uk sport

Time Commitment
Typically 1-3 days per month. There are usually 6 board meetings per year, together with up to one day per month on a board panel, plus occasional ad-hoc meetings.

Location of Meetings
UK Sport’s offices are currently in central London. The posts may entail some travel within Britain.

Remuneration
Remuneration is payable at the rate of £209 per day, for up to 24 days per annum, together with travelling and subsistence expenses.

Term of Appointment
These appointments are for three years. One appointment fills an existing vacancy, and one will replace a board member who retires later in the year. We anticipate that the successful candidates will be able to take up their appointments in October and November.

Closing Date
The closing date for applications is Friday 1 August 2008.
It is intended that interviews will be held in central London on 10/11 September.

Background
UK Sport was established by Royal Charter in 1996, and is accountable to Parliament through the Department for Culture, Media and Sport for working in partnership to lead the UK to World Class success. It became a Lottery distributor in 1999. It is based in central London, and receives approximately £120m exchequer and lottery funds per year.

UK Sport co-ordinates overall policy on the support of elite sport and major events at the UK level, and operates as the National Anti-Doping Agency for the UK. It also manages international relationships and co-ordinates a UK-wide approach to any international issues. UK Sport’s commitment to elite sport will be strengthened from 1 April 2006 as it takes on responsibility for the English Institute of Sport and the Talented Athlete Scholarship Schemes (including 2012 Scholarships).

At Government level, policy direction is provided through DCMS and via the corresponding departments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. These departments oversee the work of their respective Home Country Sports Councils - the bodies responsible for sport in their countries at all levels of the sporting continuum.

UK Sport exists to:

Work in partnership to lead sport in the UK to World Class success
Build on the world-class athlete support established over the last four years focussing on creating a sustainable World Class system. UK Sport will work in partnership with the Home Country Sports Councils, the Home Country Institutes, the British Olympic Association (BOA), the British Paralympic Association (BPA) and the priority UK Governing Bodies of sport to maximise expertise and resources. The challenge in the Beijing Olympiad is to develop more people with World Class skills and competencies to support our athletes - World Class performance can only be delivered by World Class personnel.
Promote the highest standards of sporting conduct. UK Sport is committed to achieving equality in sport and is taking a proactive approach in this area. It has developed an equality strategy and race diversity scheme and represents the UK on equality issues and good practice to the international sport and equality movement.
Lead a World Class anti-doping programme for the UK and be responsible for improving the education and promotion of ethically fair and drug-free sport, until responsibility passes to the National Anti-Doping Organisation.
Bring best practice back to the UK through beneficial relationships with critically important sporting nations. UK Sport will also provide clear strategic support for sports to bid for and stage major events to enhance and support the development of World Class performance. The successful 2012 Olympic bid places UK Sport’s international work in the spotlight and the UK’s influence as an authoritative and leading player needs to be strengthened.

The Role
The main Board has overall responsibility for the performance of UK Sport, to which the successful candidates must be fully committed, through the objectives outlined below:

Deliver World Class sport at the UK level, in accordance with the policies of the Secretary of State, which will include delivery of the objectives and targets shown in UK Sport’s Funding Agreement with DCMS.
Act as a positive and powerful advocate for the work of UK Sport, ensuring effective pro-active communications across the UK and internationally with key partners and stakeholders.
Develop and sustain effective relationships with the Sports Cabinet and leading officials in DCMS and its equivalents in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Continue the process of UK Sport’s strategy development and modernisation, through practising good governance, monitoring budgets and performance, and supporting the executive staff.

The People
The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport wishes to appoint two full Board Members. Both must be able to demonstrate:

an excellent record of strategic decision-making, at a senior level, in a business or financial environment
a commitment to improving diversity and equality
enthusiasm and a strong interest or previous involvement in sport, and a good understanding of sport strategies across the UK

Additionally, one Board Member will be expected to serve on UK Sport’s Finance & Audit Sub-Committee, and the other will be expected to serve on the Major Events Panel. The successful candidates must therefore also demonstrate:

Either

experience suitable for serving on a Finance & Audit Committee in a public-sector setting, including the independent assessment of risk, investment and value for money

experience suitable for membership of the Major Events Committee, including an understanding of the national and international structure of sport, and the ability to command respect with key stakeholders in areas relevant to Major Events in the UK

Supporting Information
Public appointments to UK Sport are made by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, in consultation with the Scottish Executive, Welsh Assembly Government and the Northern Ireland Assembly.

UK Sport and DCMS aspire to diversity in public appointments and operate an equal opportunities policy. Appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the appointments process, which is regulated by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

Further information can be found on the UK Sport website or here, on the DCMS website

To apply
For information on how to apply please contact Margaret Lewis, Public Appointments Unit, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, 2-4 Cockspur Street, London SW1Y 5DH.
Email: margaret.lewis@culture.gsi.gov.uk Tel: 020 7211 2306.

Closing Date
The closing date for applications is Friday 1 August 2008.
Interviews will be held in central London on 10/11 September.