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- Tasks: Lead initiatives to boost swimming participation and create social impact in communities.
- Company: Swim England, the national governing body for swimming in England.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, opportunities for travel, and a chance to make a real difference.
- Why this job: Shape the future of aquatics and inspire diverse communities to enjoy swimming.
- Qualifications: Experience in strategic leadership and knowledge of health and social policy.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for collaboration and community engagement.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Swim England is the national governing body for swimming in England. We help people learn how to swim, enjoy the water safely, and compete in all our sports. Our vision is of a nation swimming and we strive to inspire everyone to enjoy the water in the way that suits them. We work with our partners to create engaging programmes that enable everyone to be active, have fun and stay healthy through swimming.
About Us: Swim England is the recognised national governing body for swimming, artistic swimming, diving and water polo in England. We help people learn how to swim, enjoy the water safely, and maximise their potential in aquatic sport at every level — from community participation to world-class performance. Through our Community Participation and Health directorate, we work with partners across health, physical activity, regeneration and community development to grow and diversify participation, tackle inequalities and improve wellbeing through aquatics.
About The Role: We are seeking a strategic and values-led Head of Aquatics Participation and Social Impact to lead one of the most significant strands of the One Swim England strategy. This senior leadership role focuses on growing and diversifying participation in aquatics and using the power of swimming to deliver meaningful social impact in communities across England. You will lead transformation within Swim England and across the wider aquatic sector, shaping inclusive participation pathways and national programmes that engage new and underrepresented audiences. Working collaboratively with government departments, national partners, local agencies and internal teams, you will influence policy, investment and delivery models to maximise impact at scale.
Key Responsibilities: In this role you will:
- Strategically lead the aquatics participation and social impact work strand, including objectives, delivery plans, operations and budgets.
- Drive transformation through the development and delivery of new approaches to participation for diverse audiences.
- Oversee the design, development and delivery of national programmes, projects and initiatives that grow and diversify aquatic participation.
- Collaborate with government departments, national partners and agencies across health, regeneration, community development and sport for social good to influence policy and investment.
- Apply systems leadership approaches, theories of change and place-based models to participation and social impact.
- Provide strong leadership and functional line management across the aquatics participation and social impact team.
- Share collective accountability with the Director of Community Participation and Health and other strand leaders for directorate-wide outcomes.
- Work collaboratively with other strand leaders to deliver the One Swim England strategy.
- Provide collaborative leadership to National Development Managers to ensure connected development and delivery.
Skills and Experience:
- Knowledge of government strategy and priorities across physical activity, health and social policy.
- Understanding of national structures and partners across health, sport, regeneration, community development and the third sector.
- Experience leading a strategic work strand and associated programmes in a development context.
- Experience measuring impact using quantitative and qualitative methods.
- Excellent written, verbal and presentation communication skills.
- A collaborative leadership style, able to work laterally and vertically.
- Strong organisational and prioritisation skills.
- Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to provide confident, consistent leadership across complex stakeholder systems.
Please Note: This job is SportPark based (minimum of 2 days a week in the office) and also includes regular national travel.
Coaching and Sports Development employer: Sport + Recreation Alliance
Contact Detail:
Sport + Recreation Alliance Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Coaching and Sports Development
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the aquatics and sports development sectors. Attend events, join online forums, and connect with professionals on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show your passion for swimming and community impact! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, share your experiences and ideas on how to grow participation in aquatics. Let them see your enthusiasm and commitment to making a difference.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching Swim England and its initiatives. Understand their goals and challenges in aquatics participation and social impact. This will help you tailor your responses and demonstrate that you're the perfect fit for the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It's the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you're serious about joining the Swim England team and contributing to their mission of making swimming accessible for everyone.
We think you need these skills to ace Coaching and Sports Development
Some tips for your application 🫡
Know Your Audience: Before you start writing, take a moment to understand Swim England's mission and values. Tailor your application to reflect how your experience aligns with their vision of promoting aquatics participation and social impact.
Be Specific: When detailing your experience, use specific examples that showcase your strategic leadership and ability to drive transformation in aquatics. Highlight any successful programmes you've led that increased participation or made a social impact.
Show Your Passion: Let your enthusiasm for swimming and community engagement shine through in your application. Share why you're excited about the opportunity to lead initiatives that promote health and wellbeing through aquatics.
Apply Through Our Website: Make sure to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting role at Swim England!
How to prepare for a job interview at Sport + Recreation Alliance
✨Know Your Aquatics Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of swimming and aquatics participation. Understand Swim England's mission and how they aim to engage diverse audiences. Be ready to discuss how you can contribute to their vision of a nation swimming.
✨Showcase Your Strategic Thinking
Prepare examples that demonstrate your experience in leading strategic initiatives. Think about how you've previously driven transformation in participation or social impact, and be ready to share specific outcomes and methodologies you used.
✨Collaborative Leadership is Key
Since this role involves working with various stakeholders, think of instances where you've successfully collaborated across different teams or sectors. Highlight your interpersonal skills and how you’ve influenced policy or investment in past roles.
✨Be Ready for Impact Measurement Questions
Expect questions about how you measure the success of programmes. Prepare to discuss both quantitative and qualitative methods you've used to assess impact, and be ready to suggest innovative ways to evaluate participation in aquatics.
