Swim School Manager

The City of Coventry Swimming Club (COCSC) based in Warwickshire is looking for a Swim School Manager to join our thriving team, working 37.5 hours per week. This role will be based at the main office in Alan Higgs Leisure Centre, Coventry. Lessons will need to be attended where required, on weekends and evenings at sites within Coventry.

We are looking for an enthusiastic person who is passionate about swimming but also looking for the next step in their career, to grow within the industry and has an entrepreneurial streak.

Coventry Swim School is a key Learn to Swim (L2S) provider that creates an environment where teaching is fun. Coventry Swim School offers high-quality swimming lessons to adults and children from across Coventry. Many of our swim teachers have competed at a high level and are passionate about giving back to the sport by helping the next generation learn to swim. All Teaching Staff are Swim England Level 1-qualified Swimming Assistants and Level 2-qualified Swimming Teachers, have RLSS lifeguarding qualifications and have all been DBS checked and verified.

COCSC is a charity that operates in providing swimming provision to all. From Learn to Swim to Competitive Swimming for all ages. This role would be employed by COCSC but working with Coventry Swim School.

The Swim School Manager (SSM) will report to the Head of Operations (HoO). This person will be required to manage all areas of the Swim School. This role will have an assistant working within their team, in addition to a number of self-employed Swimming Teachers, Assistant Swimming Teachers and Young Volunteers.

Working closely with the Head of Operations and linking and working with the Head of Aquatics (HoA) and Assistant Head of Aquatics (AHoA), the successful candidate will ensure the club’s high standard of quality is met throughout Learn to Swim and the pathway into COCSC programme. This person will need to ensure quality is at the forefront, whilst achieving key performance indicators and financial targets.

We are looking for someone who can efficiently organise a team and use their initiative to identify problems and work through them. The Learn to Swim Manager will directly be managing a team of a Swim School Assistant, all Swimming Teachers and Swimming Teacher Assistants as well as Young Volunteers. The line management of the Swimming Teachers and Swimming Teacher Assistants as well as Young Volunteers could potentially be shared with the Learn to Swim Assistant. This includes recruitment, observation, quality assurance, development, compliance, health and safety of delivery, rotas and cover. The Swim School Manager is responsible for managing the Swim School and its operations, providing strategic leadership and operational planning as well as ensuring delivery is compliant and of a high standard.

The Swim School Manager will organise and develop the COCSC and Coventry Swim School initiatives and improvements for the effective delivery of programmes and services. The Swim School Manager will work with the Head of Operations on developing the Swim School strategy and development plans, and then the implementation of these plans. This role will ensure compliance with all health and safety regulations. This role will manage all areas of Coventry Swim School and link with COCSC Club to deliver a comprehensive commercial aquatics programme, inclusive of a broad and inclusive Learn to Swim programme, designed to meet the needs of the local communities and develop year-on-year a strong cohort of swimmers ready to move into the club and build on their journey.

This role will work collaboratively with other functional leads across the business to ensure an innovative programme of activities that delivers on social outcomes while driving commercial sustainability and in the future, growth. This role will be accountable for the growth and retention of Learn to Swim programmes across Coventry Swim School. The role will be working on full management of the Learn to Swim Programme, from programming to quality assurance. This role will have a diverse and exciting range of duties to complete and manage and will be at times asked to take on additional tasks required by colleagues and managers.

The Swim School Manager will need to maintain the relationship with Swim England and work to their framework, helping develop and manage relationships with the partners and community groups. The Swim School Manager will manage all areas of the programme with assistance from team members.

This role requires the ability to plan and deliver strategies for swimmer retention and programme growth. The successful candidate must possess a range of skills, including creating and implementing training plans for all staff, managing teacher timetables, and conducting appraisals.

This role is all-encompassing to include marketing, programming, lesson plans, and programme criteria in addition to the Swim England Learn to Swim Programme, staff management, strategies and development plans and quality assurance.

The successful candidate should be proficient with computers and possess strong communication skills. An eye for detail is vital, along with a commitment to completing tasks to the highest standards. This position requires an organised individual who can effectively communicate with others.

This role will have occasional evenings and weekend work and hours will be managed within the 37.5 hours a week. Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage and develop all aspects of the swim school, including scheduling, staffing, and curriculum development.
• Supervise and train swim instructors to ensure high-quality instruction and adherence to safety protocols.
• Develop and implement development plans and strategies for the Swim School and marketing strategies to attract new swimmers and retain existing ones.
• Maintain accurate records of swimmer progress and communicate with parents/guardians on a regular basis.
• Collaborate with other departments to coordinate pathway links and programs.
• Be part of an 'on call' rota alongside the Swim School Manager and Swim School Assistant during evenings and weekends. This responsibility includes addressing issues at the venues, as well as concerns involving teachers or swimmers.

Responsibilities and duties include:

• Be responsible for the planning, organisation, management and promotion of the Learn to Swim programme.
• Line manage the Swim School Assistant, Self Employed Teachers /Assistant Teachers and Young Volunteers.
• Ensure resources are used to maximum efficiency and all classes are adequately and correctly staffed.
• Ensure that all Learn to Swim lessons are operating at maximum efficiency to achieve target income and minimum usage levels.
• Ensure that appropriate information relating to the Learn to Swim programme is disseminated to the Swim School Assistant and customers.
• Ensure that Course Pro and the Learn to Swim programme always operate efficiently, and maintain the IT systems, programmes, and teams related to the Learn to Swim programme. To supply reports on the scheme from our systems, such as Coursepro, Go Cardless and Microsoft Teams, as necessary.
• Create and manage a Key Performance Indicator spreadsheet system for the team and ensure all areas are implemented and achieved as set by COCSC trustees and Head of Operations.
• Run all internal training and meetings for Learn to Swim and Learn to Swim staff and volunteers.
• Manage complaints and feedback and revise processes and procedures where required from feedback.
• Create and implement all L2S processes and procedures.
• Work with the Head of Operations in creating and monitoring specified budgets and produce financial operating figures.
• Keep abreast, attend and offer Continued Professional Development to the L2S team. Ensure all staff are trained and qualified relevant to their posts and ensure any qualifications are renewed and do not lapse. To also effectively recruit and develop Swimming Teachers, Assistant Swimming Teachers to deliver a consistent and exceptional service.
• Act as emergency cover for any lessons which cannot otherwise be covered.
• Undertake all aspects of staff management dealing with issues relating to recruitment and selection, training and development, sickness absence and disciplinary issues, ensuring that company policies are adhered to.
• Ensure that all equipment is appropriate and of a good standard and order replacements as necessary.
• Be responsible for the safety and welfare of all employees and Members in accordance with the Health and Safety At Work Act and related legislation and in accordance with company policies and codes of practice.
• Be responsible for all swimmer’s safety and welfare within the pool.
• Support with administration tasks as deemed reasonable by the Head of Operations.
• Support the Head of Operations with income generation tasks, specific to Learn to Swim.
• Ensure all safeguarding procedures and policies are in place in relation to the Swim School

Interview Dates: week commencing 29th July 2024 – dates may vary

A full Job Description and Person Specification is attached. Please download this for further details.  

How to apply

Please download the attached application form. Send your completed application form along with a covering letter and your CV to Leigh Whitbread via the apply button.  

Contact phone

07726 678075

• Job Description and Person Specification - Swim School Manager
• Application Form