Chief Executive Officer

Organisation

Swim England

Salary

£140,000 - £165,000

Location

SportPark Pavilion 3, 3 Oakwood Drive Loughborough University Loughborough Leicestershire LE11 3QF

Contract type

Permanent (Full time)

Closing date

18 September 2026

Job Description

Lead one of England's largest national governing bodies through a pivotal period of strategic delivery, governance renewal, cultural transformation and future growth.

Swim England is the national governing body for swimming, open water swimming, artistic swimming, diving and water polo in England, supporting more than 930 clubs and over 175,000 club members through a nationwide network of regions and volunteers. The group comprises Swim England Limited, Swim England Trading Limited and the Institute of Swimming, its wholly owned training subsidiary and a leading provider of aquatics education and qualifications.

Swim England has a clear vision: Great experiences in water. For all. For life. Through its bold and ambitious One Swim England strategy, the organisation is focused on strengthening clubs, increasing and diversifying participation, improving access to water, tackling inequalities through water and supporting safe, enjoyable and successful experiences across aquatics. The Chief Executive will lead the next phase of delivery, turning strategic ambition into meaningful impact for members, clubs, volunteers and communities.

The CEO joins at a pivotal moment. Following the Listening Report and the launch of One Swim England, Swim England is delivering a significant programme of organisational transformation, strengthening governance, culture, digital capability and financial sustainability. A comprehensive Governance Review is underway to strengthen board and organisational governance and support delivery of One Swim England, and this is a rare opportunity to lead that transformation, strengthen relations and confidence across the aquatics community, unlock the full potential of aquatics across England, and ensure Swim England remains resilient, relevant and fit for the future.

Accountable to the Swim England Board, the CEO provides strategic and operational leadership across the Swim England group, comprising Swim England Limited, Swim England Trading Limited and the Institute of Swimming. The CEO is responsible for translating One Swim England into delivery, leading organisational transformation, strengthening financial sustainability and ensuring Swim England continues to deliver safe, inclusive and successful experiences across aquatics. Key relationships include the Board and its committees, members, clubs, volunteers, regions and counties, alongside pool owners and operators, Sport England, the Home Country Sports Councils, Aquatics GB, education, health and community partners and the media.

Key Responsibilities

Deliver the One Swim England strategy, translating organisational priorities into measurable outcomes and meaningful impact for members, clubs, volunteers and communities.
Lead and develop the Senior Leadership Team, ensuring resources are aligned to organisational priorities and programmes are delivered effectively and sustainably.
Lead the ongoing Governance Review and wider programme of organisational transformation, ensuring Swim England remains well governed, financially sustainable and compliant with legal and regulatory requirements.
Champion a safe, inclusive and welcoming culture that reflects Swim England's values and builds trust across the aquatics community.
Work collaboratively with Aquatics GB and other partners to support talent development and successful pathways within aquatics.
Grow and diversify income streams, strengthening commercial performance and long-term financial resilience.
Build and maintain effective relationships with members, clubs, volunteers, regions and counties, alongside pool owners and operators, funders, partners and key stakeholders.
Act as the leading national voice and advocate for aquatics, influencing partners and decision-makers at the highest level.
Drive collaboration across sport, health, education and community partners, including through place-based approaches, to increase participation, improve access to water, grow open water opportunities and maximise the impact of aquatics.

Anticipate and respond to opportunities and challenges across the sector, ensuring Swim England remains relevant, resilient and fit for the future.

Why Join Us?

This is an exceptional opportunity for an experienced senior leader to lead a national governing body at a defining moment, shaping the future of aquatics for over 175,000 members. You will join an organisation that values:

Genuine Impact: The chance to harness the expertise of a Senior Leadership Team in setting the direction of a sport that reaches communities across the country.

A Rare Mandate: The opportunity to lead the Governance Review and wider programme of organisational transformation, and to strengthen long-term financial resilience.

Meaningful Purpose: A role rooted in safeguarding, inclusion and the wellbeing of everyone involved in aquatics.

About You

We are looking for an exceptional leader with a proven track record of setting clear priorities and delivering strategic impact at scale. You will bring extensive experience of corporate governance and organisational transformation, ideally gained within a complex organisation, alongside strong financial and commercial acumen, with experience of growing revenues, diversifying income streams and ensuring long-term sustainability.

You will have experience of building effective relationships with boards, funders, government, media and other senior stakeholders, and an understanding of the political and stakeholder landscape in which sport, membership, charity or not-for-profit organisations operate. Experience of working within a federated structure, balancing the needs of a wide range of stakeholders while maintaining focus on strategic priorities, is essential, alongside a proven ability to lead high-performing leadership teams and translate organisational ambition into measurable outcomes.

You will be a strategic, empathetic and inclusive leader who listens actively and brings people together around a shared vision, providing clarity, focus and stability while embodying Swim England's values. A resilient and confident leader, comfortable making balanced decisions, navigating complexity and operating effectively under scrutiny, you will be an outstanding communicator able to advocate for aquatics and build credibility with diverse audiences both inside and outside the organisation. You will be a collaborative leader who empowers others, develops high-performing teams and creates alignment around shared goals and priorities - innovative and digitally literate, with a passion for the positive impact aquatics can have on individuals and communities, and comfortable providing calm, authentic and visible leadership through periods of change and transformation.

About Us

Swim England is the national governing body for swimming, open water swimming, artistic swimming, diving and water polo in England. Through One Swim England, the organisation is focused on creating great experiences in water for all, for life. Its work spans participation, club development, access to water, health and wellbeing, safeguarding and welfare, tackling inequalities, growing open water participation and supporting talent pathways, alongside partnerships with members, communities, leisure operators, education, health and sport partners across England.

How to apply

To find out more information about this position and to apply, please use the following link: https://sepeople.jobs.people-first.com/jobs/search

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