ROLE LEVEL: Undergraduate Placement (paid – only available for Loughborough University students)
DURATION: 1 year duration (including 22 days holiday and university closure days)
LOCATION: Loughborough University
REPORTS TO: Rugby Programme Manager
SALARY: £6,000
Loughborough Sport is committed to the development of aspiring coaches and practitioners through elite sport in the UK. Supporting around 750 funded athletes, scholars, and first team athletes across a range of sports and athletic disciplines, we provide a unique environment to develop a range of skills within an interdisciplinary sports program.
The successful applicant will gain practical applied experience in an elite sporting environment under the guidance of practitioners and coaches. During the placement, there is an opportunity to build a portfolio of practical expertise, enhancing your employability.
What would I be doing?
- Working alongside the Rugby Programme Manager and women’s coaches to assist with the operations of running the women’s rugby performance programme including Premiership Women's Rugby side Loughborough Lightning and wider BUCS delivery
- Suitable for someone looking to move into an operationsl/team/logistics management or marketing role in sport
- Individual will support the management and logistics needed to field multiple teams each week across PWR and BUCS (including BUCS Women’s Super Rugby)
- Support match day operations
- Support the provision of marketing, media and communications across the programme along with the media team
- Support the Programme Manager in Commercial endeavours
- Opportunity to work with external rugby bodies (e.g. RFU, PWR and BUCS)
- Opportunity to work with Loughborough Lightning’s partner Northampton Saints
- Support with other areas of the Inter-Disciplinary team as required
- Manage operations volunteers alongside the Programme Manager
What will I get out of this opportunity?
- Exposure to working with coaches and athletes in an elite and professional sporting environment
- Exposure to a range of sports, disciplines, and abilities
- Mentoring from programme manager and head coaches
- Support through qualifications and accreditations
- Portfolio of CPD and practical expertise
- Enhance your employability
- Work closely with other practitioners within an interdisciplinary team
- Development of soft skills
- Work within a professional environment with full time athletes
- Opportunities to visit, work within and alongside a variety of professional rugby clubs
- Develop a range of contacts within rugby
What is Loughborough Sport looking for?
- To undertake this role, you must be a current student at Loughborough University.
- Full commitment – otherwise you won’t get much out of the placement and the support for our sports will be affected
- Due to the nature of the role, some of the experience will take place during evenings and weekends to align with sport training schedules and fixtures
- The ability to communicate well, share knowledge simply and effectively and strong attention to detail.
- Demonstration of excellent organisation and time management skills
- Professional attitude and approach, respect for others
- Innovative thinking and willingness to try things
- Professional attitude and approach, respect for others
Additional Details
- Paid stipend of £6,000
- Start Date 15th July 2026
- Minimum of 37 hours per week
- 1 year duration (Including 22 days holiday and University Closure days)
- Evening and weekend work required
- Opportunity to volunteer ahead of your placement
- Diploma of Professional Studies running alongside placement year
How can I apply?
Please send a CV & Video Application to One Drive by clicking HERE. It’s up to you how you choose to produce the video, the only stipulations are that it is no longer than 5 minutes and you answer all questions (with relevant detail) set out below:
Tell us about yourself:
- Name
- Your experiences in a sporting environment
- Personal sporting interests and sport you would like to be involved in at Loughborough
- Your career aspirations
- What do you think you are like as a person, how would others describe you?
Tell us why you would like to join us:
- Why this placement? Why you? Why Loughborough?
Interview date: w/c 8 December 2025
Closing date: Sunday 7 December 2025