Member Trustee - Sport and Competition Lead

Main Purpose 

The Board acts as the ultimate decision maker for BUCS, ensuring that it operates in line with its strategic aims and fulfils its charitable purposes. Trustees are committed to the long-term interests of the organisation and meet quarterly to oversee and direct business operations. 

To do this effectively, it is critical that the Board is supported with leadership, insight, and assurance on BUCS’ core purpose: the development and delivery of sport and competition, covering both domestic and international reach.  

The Sport & Competition Lead provides strategic direction and oversight of BUCS’ sporting offer, ensuring it remains relevant to a diverse membership, and aligns with the organisation’s strategic direction. This includes ensuring that competition structures, regulations, and delivery models are effective, inclusive, and fit for purpose within both the higher education sector and aligned to the wider sport landscape. 

Main Duties and Responsibilities 

Sport and Competition Lead 

• Board leadership – Champion sport and competition as the core of BUCS’ purpose, ensuring this is central to Board discussions, decision-making, and strategic direction. 

• Strategic oversight – Provide assurance that BUCS’ sport and competition portfolio supports organisational strategy, balancing performance pathways, participation and development opportunities, and member needs. 

• Competition structures and delivery – Scrutinise the effectiveness, accessibility, safety and sustainability of BUCS competition structures, formats, and operational delivery. 

• Regulations and integrity – Oversee the strategic development and application of BUCS competition, ensuring they are fair, transparent, and aligned with sector expectations and integrity standards and be accountable for the effective governance of sport and competitions to Board level.  

• Member insight, relevance and inclusion – Ensure the diversity of member and student needs, including considerations relating to equity, equality, diversity and inclusion, disability sport, under-represented groups and student representation, are reflected in sport and competition strategy, structures and decision-making. 

• External landscape awareness – Provide insight into wider sport and higher education trends, ensuring BUCS remains aligned with National Governing Bodies, Home Nations, sector developments, and student expectations.  

• Risk and assurance – Work with the Board and relevant committees to identify, monitor and mitigate strategic, operational, reputational and welfare risks associated with sport delivery, sporting programmes, competition structures and participation trends. 

Board Member Trustee (core responsibilities) 

• Provide constructive check and challenge to ensure that the perspective of the membership is considered within BUCS leadership and decision-making. 

• Ensure BUCS is carrying out its purposes for the public benefit in accordance with its Articles of Association. 

• Ensure compliance with regulatory bodies, codes, and funding partners, including (but not limited to) Companies House, the Charity Commission, HMRC, and the Sport England Code for Sport Governance. 

• Act in BUCS’ best interests and ensure that resources are managed responsibly. 

• Support delivery of the BUCS Strategy by advising on, challenging, and evaluating approaches to sport, competition, and member engagement. 

• Support the organisation to identify, manage, and mitigate risk, particularly those relating to sport delivery and competition integrity. 

• Serve on Board sub-committees as required. 

• Represent BUCS externally where appropriate. 

PERSON SPECIFICATION 

BUCS is seeking a Member Trustee to fulfil the role of Sport and Competition Lead, bringing Board-level leadership, insight, and assurance across its core sporting activity. The successful candidate will champion the ongoing development of a high-quality, inclusive and sustainable sport and competition offer, ensuring it meets the needs of a diverse membership and evolving student population. 

They will also ensure that member perspectives inform BUCS decision-making and that sport remains central to organisational strategy and impact. 

Key skills and knowledge 

• Exceptional understanding of sport and competition structures within higher education and the wider sporting ecosystem.  

• Knowledge of and professional connection to National Governing Body's and other sporting organisations across the UK. Experience of strategic oversight and direction of sports strategies. 

• Demonstrated knowledge of, and ability to influence, sport and competition strategy across domestic, national and international environments, with an understanding of how higher education sport contributes to wider sporting systems and pathways. 

• Knowledge of integrity in sport, including regulations, fairness, and governance considerations. 

• Understanding of participation and performance sport dynamics, including balancing accessibility with excellence. 

• Familiarity with the higher education landscape and student sport environment. 

• Knowledge of corporate governance, charity law, and Trustee responsibilities. 

• Experience of developing, implementing, or overseeing strategy. 

• Ability to support, challenge, and influence Executive and Board colleagues constructively. 

• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills. 

• Ability to exercise sound independent judgement. 

• Commitment to BUCS’ mission, vision, and values.  

• Ability to represent and communicate with the wider membership.  

• Understanding of inclusive sport development and the principles of equity, equality, diversity and inclusion, including disability sport and widening participation. 

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