Swim Ireland is the National Governing Body (NGB) for Swimming, Water Polo, Diving and Artistic Swimming across the 32 counties of Ireland, with a vision of ‘An island of swimmers’. We exist to ensure swimming is at the heart of a healthy, active nation. We promote participation and competition in the aquatics, listen to our members and the voice of our athletes, strive for excellence in all we do, and ensure our sport is well governed.

The Get Fingal Swimming Officer will be joining the team at an exciting time, as we start the journey of the new 5-year strategic plan they will be able to help shape, develop and improve swimming participation rates throughout the county and country.

This role is in partnership with Fingal County Council .

Role and Reporting Structure:

Reporting to the Head of Participation and the Get Ireland Swimming Team Leader, the Get Fingal Swimming Officer will assist Swim Ireland and Fingal County Council in achieving their core objectives of promoting swimming. The successful applicant will work closely with the Fingal Sports department, other Fingal County Council staff & facility operators and commercial entities to both enhance and create opportunities to encourage more people to swim on a regular basis.

Key Areas of Responsibility:

Schools Swimming

• Support the implementation of a school specific ‘Learn to Swim’ programme that has, as an outcome, a targeted number of participants being able to reach swimming milestones.
• Identify an agreed number of schools in which to promote and deliver certain suitable Swim Ireland programmes.

Local Communities

• Develop and support the delivery of community-based aquatic programmes that will link young people and adults to their local pool.
• Introduce pathways for swimming, diving, water polo and open water swimming into communities.

Open Water Programmes

• Develop and support the delivery of open water programmes and events to increase participation.
• Recruit and Co-ordinate a part-time programme workforce within the council’s administrative area.
• Engage with Open Water Swimming Groups and develop-up a ‘best practice’ ethos amongst cohort

Inclusion

• Develop swimming programmes aimed at people from diverse backgrounds and communities.

Infrastructure

• Research pool provision
• Improve access to open water swimming locations
• Seek to extend the use of outdoor places to swim
• Provide support to the new Fingal Sports Infrastructure Plan

Stakeholders

• Establish and maintain links with sports officers, facility operators, community groups, schools, clubs, and others as required.

Education

• Identify education and training requirements for relevant people working within facilities and communities that will help to meet Swim Ireland’s and Fingal County Council’s objectives around delivery of programmes.

Campaigns

• Engage on and deliver flagship events e.g., European Week of Sport, Her Outdoors, Women in Sport Week, Water Safety Week.

Quality and Reporting

• Set and monitor standards for the delivery of swimming programmes in the council’s administrative area.
• Collate all evaluation data as required by Swim Ireland and Fingal County Council .
• Monitor the budget for programme delivery, ensuring that spend is within allocated budget.
• Produce regular reports as detailed in the relevant section above. Contribute ‘community happenings’ to Fingal County Council’s Sport Section’s Social Media. Contribute monthly updates to Section’s Padlet and monthly ‘Chief Executive Reports’
• Applicants should note that this list is not exhaustive and is subject to change as required as appropriate.

Person Specification:

Essential

• A knowledge of local and regional sports structures
• Excellent organisational and leadership skills
• Highly motivated and a proven track record in sports development and programme delivery
• Good verbal and written communication skills
• Relevant third level qualification to degree level in Sports Development, Sports & Recreation, Health Promotion, or other relevant disciplines
• At least 2 years of relevant on the job experience
• Ability to work on own initiative
• Ability to deal with queries efficiently and effectively
• Full clean driving licence and access to a car

Desirable

• A knowledge of the role of the local statutory and voluntary sectors in relation to sports development
• Level 1 Swim Coach or Level 2 Teacher qualification would be beneficial.

Remuneration and Location:

The salary will be €33,500 per annum plus entitlement to join the Swim Ireland Company Pension Scheme subject to meeting and acceptance of the terms & conditions of the scheme.

Position Tenure: 2 year fixed-term full-time contract

Start: Immediate Start

Position Location: Swim Ireland, Blanchardstown / Fingal Sports Partnership, Fingal County Council, Blanchardstown. Some level of hybrid working will be permitted but is dependent on the requirements of the business.

Appointment will be made subject to satisfactory:

Garda Vetting; and suitable reference checks.

Applications, to include CV and Cover Letter, should be made for the attention of the HR Manager – chloekinahan@swimireland.ie

Closing date for applications is Sunday 2^nd April.

We would particularly welcome applications from black & minority ethnic candidates, who are currently under-represented in the Swim Ireland team as a whole. We always appoint on merit