Skateboard GB Chair
Role & Responsibilities

Remuneration: The role of Chair is voluntary and not accompanied by any financial remuneration, although expenses for travel can be claimed

Location: Home-based

Time commitment: 4 Board meetings and the AGM per year, including preparation. The Chair is also expected to have weekly meetings with the Chief Executive, and also represent the Company at various events and meetings with key stakeholders.

Information: Skateboard GB (SBGB) is the UK-wide governing body for skateboarding with responsibility for Olympic and the World Class Performance programme, in addition to grassroots skateboarding and talent within England.

Skateboarding made its debut in the Tokyo Olympic Games and SBGB secured a bronze medal through skateboarder Sky Brown. Following this recent success we are entering a period of building capacity and capability to add value of the skateboarding community through our 2021-2032 Strategic Plan to be published in September 2021.

SBGB’s purpose is to give skateboarders the opportunity to “Skate More, Skate Better” ensuring we are skater-focused in everything that we do; we aim to lead, support, empower and facilitate. It’s the role of SBGB to add-value to the skateboarding community so that skateboarding continues to grow and thrive, with better and more spaces to skate, whilst providing best practise support so that skateboarding can take place in a fun and safe environment.

Skateboarding is different. It’s so much more than a sport; it’s culture, lifestyle, art, fashion, music and very much a part of the person who skates; if you skate, it’s part of you – skateboarding is wrapped up in your personality. This is why in everything we do, we have to be culturally sensitive and do what is right for skateboarding.

We are a young and small organisation which is growing and in recent receipt of public funding to support building the systems, programmes, capacity and culture required to fulfil the vision.

SBGB was formed by the skateboarding Home Nation governing bodies at the end of 2017 and in December 2020 restructured to include Skateboard England within its constitution, thus becoming responsible for grassroots skateboarding in England. Skateboard Scotland, Skateboard:NI and a soon to be set-up Skateboard Wales are responsible for grassroots skateboarding in the home countries.

Objective

The Chair will hold the Board and Executive Team to account for the Company’s mission and vision, providing inclusive leadership to the Board of Directors, ensuring that each director fulfils their duties and responsibilities for the effective governance of the company. The Chair will also support, and, where appropriate, challenge the Chief Executive and ensure that the Board functions as a unit and works closely with the entire Executive of the company to achieve agreed objectives. They will act as an ambassador and the public face of the company in partnership with the Chief Executive.

Principal responsibilities

Strategic leadership

·        Provide leadership to the company and its Board, ensuring that the Company has maximum impact for its stakeholders

·        Ensure that Directors fulfil their duties and responsibilities for the effective governance of the Company

·        Ensure that the Board operates within its aims and objectives, and provides a clear strategic direction for the Company

·        Ensure that the Board is able to regularly review major risks and associated opportunities, and satisfy itself that systems are in place to take advantage of opportunities, and manage and mitigate the risks

·        Ensure that the Board fulfils its duties to ensure sound financial health of the company, with systems in place to ensure financial accountability

Governance

·        Ensure that the governance arrangements are working in the most effective way for the Company

·        Develop the knowledge and capability of the Board of Directors

·        Encourage positive change where appropriate

·        Address and resolve any conflicts within the Board

·        Appraise the performance of the Directors and the Board on an annual basis

·        Ensure that the Board of Directors is regularly refreshed and incorporates the right balance of skills, knowledge and experience needed to govern and lead the company effectively, and which also reflects the wider population

·        Work within any agreed policies adopted by the company

External Relations

·        Act as an ambassador for the cause and the company

·        Maintain close relationships with key members of the Government and with key influences

·        Act as a spokesperson for the organisation when appropriate

·        Represent the company at external functions, meetings and events

·        Facilitate change and address any potential conflict with external stakeholders

Efficiency and effectiveness

·        Chair meetings of the Board of Directors effectively and efficiently, bringing impartiality and objectivity to the decision making process

·        Ensure that Directors are fully engaged and that decisions are taken in the best, long-term interests of the Company and that the Board takes collective ownership

·        Foster, maintain and ensure that constructive relationships exist with and between the Directors

·        Work closely with the Chief Executive to give direction to Board policy-making and to ensure that meetings are well planned, meaningful and reflect the responsibilities of directors

·        Monitor that decisions taken at meetings are implemented.

Relationship with the Chief Executive and the wider management team

·        Establish and build a strong, effective and a constructive working relationship with the Chief Executive, ensuring s/he is held to account for achieving agreed strategic objectives

·        Support the Chief Executive, whilst respecting the boundaries which exist between the two roles

·        Ensure regular contact with the Chief Executive and develop and maintain an open and supportive relationship within which each can speak openly about concerns, worries and challenges

·        Liaise with the Chief Executive to maintain an overview of the Company’s affairs, providing support as necessary

·        Conduct an annual appraisal and remuneration review for the Chief Executive in consultation with other Directors

·        Ensure that the Chief Executive has the opportunity for professional development and has appropriate external professional support

Additional information
The above list is indicative only and not exhaustive. The Chair will be expected to perform all such additional duties as are reasonably commensurate with the role.

Skateboard GB encourages job applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates irrespective of their gender, ethnicity, religion, belief or sexual orientation, and those with disabilities (for whom all reasonable adjustments will be made to enable them to fulfil their duties.).

Person Specification

In addition to the qualities required of a Director of the Company, the Chair must also meet the following requirements:

Personal Qualities

·        Demonstrate an experience, understanding of and passion for skateboarding and it’s culture.

·        Demonstrate a strong and visible passion and commitment to the company, its strategic objectives and cause

·        Excellent interpersonal, leadership, communication and influencing skills.

·        A collaborative leader with the ability to listen and engage effectively

·        Demonstrable integrity and commitment to ethical standards.

·        Ability to commit time to conduct the role well, including travel and attending events out of office hours

Experience

·        Experience of operating at a senior strategic leadership level within an organisation

·        Experience of sports governance and working with or as part of a Board of Directors

·        Experience of external representation, delivering presentations and managing stakeholders

Knowledge and skills

·        Broad knowledge and understanding of the sport sector and current issues affecting it

·        Knowledge of corporate governance and board responsibilities, including the Code for Sports Governance.

Terms
The company’s Chair (and board members) will serve a three-year term to be eligible for re-appointment for two additional terms.

Application Process
Skateboard GB encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates irrespective of their gender, ethnicity, religion, belief or sexual orientation, and those with disabilities (for whom all reasonable adjustments will be made to enable them to fulfil their duties.).

The closing date for applications is 12 noon on 15th October 2021

Interviews will be held on 4th November 2021 in Central London.

Applications are sought from suitably qualified and experienced individuals through the submission of a CV, a covering letter which outlines their suitability for the role, and why they wish to be considered, this should be sent to James Hope-Gill, CEO, Skateboard GB: james@skateboardgb.org