Swim England, based in Loughborough, is seeking an experienced and collaborative Head of Sport Operations to join for a 12‑month maternity cover fixed‑term contract. The successful candidate will lead the operational delivery of Swim England's sport programmes and support the successful delivery of national performance and talent pathways across aquatic sports. Our standard Full Time Equivalent hours are 35 hours per week, unless otherwise specified in the job advert. 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.
Key Details
* 12‑Month Fixed‑Term Contract
* Minimum of 2× days a week onsite plus occasional national travel
About the Role
Reporting to the Director of Sport, you will provide leadership and oversight of the Sport Operations team, ensuring the effective planning and delivery of operational services, sport science and medicine support, and national programme activity. You will work closely with the Director of Sport, Head of Sport and wider sport directorate to ensure programmes are delivered in line with Swim England's strategic objectives and aligned with Aquatics GB performance pathways.
Key Responsibilities
* Provide leadership and management of the Sport Operations team, including the Sport Science and Medicine Programme Manager and Lead Sport Coordinator.
* Support the strategic leadership of sport programmes in collaboration with the Director of Sport and Head of Sport.
* Lead the operational planning and delivery of national sport programmes, including training camps, competitions and athlete support activity.
* Oversee the delivery and integration of Sport Science and Medicine (SSSM) services supporting national programme athletes and coaches.
* Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of sport operations, SSSM and DiSE programmes.
* Support the delivery and reporting of the DiSE (Diploma in Sporting Excellence) programme, including monitoring outcomes and ROI for stakeholders and funding bodies.
* Ensure a consistent, athlete‑centred culture across programmes, maintaining the highest standards of governance, welfare and safeguarding.
* Work collaboratively across Swim England and with external partners and stakeholders to support the successful delivery of national sport programmes.
* Contribute positively to the leadership and development of the Sport Directorate, supporting a collaborative and high‑performance culture.
* Manage the Sport Operations budget in conjunction with the finance team.
* Develop and maintain effective operational systems, policies and processes that support efficient delivery of sport programmes.
* Build strong working relationships with athletes, coaches, practitioners and partner organisations.
* Carry out any other duties within the scope, spirit and purpose of the role, in line with organisational policies and procedures.
Essential Qualifications and Experience
* Experience leading teams within a sport, performance or programme delivery environment.
* Strong understanding of athlete development pathways and performance sport systems.
* Experience managing complex programmes or projects with multiple stakeholders.
* Proven ability to plan and deliver operational activity such as training camps, competitions or athlete support programmes.
* Experience in managing budgets and resources effectively.
* Excellent communication and relationship‑building skills.
* Strong organisational and problem‑solving skills with ability to manage multiple priorities.
* Experience developing and implementing policies, systems and operational processes.
* Commitment to maintaining high standards of athlete welfare, safeguarding and governance.
* Ability to work both strategically and operationally within a fast‑paced environment.
* Flexible and adaptable approach to changing organisational needs.
* Degree‑level qualification or equivalent professional experience.
Desirable
* Experience working within a national governing body or similar sporting organisation.
* Understanding of the England talent and high‑performance sport landscape.
* Experience supporting or managing the DiSE programme.
* Knowledge or experience of aquatic sports.
* Experience using athlete management systems such as Teamworks Hub.
* Project management qualification (e.g. PRINCE2) or equivalent.
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.
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