Job Description
An opportunity to contribute to the continued success of a unique Paralympic sport at Board level.
Building on our achievements at the Rio 2016 Paralympics, the BISFed 2018 World Boccia Championships in Liverpool and the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, the successful candidate will join a highly experienced Board to help steer Boccia UK to continued future success in its World Class Programme.
Boccia UK
The United Kingdom Boccia Federation (Boccia UK) is the National Governing Body for the Paralympic sport of Boccia in the UK. It is a federation comprising the four sports organisations responsible for the development of Boccia in each of the home nations, namely Boccia England, Disability Sport NI, Disability Sport Wales and Scottish Disability Sport.
Boccia UK is responsible for the identification, development and preparation of the UK’s most talented players, with a sharp focus on supporting athletes to achieve their potential at the highest level of Paralympic sport. This principally involves running the World Class Programme (WCP), funded by UK Sport. In addition, the organisation facilitates home nation collaboration around the development of the UK-wide performance pathway.
About Boccia
Boccia (pronounced ‘bot-cha’) is a precision indoor ball game, similar to Bowls and Pétanque. The sport has been specifically designed to be inclusive of disabled people with players throwing, kicking or using a ramp to propel a ball onto the court with the aim of getting closest to a ‘jack’ ball. As a sport specifically designed to be inclusive of players with the highest levels of support needs it makes a particularly valuable contribution to disability sport provision in the UK and internationally.
At a recreational level Boccia is played widely in schools and adult centres throughout the UK. In 1984 Boccia was introduced as a Paralympic sport for athletes with a disability affecting loco-motor function such as cerebral palsy. Since then the sport and skill level involved has developed rapidly and Boccia is now widely recognised as fantastic sport of intriguing tactics, incredible skill and nail biting tension.

Key roles
• To act as an objective and impartial member of the Board, helping to ensure that all decisions taken are in the long-term interest of the UKBF.
• To ensure the Board operates in accordance with the Code for Sports Governance
• To act in accordance with UKBF’s Directors Code.

Key responsibilities
• To attend four Board meetings a year (these are normally held in London).
• To be a member of the Boccia Performance Group (BPG)
• To contribute to sub committees and working groups where requested
• To assist in the development of the UKBF’s strategy.
• To provide specialist advice and insight to the Board on the development of a successful WCP in the development and management of its strategy;
• To help monitor the risks associated with delivering the strategy, and more specifically to help monitor the risks to the World Class Programme;
• To help monitor the operational performance of the organisation.
• To advise the Chair on issues such as succession

Qualifications and experience
• A good working knowledge of the principles of good Corporate Governance.
• Experience as an athlete on a World Class Programme (a Paralympic sport is preferable but not essential).
• The ability to understand from an athlete perspective what makes a successful WCP and present these insights in the development and delivery of the strategy.
• An ability to exercise vision and a strategic overview
• Problem-solving and decision-making skills, acting objectively and consistently
• Good communication and interpersonal skills
• The ability to act as an advocate on behalf of the UKBF
• Evidence of the ability to work well in a team
• Evidence of the ability to act with the professionalism, ethics and behaviours described in UKBF’s Directors Code
• A clear understanding of the distinction between being a Board member and being an athlete representative
• Previous Board experience is not necessary.
The position is voluntary, unpaid and will involve a commitment of approximately 18 days (TBC) p.a., including attendance at four Board meetings throughout the year. The term of office is up to 4 years with the possible addition, subject to board approval, of a second term of up to 4 years.

How to apply
To apply for the positions please email a CV and covering letter to dawnbrown@positivedynamics.co.uk . Please email her if you would like to discuss in more detail.