A bit about the role
British Rowing’s Development Directorate is focused on strengthening the foundations of the sport and supporting more people to take part in ways that suit their lives. We work with clubs, community partners and national programmes to broaden access, modernise participation offers and create clearer, more connected pathways into and through rowing. Our approach is evidence-led, collaborative and centred on enabling local environments to thrive.
We aim to make rowing more relevant, more welcoming and more sustainable for the long term. This means testing new ideas, supporting clubs to develop, building strong local partnerships and ensuring that volunteers and staff have the tools and confidence to deliver high-quality experiences. The directorate works closely across British Rowing to link participation, workforce, events and talent development into a coherent, inclusive system.
As Head of Growth, you will lead the entrepreneurial engine of the directorate. Your focus will be to work with stakeholders to identify where rowing can grow, spot market opportunities, and shape offers that strengthen club sustainability and attract new audiences. You will use insight, business development thinking and an understanding of club economics to help create relevant, scalable participation pathways.
The roleThis role is well suited to someone who brings commercial instinct alongside a strong grasp of participation trends. You will:
- Lead business development work that identifies growth opportunities and converts them into viable participation products and services.
- Use data, insight and market intelligence to shape compelling offers that support club sustainability and participant retention.
- Support clubs to evolve their business models, strengthen income streams and open up access in ways that meet local needs.
- Guide the development, testing and refinement of innovative participation products, formats and events.
- Build strategic partnerships with clubs, education settings, community organisations and leisure providers.
- Line manage a team focused on growth and development, contributing to directorate-wide planning and growth strategy.
If you enjoy combining analysis, innovation and relationship-building to unlock new opportunities, this role offers the chance to shape the rowing’s long-term growth direction.
A bit about you
The successful candidate will be:
● Entrepreneurial, creative and motivated by the challenge of turning insight into action.
● Skilled at spotting opportunities and building partnerships that enable them to grow.
● Comfortable working at both strategic and practical levels, able to design new approaches and oversee their successful delivery.
● A strong communicator who can inspire confidence and build consensus across diverse
groups.
● Collaborative by nature, with the ability to work effectively across teams and with external partners.
● Committed to inclusion, with an instinct for making offers accessible and appealing to people from all backgrounds.
Essential
● Strong track record in business development with demonstrable impact.
● Proven experience of working in partnership with others to develop and deliver innovative programmes, products or events in sport, leisure, health or related sectors.
● Proven ability to analyse information, think critically and make sound judgements with
experience of using data and insight to shape strategy and delivery.
● Demonstrable ability to work with and through clubs, community organisations or comparable membership bodies.
● Familiarity with Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) and its application in
community and club settings.
● Skilled in negotiation and mediation, with the ability to resolve issues constructively and
build consensus.
● Strong data competence, with the ability to create and present clearly using modern tools (e.g. Power BI, Excel dashboards) to inform decision-making and track impact.
● Excellent organisational and project management skills, with a record of delivering to time and budget.
● Strong interpersonal and influencing skills, with the ability to engage stakeholders at all
levels.
Desirable
● Knowledge of rowing, indoor fitness or wider sport participation trends.
● Experience of mobilising volunteers and coaches to deliver scalable programmes.
● Familiarity with digital tools and platforms that support participation growth.
● Background in events, product development or commercial activation.
Mandatory Requirements
It is expected that the individual will have the following in place, and valid for at least the
period of the contract. It is your responsibility to arrange these in advance of the
commencement of the contract and before any delivery takes place. Evidence must be shared with the Director of Development at British Rowing.
● Education to degree level or equivalent experience.
● Driving license.
● Right to work in the UK.
● Willingness to undertake full British Rowing safeguarding checks.
About us
Our passion is rowing in all of its forms. British Rowing is the governing body for rowing, responsible for supporting grassroots rowing in England and preparing the GB Rowing Team ready for the Olympics, Paralympics, and other international competitions.Our vision is a sport that welcomes and has an offer for everyone. Our mission is to create a healthy, inclusive and life-enhancing sport. We are a membership organisation with over 30,000 individual members, supporting over 550 affiliated clubs and 230 affiliated events. We cover all types of rowing - whether it’s on the river or lake, on the sea, at home, or in the gym.
We are committed to equal opportunities and welcomes applications from all individuals, regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, and marriage and civil partnership. If you require reasonable accommodations to participate in the recruitment process, please let us know by indicating your needs to the HR team in the application form or by emailing [email protected].
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