Job Description
British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) the representative body for sport within the Higher Education sector invites applications to join the Board to three non-Executive Director positions. The period of appointment is for two years commencing December 2015, although this may be extended to 3 years subject to a proposal at this year’s AGM.
The Chairman is currently supported by six incumbents. Three positions are available from this year’s AGM on 10th December 2015.
The Head of Finance and Governance, who is Company Secretary, and the Chief Executive (who for reasons of Trust status are not formally directors of the Company) also sit on the Board. A student director also sits on the Board, and is subject to a formal election by members annually at BUCS Conference.
BUCS emerged from a decision made in the summer of 2007 to form a new organisation in the University sector and was officially inaugurated in 2008. It has had a successful first 7 years in raising the profile of University sport and in engagement with many national funders of sport and corporate organisations. It has also continued to develop a higher profile of competitive sport in the higher education world and in promoting the importance of university sport both in the overall sporting landscape and in the communities of which universities are an important part.
The vision is to enhance the student experience through sport.
We will achieve this by supporting our members in the provision of first class programmes and services to enable participation in and play a leading role in the development of sport and active recreation within the wider UK sporting community.
We are committed to the belief that key to the fulfilment of our vision will be the development of effective partnerships between our members within the organisation and externally through enterprising partnerships with industry, education and the communities within which we operate.
In delivering our vision, we will have a business focus to maximise opportunities, promote value and secure investment for the sector in our activities to create an independently sustainable organisation.
Our vision will be delivered through three themes:
• Sport
• Education and Development
• Profile
The Board will meet normally four to five times per year and interested nominees should be prepared to devote approximately 8 days per annum to BUCS (includes reading time and some key representative events) The appointments will currently be for a two year term to allow for Board rotation in future years, at the discretion of the Chair.
The Roles
The three roles carry distinctive responsibilities: Commercial, Communications and Marketing; Professional and Workforce Development; and Sport Development and Physical Activity. The specific responsibilities of the roles are to advise to the Board and Chief Executive on the following:
Role No 1 – Commercial, Communications and Marketing
• Raising the profile of Higher Education sport in the public arena;
• Advising on media opportunities and assisting with digital exploitation of BUCS properties;
• Advising on strategic development of the BUCS Branding and Marketing Strategy;
• Advising on the continued development of the BUCS Brand and opportunities for developing the Brand;
• Advising and assisting with key sponsorship relationships and developing BUCS commercial properties;
• Strategic development of partnerships with external agencies in the delivery of BUCS organisational vision and objectives;
• Advocacy and raising the profile of BUCS events domestically and internationally;
• Benchmarking with the best in the world of Public Relations, media and digital marketing;
• Related ongoing advice for the Board and Chief Executive; and
• Leading edge relationship management and innovative income generation strategies.
It is expected that the successful candidate will be able to demonstrate extensive experience of brand and media rights management in sport, and expertise in communications. The candidate will be expected to bring extensive contacts and influence to BUCS in developing new, commercially viable relationships.
An understanding of higher education sport would be an advantage but is not essential.
Role No 2 – Professional and Workforce Development
BUCS’s role is to provide and develop an effective framework, delivery systems and partnerships at national level with the purpose of enhancing the knowledge, skills and capabilities of the BUCS and HE sport workforce, whether paid &/or voluntary.
It is expected that the successful candidate will have a broad knowledge and network across the sport & fitness industry (with regard to workforce development) and therefore be able to advise on:
• Development of a national framework for the education, training and development of staff, sabbaticals and volunteer workforce (BUCS and wider HE sport)
• Advise on advocacy with regard to HE’s crucial role in the provision of a quality future workforce for the sport and fitness industry
• Advise on advocacy, partnerships and opportunities with regard to the role of BUCS and HE in the development of future leaders in sport, business and society (staff & students)
• Provide advice and help to broker relevant partnerships which support delivery and resourcing of a BUCS plan for this growing area of its work
• To advise how professional and workforce development can effectively contribute to the overall aspirations of BUCS and its Members
Role No 3 – Sport Development and Physical Activity
BUCS’s role is to provide and develop an effective national framework, delivery systems and partnerships to support the growth of more ‘active communities’ across our UK-wide campuses.
As BUCS expands its remit nationally to encompass the support of Member Universities’ participation offers across informal sport and physical activity, the Board intends to make an appointment of an individual able to advise on most of the following broad areas:
• The development of a national framework to support the further development of participation in sport with the aim of ‘getting every student hooked on sport for life’;
• The use of digital technology in developing BUCS competitive and participative offering;
• Advocacy, guidance and strategic leadership on the relationships with national agencies and other national stakeholders in sport and health arenas;
• The appropriate alignment of the BUCS offer and services with HE priorities in the HE and national sporting landscapes;
• Direction and influence in delivering an inclusive BUCS sport and Physical Activity offer;
• The development of an effective delivery system for the sharing of good/best practice and knowledge sharing in this area;
• Provide advice and help to broker relevant partnerships which support delivery and resourcing of a BUCS plan for this area of its work
How to apply
Those who would like to put themselves forward are asked to apply in confidence by letter & CV to BUCS by 5pm WEDNESDAY 7th OCTOBER 2015. Letters of application should state candidates’ reasons for application, the role they wish to apply for, relevant experience and assets that they feel they could bring to BUCS in its development.
The BUCS nomination committee will consider applications and may invite candidates for selection interview. Interviews are likely to be first week of November if required.
BUCS AGM will then be asked to ratify the recommendations of the Nominations Committee.
Please send letter of application to:
Claire Livesey
British Universities & Colleges Sport
20 – 24 Kings Bench Street,
London, SE1 0QX
Or by email to Claire.livesey@bucs.org.uk
For further information or an informal discussion concerning any of the roles, candidates are welcome to call Mark Brian, interim CEO, on 0207 633 5080 or email mark.brian@bucs.org.uk