Learning & Development (L&D) Manager in Bolton

Great things happen when people with talent and purpose come together to create what couldn’t be done alone. At We Are Swim, we don’t just know this, we live it, and we’re looking for people like you who do the same. Founded by Olympians, Becky Adlington OBE & Steve Parry MBE, we are revolutionising swimming, changing lives, building infrastructure & developing talent. We’re fast paced, we challenge each other and have fun! We love inspiring the next generation and our people are at the heart of everything we do.

For those with a passion for teaching and engaging in this fantastic sport, we offer fantastic career opportunities built on strong values and real investment in our people. We are Swim is on a mission to revolutionise swimming and change lives. They believe every child should have the opportunity to learn-to-swim and love to swim! Operating in a range of nationwide venues, we deliver a best in class learn to swim experience in the local community for 3–11-year-olds and there's room for you to join our community of teachers, managers, and skilled leisure personnel.

Providing a safe/ fun place for children to swim, smarter ways of delivering our programs and improving children's health around the UK is our passion. Is it yours too? You can stretch across our UK network to learn from others, offer support, and gain new experiences along the way.

We are looking for a dynamic and experienced leader to oversee and grow our business in a region, ensuring the highest standards of customer service, safety and teaching excellence.

Purpose

Reporting to the Regional Manager you will enable swim! and swim@ in the effective delivery of a People Strategy delivering against our targets of recruitment, training and people development to service the operational teams across our business. You will have a role which includes a blend of leadership on specific areas of accountability including course planning against demand and quality of our teaching workforce, as well as using your delivery skills to tutor and assess qualification and training products across your region, developing and inspiring our people and ensuring our business has a thriving and high-quality workforce to achieve customer excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Management of regional course provision in line with our people strategy and targets
• Plan, deliver, and assess qualifications and training provision in line with business need and rhythm
• Implement course administration processes in line with approved training centre and awarding organisation requirements.
• Support the team with all implementation of operational recruitment, training, development, and retention work
• Implement and maintain quality policies and processes to ensure robust training provision and ensure equality of access to opportunities.
• Play an active part in the storytelling of our people
• Actively contribute to internal reviews and feedback to produce continual improvement strategies for future L&D provision.
• Support with recruitment events, campaigns and opportunities as agreed with the team and partners.
• Support the transition of people into our venues with effective inductions, inspirational training, ongoing quality assurance and mentoring opportunities.
• Keep up to date on industry updates, best practice and trends and maintain all relevant requirements for tutor licensing and currency/authorisation to practice.
• Continuously improve through feedback and actively seek opportunities to expand skill set and subject areas to expand the provision of delivery opportunities
• Ensure all training activities and materials meet with relevant organisational and statutory policies including health and safety, employment and equality laws.
• Work professionally, positively and inspirationally with the internal and delivery teams of employees and associates, through smart ways of working, high quality and open and honest culture.

Person Specification

Knowledge

• Technical Qualifications in area of specialism for min of 2 years including but not limited to: ASA/SEQ/STA Level 2 Teaching Swimming, ASA/SEQ/STA Level 2 Teaching Swimming to Babies and Toddlers, RLSS or STA Lifeguarding, Lifesaving, First Aid, PWTAG/STA or equivalent in Pool Plant Operations
• Desirable: Aquatic Tutor Qualifications /Licence – approved by either Swim England or Swimming Teachers Association, Level 3 Education and Training or equivalent, An appropriate assessors or internal quality assurance qualification such as L3 CAVA and/or L4 IQA.
• Knowledge of the principles and standards that underpin excellent operational delivery in grass roots sport and facility provision.
• Knowledge of legal aspects of role and excellent practice in relation to Health and Safety, Safeguarding, First Aid, Equality and Diversity and Data Protection.
• Enhanced knowledge through recent and regular CPD opportunities and vocational experience.

Experience

• Experience within a high quality leisure environment for a minimum of 2 years and within the last 2 years.
• Experience of line managing others within a leisure/sports environment.
• Experience of managing programmes and projects.
• Experience of facility management and leisure operations.
• Experience of positively engaging and influencing people both in direct line management/structures but also across other teams and through collaboration and teamwork.
• Experience of quality standards and compliance/regulatory requirements for high quality operations and quality assurance in sport, leisure and in learning and development.
• Experience of developing learning interventions using a blended approach with use of technology.
• Experience of working under pressure, meeting targets and deadlines.

Skills and Attributes

• Be self-reflective, with authenticity and an approachable, genuine desire to invest in people.
• Be able to communicate effectively, openly, and transparently.
• Be able to organise self and others with good planning and preparation skills.
• Ability to adapt approaches to meet individual learning styles and team needs.
• Demonstrate a determined and committed approach to quality of excellent standards.
• Proven ability to provide high quality and effective feedback to mentor, guide and influence others.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills to support effective working relationships at all levels internally and externally and with key team-mates and stakeholders.
• Has a positive ‘can-do’ attitude.
• Demonstrates high energy at all times.
• Excellent communication, presentation and digital technology/I.T skills.
• Can follow organizational processes and procedures.
• Able to work remotely with initiative and as part of a National team.
• Has the mental wellbeing to look after self and others.
• Reliable and trustworthy.
• A passion for the industry and change.
• Ability to travel nationally and to stay away overnight when required.
• Ability to drive with a full UK driving license.

40 hours per week. Competitive Salary (32-35k). Car allowance. Regional role, with travel, hybrid working with some presence in Head office required. Opportunity for professional development and career growth. Dynamic and supportive culture and work environment. The chance to make a positive, legacy impact on the lives of children across the UK and contribute to the growth of a thriving business. We Are Swim are an equal opportunities employer; we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.