Independent Non-Executive Director x 2 (Finance and Governance)

Introduction:

The Chartered Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (CASES) is the professional body and multi- disciplinary membership association for sport and exercise scientists in the UK. The Association was founded in 1984 and is a not-for-profit organisation (registered as a private company limited by guarantee). In 2024, we were granted the Charter of Incorporation by His Majesty King Charles III in recognition of the Association’s quality and status as the pre-eminent body for the discipline of sport and exercise science in the UK. CASES currently has a staffing complement of seven and is supported by an army of volunteers who help to drive forwards the annual operational plan. Our 2024-25 annual report is here. Our Royal Charter any byelaws are here. Our 2025-2028 Strategy overview is here, and the current Governance Structure and Terms of Reference are here. CASES has a turnover of circa £600k, and there are currently approximately 2,500 members of the Association.

The current tenures of two of our Non-Executive Directors (NED) are concluding towards the end of the year. We are currently recruiting for two new NEDs, seeking to attract applications from individuals with a proven senior executive experience (Governance), and with significant and relevant experience to provide the Board with the benefit of professional financial expertise and oversight (Finance). Both appointments will be for an initial three-year term, with the opportunity for reappointment, subject to CASES’ Royal Charter and Bylaws.

The purpose of the CASES Board is to set the strategic direction of the Association, to ensure effective delivery of our plans, and to oversee the management of the Association’s affairs. Our strategic aim is to develop and enhance professional and ethical standards in sport and exercise science by promoting research; developing guidance to support evidence-based practice; distributing knowledge; and implementing professional standards for individuals involved in sport and exercise science. We are a growing organisation, delivering well into the second year of our current 2025-2028 Strategy, so now is an exciting time to join our Board.

Our NEDs have responsibility for ensuring that appropriate corporate governance is observed. They will be expected to provide objectivity and challenge, and to provide advice and direction to the CASES management in the development, implementation, and evaluation of the strategy. They will monitor our legal and ethical performance and will monitor the accuracy and appropriateness of financial and other information provided to members and other stakeholders. In addition to a commitment to the Board, NEDs will be involved in a number of Standing Committees which, for the Finance NED, will include chairing the Finance and Risk Committee, and for the Governance NED, will include the Governance Committee. Along with the Chair of the Association, NEDs are responsible for the evaluation of the professional staff of CASES.

About the CASES Board:

• The Board meets typically five times per year to further the development of the business; normally one in-person meeting is held at varying locations and four via conference calls. Additional deliberations are conducted via e-mail / calls between meetings, including a monthly catch-up call in those months without a formal Board meeting.
• 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:

Desired:

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