Head of Group Digital & Technology

Organisation: Swim England
Salary: £63,469
Location: SportPark, Loughborough
Contract type: Permanent (Full time)
Closing date: 1 June 2025
Interview date: 10 June 2025
Job Description: About The Role
Be part of something bigger. Help shape the digital future of aquatic sports in England.

Swim England is the recognised national governing body for swimming, diving, artistic swimming, water polo and open water swimming.

We are a values-driven organisation making a real difference across learn to swim, grassroots participation, talent pathways, and community wellbeing.

If you join us, you will be part of a passionate team, driving digital change that enables success from poolside to podium.

As we continue to modernise and evolve, we’re looking for an experienced and visionary Head of Group Digital and Technology to lead our digital transformation across the Swim England Group.

This is brand new role and a rare opportunity to shape how technology supports every part of our work – from engaging and supporting members, clubs, swim schools, volunteers, learners and the wider sector to streamlining internal operations and ensuring we remain digitally fit for the future.

This is more than just a technology role – it’s about creating a seamless technology and digital experience that supports our people, amplifies our impact, and helps deliver on our One Swim England strategy for the years ahead.

We have made a start already to an ambitious digital roadmap, supported by new technology standards and a recent comprehensive digital audit.

While we already have several important initiatives underway, the new Head of Group Digital & Technology will step in to take ownership helping drive them forward helping us to meet our organisational goals.

The role is based at SportPark, Loughborough with the ability to work from home two days a week.

What you will be doing:

Developing and leading a digital and technology strategy to achieve exceptional member and customer experience and to support the delivery of the objectives set out in the organisations strategy.
Setting the strategic direction and implementation plan for the following areas:
Digital platforms and systems across the Swim England Group of companies.
Data management
Internal IT infrastructure
Technology strategy and standards
Creating and support an environment of digital innovation and best practice.
Leading an internal team – providing technical and strategic leadership.
Accountable for the commissioning and overall management of internal and external digital projects, platforms and services
About You
You don’t need to be able to swim to work with us, but a passion for the role that sport and physical activity can play in society would be advantageous!

What we are looking for:
Experience of leading or working on digital transformational change projects
Extensive knowledge and experience of digital system integrations, web applications and internal digital/IT ecosystems
Comprehensive experience of decision-making in technology at a senior level, with budget management of technology and digital platform selection and procurement
Thorough understanding of web application UX, design and development
Experience of internal IT system and external platform management
Excellent interpersonal and leadership skills, with a proven ability to effectively coach and influence at all levels of the organisation, internally and externally.
Proven experience of building data capability within an organisation
Ability to maintain close and effective working relationships with external agencies and consultants
Please see the attached job description for full details.

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. We would also like to hear about you, your interests and any experiences you have from activities outside of work.

The closing date for completed applications is Sunday 1st June 2025 (midnight).

First stage interviews to be held on Tuesday 10th June 2025.

For an informal conversation about the role, please contact careers@swimming.org and we’ll put you in touch with the relevant person.

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 completing the application, applicants from ethnically diverse backgrounds are encouraged to ‘Opt In’ to the scheme, by ticking the box.

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 careers@swimming.org. 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.

Please be aware that we use parsing software to extract key information from your CV, which you are able to review and edit within the application form. It is advisable to provide a simple text CV (i.e. no tables, images of text etc) to aid the transfer of information. Please review the information in your application form prior to submitting.

No Agencies Please
How to apply: To register with us and apply for this role please visit our candidate portal - link below: https://careers.swimming.org/vacancies/388/head-of-group-digital--technology.html