Interim Head of Region - Wales, West and Isle of Man - Internal only
Interim Head of Region - Wales, West and Isle of Man - Internal only
Internal vacancy
The RNLI actively promotes continuous development within the organisation and is only seeking applications from current RNLI employees and volunteers at this time. If this position is not filled internally it may be re-advertised openly. #LI-DNI
About us
The RNLI is a charity that provides a 24-hour lifeboat search and rescue service, seasonal lifeguards, and water safety education and initiatives. Our lifeboat crews and lifeguards need a dedicated, professional and talented team behind them, and that is where you come in. This is your chance to join that team and help save lives every day.
We’re looking for an inspiring and experienced Head of Region to join us in leading our Wales, West and Isle of Man region for up to 6 months.
Please note, for this interim role we are looking for a 1st January 2026 start date. We will shortly be recruiting the role on a permanent basis, and there will be a further opportunity to apply for that role.
The role
The geography for this role encompasses the coastline from Silloth down to Penarth including the inland region, as well as the Isle of Man. The Head of Region will give greater visibility, voice, and input into decision making at a regional level.
Responsible for the delivery of our lifesaving service, you will lead the lifesaving effect in the region including the lifeguard service, lifeboats and water safety enabled by fundraising, asset and equipment management and over time, other support services. Responsible for a multi-disciplinary senior management team, and a high number of overall staff and volunteers, you’ll be focused on ensuring effective business performance across all services. This includes reviewing potential opportunities and threats, and monitoring and analysing data and trends to track progress, measure performance and understand regional impacts.
You will cultivate collaborative working with the Regional Leadership Team, building relationships, providing support and constructive challenge within the region and the wider Lifesaving Operations Senior Leadership team, as well as across the organisation. Working with key internal and external stakeholders, you will ensure that we operate in the most effective way to save more lives at sea. There will be an expectation to travel cross region and departmentally too.
About you
Already an outstanding leader with significant experience of leading change and transformation, you will be able to build strong relationships, influencing and collaborating across boundaries. You will be accustomed to following a clear operational strategy, whilst at the same time, able to be strongly autonomous in your leadership and delivery.
This is a highly visible and critical role responsible for all operations within the region therefore, you will convey the necessary credibility to influence at Board level, creating compelling proposals for budgets and resource whilst having the humility and empathy to work alongside our passionate volunteers and staff at all levels.
Experience
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Senior leadership and influencing skills gained from leading multi-functional teams within a similarly complex organisation.
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Proven experience in formulating annual business plans, monitoring, and reporting.
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Significant financial responsibility in relation to assets and services.
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Experience of working within organisation risk and compliance frameworks.
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Ability to lead, manage, develop, and motivate teams, whilst working collaboratively with support functions and other regions.
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Expert communication skills to deliver sensitive information, internally and externally.
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Experience of change leadership and delivering programmes and projects.
As one of six regions, the Wales, West and Isle of Man region has 46 lifeboat stations, 6 lifeguard support centres as well as a regional base in St Asaph, Denbighshire. Therefore, frequent and extensive travel across Wales, West and the Isle of Man is expected to be a key component of this role.
The RNLI supports flexibility in your working preferences.
If this is the role for you, please apply via the button shown.
Safeguarding
The RNLI is committed to safeguarding; protecting a person’s health, wellbeing, and human rights, enabling them to live free from harm, abuse, and neglect. We expect all employees and volunteers to share this commitment and have a zero-tolerance approach. The suitability of all prospective employees and volunteers will be assessed during the recruitment process in line with this commitment. This will include relevant criminal record checks being carried out dependent on the eligibility of the role. (England & Wales; DBS check, Scotland; Disclosure Scotland PVG, Northern Ireland; Access NI, Republic of Ireland; Garda Vetting; International, International Child Protection Certificate process).
Diversity at the RNLI
Our staff and volunteers have been saving lives at sea without prejudice for 200 years. We respect and value diversity of background, skills and perspectives within our teams, and consider it essential to help us deliver a world-class lifesaving service. We are an inclusive organisation and welcome applications from everyone. In addition to having the skills needed for the role, we also look for applicants who share our commitment to living our RNLI values (trustworthy, courageous, selfless, and dependable), and helping us work towards Our Vision: To save Every One.
