Head of Aquatic Skills & Water Safety


Location: Hybrid - Midlands based (minimum 2 days per week on site) with regular national travel
Sector: Sport, Physical Activity, Education & Health

The Opportunity
We're partnering with a nationally influential organisation to recruit a senior leader to head up a critical aquatic skills and water safety portfolio. This role operates at a strategic level, shaping how people of all ages and backgrounds develop confidence, competence and safety in aquatic environments.
This is a rare opportunity to influence long-term national thinking - moving beyond traditional “learn to swim†models towards a more holistic, system-wide approach to aquatic competency, physical literacy and water safety.

Key Responsibilities
- Set the strategic direction for aquatic skills, including learn-to-swim pathways, school swimming and water safety
- Lead a shift towards a broader aquatic competency model, embedding confidence, safety and lifelong participation
- Provide thought leadership rather than hands-on delivery, working through experienced managers and national development leads
- Influence national policy, funding and education frameworks through cross-sector collaboration
- Oversee a significant business area and budget, identifying future-focused and sustainable funding models
- Act as a senior organisational leader, contributing to board-level reporting and external stakeholder engagement

About You
- Strong understanding of physical literacy, aquatic competency and/or water safety principles
- Proven ability to translate strategic vision into measurable impact through teams
- Comfortable leading complex, multi-strand portfolios with multiple stakeholders
- Collaborative leadership style, able to work laterally across functions and partners

Why Apply
- National-level influence with long-term impact on how aquatic skills are developed
- Opportunity to shape strategy that could define the sector for decades
- Balance of social impact, education, safety and strategic innovation

For a confidential conversation about this role, please contact Macildowie.

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