Member Trustee - Sport and Competition Lead
| Company: | British Universities and Colleges Sports |
|---|---|
| Salary: | Volunteer Position |
| Hours: | Part-time |
| Working pattern: | Remote |
| Job type: | Contract |
| Posting date: | 29 Jul 2026 |
| Closing date: | 28 Aug 2026 |
Summary
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.
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