Job Description

About Us
Swim England is on a change mission and is looking for an outstanding leader to join the Senior Leadership Team and play a key part in the journey.
If you are a values-led, people-centred team player who thrives on serving others to make a huge positive difference, then this role could be for you.
Following the publication of the Listening Report in March 2024, we engaged with our communities through a series of roadshows and as a consequence, published a new strategy - One Swim England (https://www.swimming.org/swimengland/swim-england-strategy/). This strategy speaks to the enormous opportunity that exists to lead and serve our community, to do things differently, to transform our culture and to make a difference to the health of the nation through lifelong participation for all and significant community growth.
We've made some good progress but there is much more to be done. None of it will be possible without outstanding community engagement - understanding the needs of our community, delivering great experiences, not least across our digital platforms and supporting colleagues and partners with outstanding insight, marketing, communications and public affairs.
About the role
You will provide the strategic direction and leadership for the Community Engagement function, driving outstanding experiences for every member of our growing community.
Your key responsibilities include:
- Provide outstanding organisational leadership to the group of companies as part of the Senior Leadership Team
- Set the strategic direction and implementation plan for the following areas: Community Engagement,
- Marketing, Communications, Public Affairs, Digital & IT, Insight, and Customer services & Operations.
- Be an agent of positive change and collaborate with other organisations with shared objectives to realise the enormous opportunity that swimming has to contribute to national outcomes.
- Work closely with Senior Leadership Team colleagues to deliver the organisations strategy and especially community growth.
- Contribute to ensuring engagement at all levels of the sport (Regions, Counties, - Clubs and individuals) to align the national strategy and direction with local strategies.
- Ensure all programmes are delivered to a high standard, within budget and maximise the opportunities of external investment to supplement programmes.
- Operate as a high-level interface and point of escalation for key stakeholders. Ensuring relevant and valuable relationships are developed and maintained.
About you
In order to be shortlisted for the next stage in the process you must demonstrate within your application how you meet the following essential criteria:
Essential:
- Values led with alignment to the Swim England values.
- Experience of leading and working on transformational change projects
- Excellent interpersonal and leadership skills, with a proven ability to effectively coach and influence at all levels of the organisation, internally and externally
- Extensive knowledge and experience of consumer and community engagement including but not limited to Communications, Marketing, Public Affairs, Digital, Insight and customer service.
- Experience of leading multi-disciplinary teams.
- Knowledge and understanding of understanding and exceeding consumer expectations.
- Experience of setting and controlling budgets.
Desirable:
- Experience of working within the sports environment.
- Knowledge of aquatics
- Experience of digital transformation projects
If you feel you have the suitable skills and attributes for this position then we would love to read your application, detailing how you meet the brief, and how you believe you're the right candidate for this opportunity.
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 embracing the spirit of all equalities legislation. As a Disability Confident Employer, we actively encourage applications from disabled people. We recognise that the diversity of our workforce is not reflective of today's society and we are currently operating a pilot scheme whereby applicants from ethnically diverse backgrounds can opt into our guaranteed interview scheme. Candidates that have opted into the scheme will be guaranteed an interview provided that they have demonstrated, within their application, that they meet the essential criteria for the role. When emailing the CV and cover letter, applicants from ethnically diverse backgrounds are encouraged to state they wish to 'Opt In' to the scheme.
Where possible, Swim England will always make reasonable adjustments for accessibility to anyone who requires it. If you would like any of the documentation in a different format or would like to apply in a different way please get in touch via swimengland@macildowie.com. All appointments will be made on merit, following a fair and transparent process, in line with the Equality Act 2010. However, the organisation may employ positive action where candidates from underrepresented groups can demonstrate their ability to perform the role equally well.
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.
This job is SportPark based (minimum of 3 days in the office).
To apply email with your CV and cover letter to: swimengland@macildowie.com
How to apply
To apply email with your CV and cover letter to: swimengland@macildowie.com

Skills Required