Disability Rugby Officer (Maternity Cover)

Job Description & Person Specification

Disability Rugby Officer (DRO)

Affidea Stadium, 134 Mount Merrion Avenue, Belfast, BT6 0FT

Role Purpose:                         To provide rugby development services for Disability groups in clubs, Primary schools, Secondary schools and Community groups throughout Ulster.

Location:                                 The post holder will be based at Affidea Stadium but required to travel throughout the rest of the province.

Operational Manager:            Participation Rugby Lead

Functional Manager:              Head of Rugby Development

Key Relationships:                 Department for Communities

Disability Sport Northern Ireland (DSNI)

Regional Rugby Staff

Club Officers & Members

School staff & pupils

Community organisations

other Ulster Rugby Officers

Contract Type:                       35 hours per week, specified purpose contract to provide maternity cover from date of commencement until 31st March 2027

Renumeration:                       In the region of £27,000 - £29,000 gross per annum (plus £4,000 car allowance)

Key Responsibilities:

• Deliver Programme KPI’s relating to enhanced participation in disability rugby.
• Deliver rugby participation programmes within community-based settings and encourage linkages back to rugby clubs throughout the Province.
• Support curriculum & extra-curricular based rugby modules in Schools.
• Work with disability clubs to support volunteers and assist them with on-field development.
• Assist with club development activities to grow the capacity of clubs to cater for disabled participation.
• Maintain accurate records of all activities undertaken.
• Under the guidance of the PRM, deliver blitzes, extravaganzas & competitions.
• Completion of regular reports in a timely, accurate & competent manner.  Submission of these fully completed reports within agreed timescales.
• Maintain effective relationships with those detailed in Key Relationships.
• Portray a competent & professional image of the IRFU (Ulster Branch) at all times.
• Maintain accurate and up to date records on all aspects of work.
• Raise the profile of work carried out in terms of disability rugby using various promotional channels available through the IRFU (Ulster Branch) / Ulster Rugby.
• Fulfil all coaching & development obligations throughout the term of the contract.

The duties and responsibilities outlined above are not exhaustive and the post holder may be required to undertake additional duties to meet the needs of the organisation.

Essential Criteria

Desirable Criteria:

The IRFU (Ulster Branch) reserves the right to enhance criteria to facilitate short-listing and may apply some or all of the desirable criteria listed below:

PLEASE NOTE:

Initial short listing will take place against the criteria outlined in Qualifications, Experience & Circumstances. It is the applicant’s responsibility to demonstrate clearly on the application form, in the appropriate place, how they meet the criteria as advertised for this post.

High attention to detail, particularly in written communications will be assessed on the basis of the application form and application forms containing numerous errors will be disregarded.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities and Behaviours will be assessed at interview and/or via practical assessment. We reserve the right to enhance the essential criteria to facilitate shortlisting. Should this be required some or all of the desirable criteria listed will be applied.

This role is being offered on a specified purpose contract, for the expressed purpose of providing maternity cover from the date of commencement until 31st March 2027.

To apply, please upload a copy of your CV and complete the short online application form. The closing date for completed application forms is no later than 9:00am on 18th May 2026.

Applicants are strongly advised to read the guidance notes at the start of the application form prior to completion. CVs or emails expressing an interest in the position without completing the online application form will be disregarded.

Ulster Rugby is an equal opportunities employer and as such welcomes applications from all persons regardless of race, creed, gender, disability, family status or sexual orientation.

If your role involves working with children and young people you may be subject to vetting through Access NI/Garda Vetting Bureau. Please note that we are committed to equal opportunities for all and will not preclude applicants with criminal convictions.

For more information please refer to the IRFU Vetting Policy https://www.irishrugby.ie/playing-the-game/spirit-of-rugby/safeguarding/recruitment/