Sports Operations Committee Member

We are currently recruiting for a Swim England member to join the Swim England Sport Operations Committee (SOC) on a voluntary basis.

It’s an exciting time to join the committee. With Swim England’s new 10-year Access Aquatics strategy, and our Heart of Aquatics Safeguarding, Welfare and Culture plan published in 2023,our focus is on ensuring our aquatics environments promote an accessible, inclusive and safe culture, with participant welfare at their heart.

As part of the Swim England governance structure, the Sports Operations Committee reports directly into the Swim England Board.  It has wide brief including overseeing the effective delivery of the aquatic pathway, across all disciplines from learn to swim through to the elite programmes, ensuring a seamless transition for all participants.

The Sports Operations Committee is instrumental in influencing the direction of all of our aquatic sports, to achieve our ambitious strategic aims. The Committee will utilise its collective experience and relationships with our discipline leadership groups, regions and clubs to ensure we successfully tackle inequalities and ensure the culture of our sports is safe and welcoming for everyone.

The Committee is comprised of;

• Two members of the Swim England Board, including one who Chairs the Sports, Operations Committee;
• Three members of the Senior Leadership Team;
• A nominated Regional Chair;
• A representative of the Youth Advisory Panel;
• And, four Swim England Members.

What is the commitment?

The Sports Operations Committee meets eight times per year with meetings a mix of virtual (through zoom) and in person (Loughborough), with papers circulated at least a week prior to the meeting. Although the committee currently meets during the normal working day we are committed to arranging meetings at times suitable to its members.

It is expected that committee members attend every meeting where possible, and have had the time to read through papers to support constructive discussion during meetings.

In order to support strong collaboration throughout the sports, we’d like the candidate to also sit on one of the Discipline Leadership Groups. The groups meet 6 - 8 times per year.

We estimate the total commitment to be approximately 6 hours per month.

Appointments to the committee are for an initial four year term, with the potential for a second four year term.

What can you expect?

Passion and enthusiasm in abundance, diversity of thought and genuine desire to evolve aquatic sports into the future.

To find out more about this voluntary role, download the Terms of Reference for SOC and the person specification from the ‘Job Description’ button.

As this is an unpaid voluntary role, it is unremunerated, yet agreed reasonable expenses will be reimbursed in accordance with Swim England’s expenses policy.

• To be a current Club Train, Club Compete or Club Support member of Swim England
• To possess knowledge/experience of elements of aquatics sports, such as learn to swim, club/sport development, or elite performance.
• To be currently active within a club, county or region.
• To bring an open mind, willingness to listen and consider the views and needs of others, whilst constructively challenging the status quo.
• To be able to commit to attending meetings and being an active member of the committee as well as being an active representative on a discipline leadership group.

With inclusion and participant welfare at the heart of this committee, we would welcome applications from candidates that are able to bring their lived experience from underrepresented communities in aquatics, in particular, people from the Black and Asian communities and disabled people.

Previous experience / knowledge of operating in a voluntary capacity at a strategic level would also be advantageous.

How to Apply

For an informal conversation about the role, please contact peopledevelopment@swimming.org

Further Information

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.