About VICSWIM

Since 1976, VICSWIM has been a cornerstone of water safety education across Victoria. Managed and delivered by Aquatics & Recreation Victoria, the program focuses on developing learn to swim and water safety skills in children aged 4+ and remains an essential tool in reducing the drowning rate across the state. VICSWIM programs are conducted by fully qualified and experienced teachers and cater to a range of skill levels and abilities. 

With the support of State Government Funding, VICSWIM provides low-cost lessons to ensure that families from all economic backgrounds can participate, with a specific focus on marginalised communities who are least likely to attend. For many living in rural and regional locations, VICSWIM often provides the only swimming lessons their community has access to each year, further contributing to the liveability, safety, and quality of those communities.

About the role

The VICSWIM Program Manager is ultimately responsible for the successful delivery of VICSWIM across Victoria. The position is multi-faceted and requires strong project management and decision-making skills, as well as a flexible and adaptable approach. The VICSWIM Program Manager is responsible for leading and managing ARV’s VICSWIM project team, as well as providing support to VICSWIM program delivery staff to ensure a positive, safe, and supportive learning environment for participants. The role oversees the recruitment, onboarding, and training of all program delivery staff, as well as the acquisition and engagement of VICSWIM venues. The VICSWIM Program Manager must maintain a helicopter view of the program and is responsible for providing status updates to ARV’s CEO/project team and the Victorian State Government. The VICSWIM Program Manager is also responsible for ensuring a high level of customer satisfaction and managing any issues or incidents as they arise. The VICSWIM Program Manager must closely monitor enrolment numbers to inform marketing activities, drive enrolments and maximise participation.

Key responsibilities & duties

Program administration & customer service

• Oversee all program enrolment and administration tasks and processes
• Ensure a high level of customer service is provided to families in the lead up to, during, and after the VICSWIM program

Venue acquisition & engagement

• Oversee and manage VICSWIM’s venue acquisition and engagement strategy
• Proactively communicate and engage with VICSWIM venues providing support as required
• Liaise with key stakeholders to solve operational issues such as teacher or venue unavailability

Recruitment, training & onboarding of VICSWIM program delivery staff

• Oversee and manage the recruitment, training, and onboarding of VICSWIM program delivery staff
• Proactively communicate and engage with VICSWIM program delivery staff providing training and support as required

Program management & reporting

• Lead and manage ARV’s VICSWIM project team by creating a fun, hard-working and cohesive environment
• Closely monitor enrolment numbers to identify opportunities to drive enrolments and maximise participation
• Prepare and provide regular updates to ARV CEO/project team and Victorian State Government
• Work closely with VICSWIM Program Director & ARV CEO to align on budget, risk management strategy and program governance

Marking & communications

• Create and implement VICSWIM’s marketing and communications strategy
• Oversee the maintenance and operation of VICSWIM’s website and social media channels

Course programming

• Create class schedule at each VICSWIM location based on venue availability and feedback from previous years

Uniforms & equipment

• Identify uniform and equipment requirements and order anything that is required
• Allocate and distribute uniforms and equipment to Venues and program delivery staff

Skills, experience & knowledge

The VICSWIM Program Manager must have demonstrated experience managing large-scale projects and programs in a similar or related industry. Cool in a crisis, previous experience leading project teams and managing internal/external stakeholders to deliver key project outcomes is essential. The VICSWIM Program Manager must possess a flexible and adaptable approach to ensure VICSWIM can be delivered within resourcing constraints and fixed deadlines. A sound knowledge of the aquatics industry, water safety and survival skills, risk management protocols, emergency procedures, and understand how to effectively deliver learn-to-swim programs in different environments is desirable but not mandatory.

Attributes

• Able to stay calm, problem solve and embrace change in a complex and unpredictable environment
• Able to demonstrate resilience and robustness when faced with challenges
• Able to work collaboratively and encourage others to talk, share, and debate ideas
• Able to influence and negotiate from an informed and credible position
• Able to work through issues, weigh up alternatives and identify the most effective solutions
• Able to define and clearly communicate roles and responsibilities to achieve team outcomes

Key selection criteria

The following are core competencies required to undertake the key responsibilities of the VICSWIM Program Manager role and form the primary basis for selection:

• Demonstrated experience in managing large-scale projects and programs
• Demonstrated experience in building and managing effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Proven adaptability - able to stay calm, problem solve and embrace change in a complex and unpredictable environment
• Strong leadership skills
• Strong interpersonal and negotiation skills
• Strong administration and organisational skills with a keen eye for detail
• Strong understanding of the VICSWIM program