ELRU CAREER OPPORTUNITY – 2025
Job Title: Club Coach
Reports To: Playgroup Programmes Manager
Location: Cape Metro, Western Cape
ABOUT ELRU
The Early Learning Resource Unit (ELRU) is an NGO within the Early Childhood Development sector located in Lansdowne, Cape Town. ELRU’s vision is to give every child in South Africa a good start in life while providing holistic support to the child through enabling access to an integrated package of quality ECD services. Our workspace is diverse, unique, and welcoming to all.
Position Overview
The SmartStart Club Coach supports the licensing and ongoing development of SmartStart Franchisees through coaching and quality assurance processes. The coach initiates and maintains SmartStart Clubs, which inspire a broader sense of belonging and loyalty to the SmartStart Network. The coach drives and assists quality improvement among Franchisees and Clubs. The coach oversees, manages, and implements the SmartStart Playgroups Programme in the implementation site.
Main Job Responsibilities
- Initiate the establishment and maintenance of Franchisees (“SmartStarters”) and SmartStart Clubs in allocated areas.
- Source and recruit new fieldworkers to become SmartStart Franchisees.
- Support the SmartStart Programme Manager in the regular orientation of Franchisees and Club Leaders.
- Implement the SmartStart registration process together with the ELRU Playgroup Administrator.
- Conduct home checks after SmartStart has completed the initial training.
- Issue the qualified Franchisees with their licenses and starter packs to practice and implement SmartStart Clubs based on the home-check results.
- Conduct Playgroup Quality Assurance (PQA) check-ins to ensure that Franchisees are implementing the learnings correctly, allocate a rating and review the results with the Programme Manager to address challenges, document good practices, and review lessons learned over this period.
- Recommend the disqualification of any Franchisees that are not compliant.
- Arrange follow-up training where necessary or as per the SmartStart programme.
- Provide ongoing support to club leaders by visiting their clubs at least once a month or more frequently if necessary.
- Convene, draft the agenda, and keep minutes of the cluster club meetings, i.e., quarterly club meetings with all clubs under the Club Coaches supervision.
- Report any challenges experienced by club leaders and cluster clubs to the SmartStart Programme Manager to address these challenges.
- Keep the Smartlink application up-to-date daily to track activities.
- Provide any additional support required to maintain SmartStart's monitoring system.
- Compile a monthly Club Coach report for submission to the SmartStart Project Manager (based on the reporting requirements of SmartStart).
- Participate in meetings and ensure accurate information is provided in your monthly engagements with the SmartStart Programme Manager.
- Meet regularly as a team with the SmartStart Programme Manager.
- Provide any additional support as required by the SmartStart Programme Manager during the course of the project implementation.
Pre Requisite for the Position
- Driver’s licence (requirement)
- At least a year’s experience in a coaching/mentoring/facilitation role and/or a management / coordinating role.
- Three (3) years’ experience in Early Childhood Development or Community Development.
- Excellent organisational and planning skills.
- Excellent management skills – including the ability to fulfil reporting, budgeting and other requirements, and to ensure compliance with internal policies and standards.
- Good written and oral communication skills in English.
- Proficiency in MS Office – including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
- Experience working with marginalised groups and communicating with diverse groups.
- Based in the Cape Metro, Western Cape Province, who is well-connected in the assigned area.
- Ability to work in a team and sometimes under tight deadlines or over weekends as required.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Matric Certificate
- Tertiary qualification in Social Work, Education or a related field (preferable)
How to Apply
Please send resumes and cover letters to: [email protected] with the subject “Club Coach Vacancy”.
The Early Learning Resource Unit (ELRU) is an employer that does not tolerate Sexual Exploitation and Abuse. All potential candidates will be subjected to rigorous background checks and controls.
Only qualified individuals listed above will be considered for an interview.
Closing Date: Monday, 8th September 2025
Job Type: Full-time
Application Question(s):
- Do you have your own vehicle?
- Do you have experience with working on Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams)?
- Can you adhere to tight deadlines and work in a team?
- Do you have the ability to fulfil reporting, budgeting and other requirements, and can ensure compliance with internal policies and standards?
- Do you have experience working with marginalised groups and communicating with diverse groups?
- Do you have a tertiary qualification in Social Work, Education or a related field?
- Do you have at least a year’s experience in a coaching/mentoring/facilitation role and/or a management/ coordinating role?
- Are you willing to work over weekends as required?
- Do you have good written and oral communication skills? Are you able to engage with stakeholders?
Education:
- High School (matric) (Required)
Experience:
- Early Childhood Development (ECD) or Community Development: 3 years (Preferred)
Language:
- English (Required)
License/Certification:
- Driver's License (Required)
Location:
- Cape Town, Western Cape (City of Cape Town) (Required)
Work Location: In person
Application Deadline: 2025/09/08
Expected Start Date: 2025/09/15
