Canoe Racing New Zealand (CRNZ) is seeking a passionate and experienced Performance Coach (PC) to join our high-performance team. This is a unique opportunity to work with New Zealand’s top kayaking talent and contribute to a world-class training environment.
About Canoe Racing New Zealand
CRNZ is the national sports organisation responsible for sprint, marathon and ocean kayaking in New Zealand. Our performance kaupapa is ‘Pursuing Our Excellence Together’, underpinned by the values of courage, accountability, humility, and mana.
Role Purpose
The CRNZ Performance Coach (PC) will play a critical role in delivering daily training excellence, supporting athlete development, and contributing to a high-performing and unified coaching team. The PC will coach high performance athletes, ensuring alignment with CRNZ’s Picture of Performance (PoP), technical frameworks, and performance strategy. This is a full-time role.
Key Responsibilities
- Deliver world-class technical coaching and session execution to our World Championship, Olympic and Paralympic paddlers.
- Paddle alongside athletes in morning sessions and selected afternoon sessions.
- Brief and debrief athletes effectively around session goals and outcomes.
- Provide timely technical and tactical interventions.
- Develop creative practice plans to support technical skill acquisition.
- Lead and maintain Individual Development/Performance Plans.
- Prepare athletes for targeted domestic and international competitions.
- Apply CRNZ’s technical framework and collaborate with HPSNZ support staff.
- Collect, manage, and analyse training and performance data.
- Manage CRNZ boats and coaching equipment at CRNZ Performance Hubs.
- Contribute to a high-performance culture that reflects CRNZ’s values.
- Maintain regular communication with the High Performance Director and wider coaching team.
Preferred Competencies & Attributes
- Proven coaching experience at international or domestic level.
- Strong technical knowledge and ability to coach on-water.
- Experience influencing high performance behaviours and culture.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
- Ability to work collaboratively in a team coaching environment.
- Strong decision-making under pressure.
- IT literacy including data management and analysis tools.
- Willingness to travel (8–12 weeks per year) for camps and competitions.
Qualifications
A degree in sport science, coaching, or a related field (or equivalent experience). Candidates currently part of CRNZ’s Performance Pathway Coach Development network are encouraged to apply.
How to Apply
To express your interest in this exciting opportunity, please submit your CV, salary expectations and a covering letter outlining your suitability for the role to tristan@crnz.org by EOD Wednesday 25 February, 2026. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
