Head of Rowing

We are looking for an experienced and enthusiastic Head of Rowing to join our Barn Elms Boathouse team at Enable! 

About Us: 

Enable is a charity dedicated to improving people's wellbeing and strengthening local communities. We work with councils, charities and other local organisations to deliver health, leisure, community services and events that enrich people’s lives and strengthen our local community.  

At Enable, we value our employees and our culture, focusing on embracing diversity and fostering an inclusive, flexible and fun environment for employees to perform at their best. On top of a competitive salary and flexible working environment, employees will also receive:  

Benefits: 

• 30 days of annual leave (plus 8 bank holidays)
• Life Insurance
• Reward Schemes (RewardHub Membership, wellbeing budgets and cycle to work)
• A variety of social and wellbeing activities each month
• Mental Health & Wellbeing Perks (Monthly talks, Wellbeing Hour, etc)
• Gym Membership

Reports to: Head of Leisure

Based: Barn Elms Boathouse

Salary: £35000 per annum

Contract: Permanent, Full Time

Work Arrangement: 40 hours per week, Site-Based  

DBS: Enhanced

Role Overview: 

The Head of Rowing has full strategic and operational responsibility for the delivery, development, and commercial performance of the boathouse within Enable Leisure and Culture. The role is accountable for squad development, financial management, health and safety compliance, staff leadership, and community engagement across all rowing activities. 

This is a senior operational leadership role responsible for translating the wider leisure strategy into a sustainable, high-performing rowing programme. The post holder will drive participation growth, oversee financial controls including forecasting and invoicing, and ensure high standards of coaching, safety, and governance. 

The Leisure Team are passionate about benefitting the local community through sports and leisure activities. We are experts in our service and pride ourselves on our customer experience and inclusivity through affordable or complementary programmes reaching those that need it the most. The leisure team want to enrich all lives within Wandsworth leading on the needs of the community, delivering programmes that reach out to local places and people, removing barriers and increasing access to activity.  

Main Duties/Responsibilities:  

Strategic Leadership & Squad Development 

• Develop and implement a strategic plan for squad development across junior, senior, and adult program. 
• Establish clear performance pathways to support progression from grassroots participation to competitive racing. 
• Monitor squad performance outcomes, retention, and growth against agreed targets. 
• Maintain oversight of squad membership structures and database management. 

Financial Management & Controls 

• Produce and manage annual financial forecasts for the rowing programme, including income and expenditure planning. 
• Oversee all rowing-related banking processes, ensuring robust financial controls and reconciliation procedures. 
• Approve and oversee all invoicing activity, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with organisational procedures. 
• Manage invoicing for squad race fees and associated competition costs. 

Operational Management 

• Provide overall leadership for the safe and effective day-to-day running of rowing operations. 
• Oversee repairs tracking and ensure timely reporting and resolution of equipment and facility maintenance issues. 
• Issue and manage official club communications, including Club Notice Letters and member updates. 

Health, Safety & Compliance 

• Hold full responsibility for health and safety documentation, risk assessments, and operational safety procedures. 
• Ensure all statutory and organisational health and safety checks are completed, recorded, and reviewed. 
• Oversee incident reporting, investigation, and remedial action where required. 

People Management & Workforce Planning 

• Lead recruitment processes for coaching and support staff within the rowing programme. 
• Deliver structured staff induction processes. 
• Set clear objectives and performance expectations for coaches and volunteers. 
• Foster a positive, inclusive, and high-performing team culture aligned with organisational values. 

Community Outreach & Development 

• Develop and deliver community outreach initiatives to increase participation and broaden access to rowing. 
• Build relationships with schools, community groups, and partner organisations. 
• Promote inclusion and reduce barriers to participation across diverse communities. 

Communication & Stakeholder Engagement 

• Lead adult squad communications, ensuring clear and professional engagement with members. 
• Act as the primary escalation point for rowing-related enquiries and member concerns. 

Governance, Systems & Reporting 

• Provide regular performance, financial, and operational updates to the Head of Leisure. 
• Ensure compliance with financial controls, safeguarding standards, and data protection legislation. 
• Maintain accurate reporting systems to support audit and governance requirements. 

General Duties and Responsibilities 

• Comply with all Enable Leisure and Culture policies and procedures. 
• Champion equality, diversity, and inclusion across all rowing activities. 
• Work flexibly to meet operational needs, including evenings and weekends. 

Skills and Experience:  

• Senior leadership experience within rowing, sport development, or a comparable leisure environment.
• Proven experience in financial forecasting, budgeting, and income management.
• Strong knowledge of rowing safety standards and health and safety compliance.
• Experience managing squad development pathways and competitive programmes.
• Excellent organisational, communication, and stakeholder management skills.

This is an exciting opportunity to be a part of a company that positively impacts the community around them! If you are someone that is motivated by a desire to enrich the lives of others and make a genuine difference, then please Apply Now and follow the prompts.

If this role not quite right, however you are still interested in working at Enable then we encourage you to get in touch today on [email protected] 

Enable is strongly committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace and is an equal opportunities employer. We value diversity and encourage applications from candidates from all backgrounds. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. To find out more on our approach to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, please visit our website.