Non Executive Director

All Board members serve three-year terms and can serve up to two consecutive terms. The Chair of the Association serves a four-year term, serving as Chair-Elect for the first year.

The current Board comprises of:

• Chair of the Association
• Chair of the Division of Biomechanics and Motor Behaviour
• Chair of the Division of Physical Activity for Health
• Chair of the Division of Physiology and Nutrition
• Chair of the Division of Psychology
• Chair of the Division of Sport and Performance
• Chair of the Division of Teaching and Learning Enhancement
• Four Non-Executive Directors

Services on the Board and Standing Committees are non-remunerative. Travel and meeting expenses are reimbursed according to our policies and procedures.

Candidate Profile

We are seeking NEDs who:

• Share our passion for driving excellence in sport, exercise, physical activity, and health.
• Are willing to challenge and probe.
• Can always demonstrate integrity and high ethical standards.
• Will act collectively as part of the Board.
• Will participate in key Standing Committees as required, typically four per year.
• Will add value by contributing their experience, expertise, and insight.

The successful NEDs will have:

• Board or senior specialist experience in a public, private, or not-for-profit sector organisation.
• Experience at a senior level in organisations of scale or complexity, that is transferable to and relevant for our operating environment.
• A commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusivity.
• A readiness to commit appropriate time and energies to CASES.

Key responsibilities and accountabilities

• Provide independent and objective challenge, guidance, advice, and support to the Board, Chair, and Chief Executive Officer through attendance at Board and Standing Committee meetings.
• Support the Board in its leadership of the organisation and assist the Chief Executive Officer to develop the organisation’s capacity and capabilities to meet its future challenges and responsibilities.
• Meet periodically with the Senior NED to appraise roles, duties, and projects.
• Ensure that the Board maintains compliance with the Governance requirements.

Skills and Experience

No specific knowledge of sport and exercise science is required. The NEDs will be able to access, for free, an extensive library of eLearning training and development courses, which cover a broad range of relevant modules, including Data Protection and Diversity and Inclusion.

Essential:

Finance role

• Recent relevant financial accounting experience or substantial budget management experience.
• Understanding and knowledge of financial governance and risk.
• Understanding of strategic financial management, with the ability to balance the competing objectives of quality, operational performance, and finance.

Governance role

• Senior leadership experience within a public, private, not-for-profit sector organisation, or regulated environment with exposure to regulatory or disciplinary frameworks.

Both roles

• Committee/Board experience at a senior level as either an NED or Executive.
• Ability to accept responsibility and understand Good Corporate Governance and Board requirements.
• Excellent interpersonal, leadership, communication, influencing, and relationship skills.
• Ability to articulate ideas and to work with complexity.
• Independent thinker with strong ethical judgement.

Desired:

Finance and Governance roles

• An understanding of the components of a membership organisation and the processes of planning, financial control, performance management, and assurance that deliver its objectives.
• Commercial acumen, from any sector, and sound judgement in relation to opportunities for growth for the long-term benefit and sustainability of the Association.
• Proven strategic thinker who can contribute across a range of governance, quality, planning, financial, and advocacy issues.
• Experience of governance and organisational delivery from a variety of perspectives.

Candidates should be prepared to devote at least 12 days per annum to CASES business, which includes preparation for and attendance at the Board meetings / calls, preparation for and attendance at any Standing Committees, including ongoing work throughout the year as a member of the Governance Committee / Chair of the Finance and Risk Committee (role-dependant), once appointed, and any major events. Membership of CASES is not a requirement. The NED input may exceed 12 days and will not be evenly spread across the year, with peaks and troughs of engagement and support.

Enquiries and Applications

The appointment of these voluntary roles will be via a formal, open, and transparent recruitment process, with the aim of attracting the widest range of the most suitable talent. At CASES, we are committed to Fairness, Professionalism, Honesty, Responsibility, and Excellence. We strive to improve our ways of working to be more inclusive and diverse, to accelerate our impact on society, and live up to our Values. We acknowledge that we lack representation from various underrepresented groups and therefore strongly encourage applications that will amplify the voices of people with a disability, those from culturally and ethnically diverse backgrounds, women or gender diverse people in STEMM and members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Please notify the Chief Executive Officer (iwilson@cases.org.uk) if you require reasonable adjustments throughout the application process.

Informal enquiries can be made to Ian Wilson, CASES Chief Executive Officer, e-mail: iwilson@cases.org.uk, and to Prof Zoe Knowles FCASES, CASES Chair, email: Z.R.Knowles@ljmu.ac.uk. More information about CASES can be found here: www.cases.org.uk.

If you are interested in either of these two exciting NED opportunities, please forward an electronic copy of your CV along with a covering letter no longer than two pages of A4 outlining how you meet the candidate profile. Please mark this email Confidential and indicate if your application is for the Finance or Governance NED voluntary role, or either. Please send your CV and covering letter to iwilson@cases.org.uk. An email to acknowledge safe receipt of the application will be issued.

Key dates:

• Applications will close at 9 am on Monday 21 September 2026.
• Interviews will take place on Monday 5 October 2026 via conference call.
• The incoming NEDs will take up post from November 2026, ready to attend the next Board Call on 17 December 2026.