Job Description

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.
We work with clubs, coaches, teachers and volunteers across the country to create safe, inclusive and inspiring aquatic environments. As a membership organisation and charity, we are committed to supporting the growth of our sports, promoting physical and mental wellbeing, and ensuring everyone has the opportunity to enjoy a lifelong love of the water.
About the Role
We are seeking an experienced and insightful Non-Executive Director (Safeguarding) to join the Swim England Board. This strategic leadership role is central to shaping and strengthening safeguarding culture, governance and assurance across the organisation.
As a member of our Board, you will provide inclusive, values-led oversight and guidance, bringing specialist safeguarding expertise to help ensure safe, enjoyable and positive experiences for everyone in aquatics. You will support proportionate, evidence-based decision making, help the Board understand safeguarding risks and opportunities, and contribute to continuous improvement in systems, culture and frameworks.
This is a voluntary, governance-level position suited to individuals with substantial safeguarding expertise and a commitment to Swim England's vision of great experiences in water, for all, for life.
Key Responsibilities
As a Non-Executive Director (Safeguarding), you will:
- Act in the best interests of Swim England with honesty, integrity and good faith.
- Serve as an ambassador for One Swim England and its vision and values.
- Provide strategic safeguarding and welfare insight to inform evidence-based decisions.
- Support continuous improvement in safeguarding culture, systems, policy frameworks and assurance.
- Advise the Board on safeguarding risk, emerging practice, sector standards and expectations.
- Participate in working groups, advisory meetings or reviews where specialist input is required.
- Contribute to an inclusive, collaborative and effective Board environment.
- Champion and role-model Swim England's Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan.
Skills and Experience
Essential
- Extensive senior-level safeguarding expertise, ideally in sport, education or another regulated sector.
- Strong understanding of safeguarding legislation, statutory frameworks and learning-based best practice.
- Understanding of the legal duties and liabilities of corporate and charity Directors.
- Open-minded, with the ability to listen, consider diverse perspectives and constructively challenge.
- Excellent interpersonal, influencing and communication skills across varied audiences.
- Strong judgement, integrity, intellectual curiosity and evidence-informed decision-making capability.
- Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, and alignment with Swim England's purpose and values.
Desirable
- Knowledge of, or enthusiasm for, aquatic and membership sports.
Terms of Engagement
- Approximately 1-2 days per month, including Board meetings and occasional working group involvement.
This is an unpaid voluntary role. Travel and accommodation expenses are reimbursed in line with Swim England policy.
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.
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