Head of Programmes​/Programmes Director

Head of Programmes / Programmes Director, Level Water

What we're building

Level Water exists to solve a problem that shouldn’t exist: too many disabled children are still missing out on high-quality swimming lessons.

We’ve built a delivery model that works. Families trust us. Pools want to work with us. Funders back us. We’re well-funded (80% unrestricted) and responding to growing demand.

Now we’re entering the next stage: scaling what works without losing quality, care, or joy. This role sits right at the heart of that mission - leading not just how our programmes are delivered, but how we define, measure, and grow our impact.

We’re Level Water - a founder‑led charity solving unequal access to swimming for children with disabilities. We’re not a typical charity. We own our swim events and run them like a business, creating a sustainable income stream that directly funds our programmes. That model gives us the freedom to move fast, test ideas, and build something that doesn’t exist anywhere else.

Because we’re self‑sustaining, we can make clear, confident decisions about our programme and impact direction. If you want to help tackle unequal access to sport – and shape how a modern charity designs, delivers, and measures programmes at scale – this is your chance.

This isn’t a “keep programmes running” role.

This is a build, lead, and scale a national delivery model role.

As Head of Programmes, you’ll own how Level Water’s programmes are designed, delivered, improved, and expanded. You’ll take a proven model, design for growth and help turn it into something category-defining – working at pace, making smart decisions, and setting the standard for what inclusive swimming can look like across the UK.

You’ll work closely with the CEO and senior team, lead our brilliant programme function (a Training and Excellence Manager and Programmes Officer), and bring energy and momentum to a part of the organisation that sits right at the heart of our impact.

If you’re excited by growth, complexity, and building something that really matters, you’ll thrive here.

If you’re looking for a role where you can play it safe, this probably isn’t it.

• You’ll own how Level Water’s programmes are designed, delivered, and grown – now and into the future.
• Set the strategic direction for our lesson delivery model, ensuring it scales without losing quality, care, or joy.
• Lead and develop the Programmes team, setting clear priorities, standards, and ways of working.
• Ensure programmes are safe, inclusive, effective, and consistently high‑quality as delivery expands.
• Build the systems and processes that make great delivery easier at scale, not harder.

• You’ll define how we understand, measure, and improve our impact – and use learning to drive better delivery.
• Ensure we gather meaningful insight from families, swimmers, teachers, and partners.
• Turn data and feedback into clear learning that actively shapes programme decisions.
• Lead Level Water’s approach to impact reporting for funders, partners, Trustees, and the Board, alongside the Senior Leadership Team.
• Set clear success measures and use them to guide prioritisation, iteration, and growth.

• You’ll build the relationships and credibility that enable sustainable programme growth and wider change.
• Build and manage strategic partnerships with national pool operators and delivery partners.
• Secure and manage national agreements that unlock scale and improve access.
• Work closely with Fundraising to shape strong, realistic programme content for grants and funding proposals.
• Own the programme side of grant‑funded delivery, ensuring work is well planned, delivered to a high standard, and reported with clarity and confidence.
• Represent Level Water externally as a credible, influential voice in inclusive swimming, helping to shift culture and practice across the sector.

We care far more about how you work than where you’ve worked or what sector you come from. You don’t need a background in swimming. You don’t need charity…