HEAD COACH / TENNIS COACHING BUSINESS OPERATOR

Nelson Community Tennis Centre | Nelson, New Zealand
Commencement: Mid-July 2026

Nelson Lawn Tennis Club Incorporated (NLTC) is seeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified and experienced tennis coaching professionals to operate a Tennis Coaching Business at the Nelson Community Tennis Centre (NCTC), Rutherford Park, Nelson.

This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated, community-focused tennis professional to establish and grow a coaching business in one of New Zealand's most desirable regions, supported by an eight-court all-weather surface facility and an enthusiastic and growing club membership.

About the Club

NLTC is a well-established incorporated society operating eight (8) synthetic surface tennis courts at Rutherford Park, Nelson. The Club is committed to growing membership, developing players across all ages and abilities, and strengthening the role of tennis within the wider Nelson-Tasman community. The Club works collaboratively with the Nelson Bays Tennis Association (NBTA) and Tennis New Zealand (TNZ) to deliver aligned, high-quality tennis programmes.

Nelson city has a total population of approximately 52,500 people, yet much of that is spread across suburbs such as Stoke, Tāhunanui, Wakapuaka, Richmond, and Hope — each served by their own local tennis clubs. Nelson Lawn Tennis Club sits at the heart of the city, serving a core catchment of around 18,000–22,000 residents across central Nelson, The Wood, Atawhai, The Brook, and surrounding inner-city neighbourhoods. This makes NLTC the natural home for tennis in the heart of Nelson — with our coaching programme perfectly placed to connect with that community, offering development pathways right in the centre of the city.

The Opportunity

The successful applicant will be granted a license to operate a Tennis Coaching Business exclusively at the Nelson Community Tennis Centre. The licence provides:

• Exclusive right to deliver coaching services from the NCTC facility
• Access to two (2) dedicated courts outside of club-allocated times, with access to further courts when available
• Use of club facilities and storage space
• Listing and promotion via the Club's website, newsletters, brochures, and NBTA/TNZ platforms
• A 48-week operating year with a stable, community-based client base

Primary Responsibilities

The Head Coach shall:

• Design, deliver, and administer coaching programmes for players of all ages and abilities, including juniors, seniors, and competitive players
• Maintain a professional standard of coaching in line with TNZ best practice guidelines
• Actively promote Club membership and encourage participation in interclub and club events
• Engage proactively with NBTA coach group initiatives and TNZ-aligned programmes
• Provide monthly reports to the NLTC Committee, either in person or in writing
• Submit an annual coaching plan two months prior to the start of Term 4 (October) each year
• Maintain coaching records including participant details, court hours, and programme delivery
• Ensure all coaching activity complies with the Club's Head Lease obligations with Nelson City Council

Secondary Responsibilities

• Maintain a Coach's notice board at the facility displaying services, rates, and programme details
• Manage access by other professional coaches to the facility in accordance with committee approval
• Assist with Club activities and events as reasonably requested
• Support and administer grant or trust-funded tennis promotion programmes, including full financial record-keeping
• Promote the Club via social media, website, and email and respond to member enquiries in a timely manner
• Ensure courts and facilities are left clean, tidy, and secure after coaching use

Club Goals

NLTC is seeking a coach who shares our vision for tennis in Nelson. In addition to day-to-day coaching excellence, we want to work with a Head Coach who will:

• Build community visibility for tennis in Nelson-Tasman, attracting new players and retaining existing members
• Grow Club membership meaningfully year-on-year through targeted coaching pathways
• Develop and monitor a junior talent pipeline that feeds into competitive interclub and representative tennis
• Establish the NLTC as a regional hub for quality tennis coaching

Candidate Requirements

Essential:

• Demonstrated experience delivering coaching programmes across all age groups and abilities
• Effective communication and people skills, with commitment to community engagement
• The legal right to work and reside in New Zealand (onshore candidates preferred)
• Ability to pass a Police/background check as required by the Club
• Hold, or ability to obtain, public liability insurance of no less than $1,000,000

Desirable:

• Current or working towards Tennis New Zealand Club Professional Coaching qualification (or equivalent internationally recognized qualification)
• Experience operating an independent coaching business
• Track record of growing club membership through coaching

Financial Arrangements

The coaching licence operates on the following basis:

• A nominal monthly court usage fee (payable in advance)
• A prevailing floodlighting fee per court hour (payable in arrears)
• Non-member clients are required to pay the Club's prevailing court fees in addition to coaching fees
• All coaching income beyond the above contributions belongs to the Licensee
• The Licensee is responsible for their own tax, ACC, administration, and business costs

Licence Term

The initial licence term is proposed as three (3) years, commencing mid-July 2026.

How to Apply

Expressions of interest should include:

1. A cover letter outlining your coaching philosophy and vision for the NLTC
2. A current CV including coaching qualifications, accreditations, and experience
3. Two professional references, including at least one from a tennis association or club
4. Evidence of, or ability to obtain, public liability insurance
5. Confirmation of your right to work and reside in New Zealand

Please direct your expression of interest to:

The Secretary

E-mail address: secretary@nelsonlawntennisclub.com

NLTC reserves the right to not appoint if a suitable candidate is not identified. All applications will be treated in strict confidence.