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- Tasks: Lead the development of swimming participation programmes across England for all ages.
- Company: Swim England, the national governing body for swimming, promoting water safety and enjoyment.
- Benefits: Flexible working, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Join a diverse team committed to inclusion and safeguarding in sports.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by inspiring communities to engage with swimming beyond competition.
- Qualifications: Experience in programme development and strong stakeholder management skills required.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ 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 the Role
We are looking for a strategic and driven National Participation and Growth Manager to lead the development and delivery of swimming and aquatics participation across England. This role will play a central part in shaping Swim England’s approach to participation, broadening and diversifying audiences and creating opportunities for people of all ages to engage with swimming and aquatics beyond competitive sport. You will lead the design and delivery of large-scale participation programmes, working collaboratively with partners across education, community sport, leisure and the wider sector. Your work will support a lifelong journey in water—from learning to swim through to continued participation in later life—ensuring a connected, inclusive and impactful national approach. Working across the organisation and with external stakeholders, you will help build innovative, insight-led programmes that respond to the needs of new and existing audiences, while contributing to wider organisational priorities and long‑term growth.
Key Responsibilities
- Design, develop and implement a large‑scale mass participation programme for swimming and aquatics, targeting young people, adults and families outside of competitive sport.
- Work with leisure operators and clubs to build a flexible and holistic participation offer across swimming and aquatic activities.
- Collaborate with national and regional education, school sport and community sport networks to connect programmes into extracurricular and community initiatives.
- Lead the development and delivery of participation programmes across both pool and open water environments.
- Work with internal teams to develop commercial opportunities and partnerships to support participation growth.
- Support the integration of participation initiatives into the wider events landscape, helping to modernise and diversify engagement opportunities.
- Develop insight and understanding of new and diverse audiences through research and data, informing programme design and delivery.
- Use data, research and insight to shape strategy, measure impact and drive continuous improvement.
- Ensure participation programmes align with the wider Swim England strategy, supporting progression pathways into clubs, workforce and membership.
- Promote Swim England values in all interactions.
Skills and Experience
Essential
- Strong understanding of the education and school sport landscape in England, including partnerships and multi‑academy trust structures.
- Strong knowledge of the wider sport development system and key stakeholders across the sector.
- Understanding of how digital systems and processes influence participant behaviour and experience.
- Experience developing and delivering large‑scale participation programmes with measurable impact.
- Experience taking projects from concept through to implementation.
- Experience using data, research and insight to inform decision‑making.
- Excellent stakeholder management and partnership‑building skills across public, private and voluntary sectors.
- Strong collaboration skills and ability to work effectively as part of a team.
- High levels of motivation, drive and personal ambition.
Desirable
- Experience of working with National Governing Body participation programmes.
Please be advised that we cannot offer visa sponsorship and that you must have right to work in the UK to apply or be considered for this role. If you are a non‑UK/EU National, you must have an appropriate working Visa to undertake employment. You must also be working within the UK to apply or be considered for this role, due to the public liability insurance Swim England holds.
Swim England is committed to inclusion and embraces the spirit of equality legislation. As a Disability Confident Employer, disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role are guaranteed an interview. We are also piloting a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for applicants from ethnically diverse backgrounds. Candidates who opt in to the scheme and demonstrate that they meet the essential criteria will be guaranteed an interview. Applicants can indicate if they wish to opt in by answering the relevant question within the application form. Where possible, Swim England will always make reasonable adjustments for accessibility to anyone who requires it.
Swim England is also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.
National Participation and Growth Manager employer: Swim England
Contact Detail:
Swim England Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land National Participation and Growth Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the swimming and aquatics sector, attend events, and connect with potential colleagues on LinkedIn. Building relationships can open doors that a CV alone can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Show your passion for swimming! When you get the chance to chat with hiring managers or during interviews, share your personal experiences with swimming and how it has impacted your life. It’s all about making that emotional connection.
✨Tip Number 3
Be prepared to discuss data! Since this role involves using insights to shape programmes, brush up on relevant statistics and trends in swimming participation. Being able to talk numbers will show you mean business.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining Swim England and contributing to our vision of a nation swimming.
We think you need these skills to ace National Participation and Growth Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the role of National Participation and Growth Manager. Highlight your experience in developing large-scale participation programmes and working with diverse audiences.
Showcase Your Passion: Let your enthusiasm for swimming and aquatics shine through in your application. We want to see how you can inspire others to enjoy the water, so share any relevant personal experiences or projects that demonstrate your commitment.
Use Data to Your Advantage: Since this role involves using data and insights to shape strategies, include examples of how you've used research to inform decision-making in past roles. This will show us that you understand the importance of data in driving participation.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensure everything is in one place for the hiring manager to review.
How to prepare for a job interview at Swim England
✨Know Your Audience
Before the interview, research Swim England's current participation programmes and their target audiences. Understanding their vision of a nation swimming will help you tailor your responses to show how your experience aligns with their goals.
✨Showcase Your Strategic Thinking
Be prepared to discuss specific examples of large-scale participation programmes you've developed. Highlight how you used data and insights to shape these initiatives, as this role requires a strategic approach to participation growth.
✨Demonstrate Collaboration Skills
Since this role involves working with various stakeholders, come ready with examples of successful partnerships you've built in the past. Emphasise your ability to collaborate across different sectors, including education and community sport.
✨Align with Swim England's Values
Familiarise yourself with Swim England's values and mission. During the interview, express how your personal values align with theirs, especially regarding inclusion and promoting a lifelong journey in water for all ages.