Help shape the future of stand-up paddleboarding in England and support the next generation of Team England athletes.
Surfing England is looking for a passionate, organised and driven volunteer to become our new SUP Performance Lead.
As the National Governing Body for all forms of wave riding, SUP and paddleboard, recognised by Sport England and UK Sport, we look after these sports from grassroots right through to Team England. Our Team England SUP athletes compete at European and World Championships, where we’ve seen multiple world champions crowned. In Olympic qualifying years, we also work alongside the home nations to send and support GB teams to the ISA World Championships.
Now we want to go further. We want to develop a clear talent pathway so younger paddlers can see exactly how to reach Team England, and to increase the training and support available to our current athletes.
This work comes alongside the launch of a new SUP membership for recreational paddlers, with revenue from it helping us grow our performance offer. It’s an exciting time to get involved.
About the role…
The SUP Performance Lead will be the catalyst for developing our SUP performance pathway. It’s a hands-on role, from organising new training opportunities to team selection and supporting international competitions. At a strategic level, you’ll also help shape our SUP performance vision.
Team England
- Design and implement SUP training for our athletes, which may include recruiting suitable coaching staff.
- Oversee team selection.
- Support the team to attend the ISA World Championships.
Performance Pathway
- Work with key partners such as GBSUP to create a clear pathway to team selection.
- Identify young talent and develop a support package for them.
- Support the annual Surfing England SUP Surfing Championships.
Strategic
- Develop and maintain positive working relationships with key partners, including BSUPA, SUPGB, GB Surfing and Paddle UK.
- Contribute to the ongoing development of our SUP strategy.
- Identify opportunities to grow participation, membership and competitive SUP.
Who we’re looking for…
Personal specification:
- Strong knowledge of the SUP landscape and a personal drive to help develop and improve the sport.
- Experience as a competitor, coach, organiser or other role within SUP.
- Ability to use initiative, work independently and collaboratively with volunteers and athletes.
- Understanding of governance and safeguarding within sport.
- Well organised and able to manage budgets.
Desirable
- Experience of high-performance sport and/or international SUP competition.
- Existing relationships within the SUP industry and community.
Time commitment and Location
This is a voluntary role, and reasonable expenses will be paid. We expect a commitment of around 12 days per year, including admin time, training and competition support, plus time spent with the team at international events.
There’s no set location, as our SUP athletes are based across the country. You may need to travel to the Surfing England office in Braunton and to training locations nationwide. There may also be opportunities to travel with the team to international events, so a current passport and driving licence are essential.
Safeguarding and Training
The successful applicant will need an enhanced DBS check and must follow all Surfing England safeguarding policies and procedures. We’ll provide Safeguarding in Sport training, and further training may be offered from time to time, either directly or through partners such as UK Coaching and Activity Alliance.
As a Surfing England volunteer, you’ll be representing surfing at the highest national level. You’ll be expected to act with integrity and diligence, and to support the overall aims of Surfing England.
How to apply
We welcome and encourage applications from all parts of the community.
To apply, send a 3-minute video introducing yourself, your SUP background and what you’d like to achieve in this role to Lineup@surfingengland.org, along with a copy of your current CV.
Deadline: 09:00 Monday 2nd November 2026
If you have any questions or would like to talk through the role in more detail, contact Ben at Ben@surfingengland.org.
