Chair – Sporting Equals
Renumeration: Unremunerated. Travel expenses reimbursed.
Location: Birmingham, London and online.
Time commitment: Four Board meetings per year and participation in a number of sub-committee meetings. Additionally, the Chair is expected to have regular meetings with the Chief Executive and represent the Charity at various events and meetings with key stakeholders.
Reporting to: Board of Trustees.
Sporting Equals is seeking to appoint a new Chair of Trustees with an outstanding commitment to achieving race equality and ethnic diversity in sport and physical activity. We are looking for an individual with strong leadership skills who is passionate about achieving positive social change, keen to play an active role in driving that change and who will help us to expand the agenda and achieve our strategic goals. We highly value the diversity of thought which comes from having different voices around the table, drawn from a range of backgrounds, experiences and characteristics.
Sporting Equals is a fully independent national charity set up to eradicate racism in sport working in partnership with Sport England. Our mission is to promote equality, diversity and inclusion in sport and physical activity, from grassroots to board level. In doing so, we seek to create healthier, stronger, fairer and more integrated communities.
Our national projects have included engagement with a wide range of under-represented groups including ethnic and faith-based communities across diversity intersections. We aim to have a visibly more diverse sport and physical activity sector as we believe visibility and role-models are a big part of inspiring future generations.
Diversity is at the core of our organisation.
Our motivated and enthusiastic Board of Trustees and employees come from a diverse range of backgrounds, reflecting both our mission and our stakeholders in the diverse communities with whom we engage. We strive to create an inclusive workplace for all our staff by supporting and empowering our staff to reach their full potential.
We are committed to holding ourselves to the highest standards of governance and hold Tier 3 compliance with the Code for Sports Governance.
Role Description
Objective
The Chair will hold the Board and Executive Team to account for the Charity's mission and vision, providing inclusive leadership to the Board of Trustees, ensuring that each trustee fulfils their duties and responsibilities for the effective governance of the charity. The Chair will also support the Chief Executive and ensure that the Board functions as a unit and works closely with the entire Executive of the charity to achieve agreed objectives. They will act as an ambassador and the public face of the charity in partnership with the Chief Executive.
Principal Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
- Provide leadership to the charity and its Board, ensuring that the Charity has maximum impact for its beneficiaries.
- Ensure that Trustees fulfil their duties and responsibilities for the effective governance of the Charity.
- Ensure that the Board operates within its charitable objectives and provides a clear strategic direction for the Charity.
- Ensure that the Board is able to regularly review major risks and associated opportunities, and satisfy itself that systems are in place to take advantage of opportunities and manage and mitigate the risks.
- Ensure that the Board fulfils its duties to ensure sound financial health of the charity, with systems in place to ensure financial accountability.
Governance
- Ensure that the governance arrangements are working in the most effective way for the Charity.
- Ensure that Sporting Equals complies with its governing document, charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations.
- Develop the knowledge and capability of the Board of Trustees.
- Encourage positive change where appropriate and address and resolve any conflicts within the Board.
- Appraise the performance of the Trustees and the Board on an annual basis.
- Ensure that the Board of Trustees is regularly refreshed and incorporates the right balance of skills, knowledge and experience needed to govern and lead the charity effectively and which also reflects the wider population.
- Work within any agreed policies adopted by the charity.
- Safeguard the good name of Sporting Equals.
External Relations
- Act as an ambassador for the cause and the charity.
- Build and maintain close relationships with key members of the Government and with key influencers / stakeholders.
- Act as a spokesperson for the organisation when appropriate.
- Represent the charity at external functions, meetings and events.
- Facilitate change and address any potential conflict with external stakeholders.
Efficiency and Effectiveness
- Chair meetings of the Board of Trustees effectively and efficiently, bringing impartiality and objectivity to the decision-making process.
- Ensure that Trustees are fully engaged and that decisions are taken in the best, long-term interests of the Charity and that the Board takes collective ownership.
- Foster, maintain and ensure that constructive relationships exist with and between the Trustees.
- Work closely with the Chief Executive to give direction to Board policy-making and to ensure that meetings are well planned, meaningful and reflect the responsibilities of trustees.
- Monitor that decisions taken at meetings are implemented.
Relationship with the Chief Executive and the Wider Management Team
- Establish and build a strong, effective and a constructive working relationship with the Chief Executive, ensuring they are held to account for achieving agreed strategic objectives.
- Support the Chief Executive, whilst respecting the boundaries which exist between the two roles.
- Ensure regular contact with the Chief Executive and develop and maintain an open and supportive relationship within which each can speak openly about concerns, worries and challenges.
- Liaise with the Chief Executive to maintain an overview of the Charity's affairs, providing support as necessary.
- Conduct an annual appraisal and remuneration review for the Chief Executive in consultation with other Trustees.
- Ensure that the Chief Executive has the opportunity for professional development and has appropriate external professional support.
Person Specification
In addition to the qualities required of a Trustee of the charity, the Chair must also meet the following requirements:-
Personal Qualities
- Demonstrate a strong and visible passion and commitment to the charity, its strategic objectives and cause.
- A strong understanding of race equality.
- An affinity / interest in the power of sport and physical activity to affect social change.
- Personal gravitas to lead a significant national organisation.
- Exhibit strong inter-personal and relationship building abilities and be comfortable in an ambassadorial role.
- Demonstrate tact and diplomacy, with the ability to listen and engage effectively.
- Strong networking capabilities that can be utilised for the benefit of the charity.
- Ability to foster and promote a collaborative team environment.
- Ability to commit time to conduct the role well, including travel and attending events out of office hours.
- The leadership and influence skills to advocate and persuade for the causes of the charity.
Experience
- Senior strategic leadership level.
- Coaching / mentoring senior leaders.
- Successful track record of achievement through their career.
- Charity governance and working with or as part of a Board of Trustees.
- Commercial experience.
- Navigating organisational change.
- Proven track record in the sport / physical activity sector (desirable).
- Strong links with international organisations (desirable).
Terms
A minimum of 3 years (the maximum term is 9 years - 3 x 3-year terms).
Additional Information
The Senior Independent Director acts for the Chair when the Chair is not available and undertakes assignments at the request of the Chair.
The above list is indicative only and not exhaustive. The Chair will be expected to perform all such additional duties as are reasonably commensurate with the role. The following information is available on our website.
To apply please submit a CV and cover letter to our Operations and Governance Manager at mbagley@sportingequals.org.uk by the deadline of 5pm on Tuesday 31 August 2021.
