Job Purpose Statement:

Team Surrey’s tagline “Move | Play | Perform”, encourages everyone to be involved in physical activity, ensuring that everything is reasonably adjusted to meet anyone’s ability, experience, and interest. The key role of a Team Surrey Tennis Coach is to help us to support and deliver high-quality sport to students, but also to facilitate a positive environment for our students to thrive in.

As of the 2025/26 season, the Team Surrey tennis programme supports a squad of 69 registered student players competing across BUCS, local leagues, and development competitions throughout the year. Alongside performance tennis, the programme also works extensively with the wider student population, delivering recreational sessions, beginner programmes, and social opportunities that engage students of all abilities. The long-term aim is to continue strengthening the performance pathway while expanding participation across the university, ensuring tennis is accessible, competitive, and sustainable within Team Surrey.

Key Responsibilities:

Training & Session Delivery (held at Surrey Sports Park)

o You will be expected to deliver a range of tennis sessions that support both participation and performance within the programme.
o Core delivery will primarily take place on Friday and Saturday, with potential sessions on Wednesdays and Sundays, reflecting the varied and sometimes anti-social nature of university sport delivery.
o Session types may include:
• High-energy, music-led cardio tennis and social sessions.
• Beginner and participatory coaching for students new to tennis.
• Focused BUCS squad training, supporting competitive development and match readiness.
o Exact session times and formats may vary across the term and will be agreed in advance with the Tennis Development Officer and student committee.

Collaboration with the Student Club:

o Work closely with the Team Surrey Tennis student committee to support the ongoing development of the club. This may include:
• Supporting trials and squad selection processes.
• Advising on session structures and competition preparation.
• Contributing to the club’s coaching philosophy and player development pathway.
• Helping to create a positive, inclusive, and high-performing training environment.

Competition & Match Support:

o As part of being a Team Surrey Tennis Coach, you will be expected to support BUCS competition activity where required.
o This may include match-day coaching, player preparation, warm-ups, and ongoing support across the BUCS season.
o Competitions typically take place across Semester 1 and Semester 2, with fixtures commonly held midweek and occasional weekends, both home and away.

General Administration:

Complete tasks and essential e-learning that is provided by the Participation & Competition Sport Manager. To adhere to the Team Surrey coaching policies and practices, all the essential e-learning and documents must be completed by the end of your first 4 weeks of appointment.

This job purpose reflects the core activities of the post. As the Department/Faculty and the post-holder develop, there will inevitably be some changes to the duties for which the post is responsible, and possibly to the emphasis of the post itself. Surrey Sports Park expects that the post-holder will recognize this and will adopt a flexible approach to work. This could include undertaking relevant training where necessary.

Should significant changes to the job purpose become necessary, the post-holder will be consulted and the changes reflected in a revised job purpose.

Surrey Sports Park is a world-class multi-sport facility based in Guildford, supporting students, staff, and the wider community through outstanding sport, fitness, and wellbeing provision. The University of Surrey’s sport department is based here, delivering a wide range of participation and performance programmes, including BUCS competition, recreational sport, and inclusive initiatives. Working in close partnership with student clubs, the department aims to create a positive, forward-thinking, and supportive sporting environment where everyone can engage, develop, and thrive.

Organisational Information

All staff are expected to:

Positively support equality of opportunity and equity of treatment to colleagues and students in accordance with the University of Surrey Equal Opportunities Policy.

Help maintain a safe working environment by:

· Attending training in Health and Safety requirements as necessary, both on appointment and as changes in duties and techniques demand.
· Following local codes of safe working practices and the University of Surrey Health and Safety Policy.
· Excellent environmental performance is a strategic objective for the University of Surrey. All staff are encouraged to work to achieve the aims of our Environmental Policy and promote awareness to colleagues and students.
· Undertake such other duties within the scope of the post as may be requested by your Manager.

This section describes the sum total of knowledge, experience & competence required by the post holder that is necessary for standard acceptable performance in carrying out this role.

Qualifications and Professional Memberships:

LTA Tennis Level 2 (Level 3 preferred) qualification or equivalent - Essential

LTA Coach Accreditation - Essential

Technical Competencies (Experience and Knowledge): This section contains the level of competency required to carry out the role (please refer to the competency framework for clarification where needed and the Job Families Booklet).


A proven track record as a coach in tennis - Essential


An understanding of Long-term Athlete Development - Essential


An awareness and understanding of inclusive and accessible tennis needs and formats to support delivery of a fully inclusive tennis programme - Essential


Experience of coaching/managing/playing at junior/senior international competition - Desirable

Special Requirements:

DBS Clearance - Essential

Core Competencies: This section contains the level of competency required to carry out this role. (Please refer to the competency framework for clarification where needed). N/A (not applicable) should be placed, where the competency is not a requirement of the grade.

Level 1-3

Communication - 2
Adaptability / Flexibility - 3
Customer/Client service and support - 1
Planning and Organising - 2
Teamwork - 2
Continuous Improvement - 2
Problem Solving and Decision Making Skills - 2
Leadership / Management - 2
Creative and Analytical Thinking - 2
Influencing, Persuasion and Negotiation Skills - 1
Strategic Thinking - 1
Technical Competency - 2