Aquatics Manager Cheshire £38,000 basic 18 months maternity cover
Job Profile – Demonstrating Our Values Within Your Role
The foundation of our business: what we value and what drives our culture.
Job Role: Aquatics Manager
Reporting to: Head of Business Development
We are seeking an inspiring and experienced leader to oversee one of the region's largest and most successful swim programmes, supporting over 10,000 swimmers each week.
This is an exciting opportunity for someone who is passionate about aquatics, people development, and delivering exceptional customer experiences. You'll play a key role in shaping the future of our swimming programme, leading a team of managers, driving performance, and ensuring our swimmers receive the highest quality experience from their very first lesson through to advanced stages.
Job Purpose
The Aquatics Manager will be responsible for the strategic development, management and performance of all areas of the client’s swimming product, with a key focus on the Learn to Swim and Education Swimming schemes.
The Aquatics Manager will also provide support to Senior Swim Leads to ensure the effective management and deployment of all staff and resources within the swimming provision across their respective centres.
Fit the Future
- Support and drive the delivery of key business objectives by leading the aquatics strategy and direction across the client’s estate of nine wet sites. This includes product design, programming and responding to current and emerging trends.
- Manage aquatic-related secondary spend opportunities across the estate, liaising with relevant Operations Managers to increase income streams and manage stock levels.
- Identify and recommend suitable products in line with customer trends and demand, such as Learn to Swim certificates and starter packs.
- Act as the key contact for the client’s aquatic-related suppliers and stakeholder partnerships.
- Liaise with the Head of Business Development to provide management support for the performance of such partnerships and associated contracts, including CoursePro and Swim England.
- Identify, review, develop and embed suitable systems to support the management of key aquatic products, including the maintenance, upkeep and appropriate handling of CoursePro data.
Working as One
- Respond promptly and proactively to areas for improvement in the delivery of the swimming product.
- Support the wider management team with the effective planning and management of swimming budgets, particularly in relation to staffing costs.
- Ensure all staff within your remit comply with the client’s policies, procedures and practices, particularly in relation to:
- Financial regulations
- Equal opportunities
- Safeguarding
- Data protection
- Disciplinary and grievance procedures
- Health and safety requirements
Trusted & Honest
Budget Management
Take responsibility for the budget within your area, including setting and ongoing management of:
- Staffing expenditure
- Learn to Swim membership profiles
- Swimming participation
- Aquatic/product income
- Provide effective management, training and development of swimming delivery staff, working closely with the Aquatics Education and Community Lead to ensure required standards are maintained, particularly in relation to safety and customer service.
In the Service of Others
- Oversee the ownership and embedding of swimming club partnership agreements and associated booking processes, providing clear direction and support to the facility management team.
- Support facility management teams by establishing and promoting a corporate framework of pool timetable principles.
- Provide direct support to optimise pool programming and ensure effective timetable delivery across the client’s estate.
- Take responsibility for workforce planning and multi-site resource management requirements, providing clear guidance and support for all aquatic-related staff across the business.
- Deliver strong people management and development for direct and extended reports, including:
- Senior Swim Leads and Swim Leads
- Aquatics Education and Community Lead
- Swimming Assistant and Swimming Teacher recruitment campaigns
- Course planning and CPDs
- Swimming Teacher observations and lesson audits
- Maintain a strong focus on the performance and profitability of the swimming product and communicate findings in a way that encourages collective responsibility among site delivery teams.
- Ensure swimming product delivery standards remain consistently high through regular inspection, effective induction and training, and coordinated planning of tasks.
Free to Do Our Best
- Liaise with all internal departments to support and drive customer experience expectations across multiple channels. This includes product information, website content, information packs, terms and conditions, and marketing materials.
- Provide ideas and recommendations for new and creative promotions and campaigns.
- Take responsibility for the performance management of all aquatic products and activities, including associated KPIs, quality assurance processes, systems, schemes of work, programme development and growth.
- Provide regular reports and review periods for key staff to analyse performance, identify opportunities, and manage development.
- Identify mutually beneficial partnership opportunities and maximise their benefits in a manner that strengthens the client’s strategic position within the community and wider leisure environment.
Caring for All
- Manage staffing resources effectively to minimise cancellations and ensure the consistent delivery of the Learn to Swim programme.
- Design and drive aquatic member pathways, including the induction process.
- Provide support and corporate management direction for the following aquatic-related products and activities:
- Learn to Swim Scheme
- School Swimming Programme
- Crash Courses and Holiday Programmes
Experience, Training & Skills
The successful candidate will ideally have:
- A recognised swimming teaching qualification, such as Swim England Level 2 Swimming Teacher, or substantial experience within aquatic programme management.
- Swim England Aquatic Coordinator qualification is desirable but not essential.
- Experience leading teams within aquatics, leisure, sport, education or a customer-focused environment.
- A proven track record of managing and developing people, including supporting other managers to achieve their goals.
- Experience overseeing programmes, services or operational delivery.
- Strong organisational skills, with the ability to balance multiple priorities and drive results.
- A passion for creating positive experiences for customers, participants and colleagues.
- Confidence in using data and insights to improve performance, participation and retention.
- Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
- A proactive approach to problem-solving and continuous improvement.
- Previous experience within the aquatics or leisure sector.
- Experience and knowledge of swimming school programmes.
- A sound understanding of health and safety, safeguarding and compliance requirements.
DBS Requirement
Please note that candidates for roles within the client’s leisure centres or health and sports provision will be required to undergo either a standard or enhanced DBS check, as appropriate to the role.
Benefits
· Basic Salary of up to £38,000
· Discounted gym membership
· Discount on the Learn to Swim, Personal Training & Active Holidays
· 24/7 wellbeing & legal support scheme
· Discounted food & drink at any of our taste for life café’s.
· Generous local & national discounts via our Perkbox platform – helping your salary go that bit further
· Extensive training & career support from the Academy – our very own ‘Excellent’ accredited training provider helping you stay “Fit for the Future”
· Enhanced pension scheme (5% or 7.5% matched contribution)
· Sharing in Success bonus scheme
· Staff social events
Pay: £35,000.00-£38,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company pension
- Discounted or free food
- Free fitness classes
- Free parking
- Gym membership
- On-site parking
Work Location: In person
