.g., Instructor Trainer, Head Instructor, Coach).

• Current American Red Cross lifeguarding certification with the waterfront module is desirable. 

  • Ability to swim at least at Red Cross Level 5 or equivalent.

• US Sailing REACH Certification.

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TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS:

 

• Experience using Google Workspace 

• Experience with Laser’s, Opti’s and 420’s

• Experience with PC with Windows 10 or Mac with Mac OS 10.15 or newer

• Experience and necessary skills to helm and maneuver coach/safety powerboats in the 12-18 ft LOA range.

 

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS: 

 

• Required to travel with the Race Team to various Regattas. 

 

PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS:

 

Employees must have the ability to perform the following physical demands for extended periods of time with or without assistance

 

• This position requires the regular use of a computer screen and keyboard.

• This position requires the ability to remain in a stationary position (standing and/or seated) the majority of the time.

• Answering phone/making calls

• Lifting Boats (carry up 45 pounds for 20 feet)

• Being outside in variable weather conditions

• Operating a powerboat

 

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the individual(s) assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required. Management reserves the right to modify, add, or remove duties and to assign other duties as necessary without notice.Offers of employment are contingent on passing a criminal background check and agreeing to the employee expectations agreement and related policies.

 

Sodus Bay Junior Sailing Association Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, or any other status protected by law.