Vacancies within the CASES Heads of Department Advisory Group

Are you passionate about leading and supporting our Sport and Exercise Science Department Heads and Course Leaders? 

There are a number of current vacancies within the CASES Heads of Department Advisory Group (HoD AG) 

• Chair  
• Two members

and we are seeking expressions of interest for CASES Professional members, who are also members of their Institutions’ Senior Leadership Teams, to join the Advisory Group, to start with immediate effect.

The Heads of Department Advisory Group is responsible for the technical content and planning of the annual Heads of Department Forum and annual Heads of Department virtual event. The next online event is planned to take place over the winter. The Advisory Group considers key topics, themes, and speakers for each Heads of Department Forum / event. Once the Advisory Group has agreed on the specifics, the Chair of the HoD AG will confirm the keynote speakers and invited guest speakers, liaising with them over their involvement in the event delivery. All members of the HoD AG will attend the annual Heads of Department Forum / event. Members of the HoD AG will chair any of the sessions, as appropriate. Following the event, the HoD AG will debrief the event, making recommendations for the successful planning of the next annual event.

The Chair of the HoD AG also sits on the CASES Stakeholder Committee, which reports into the CASES Board. For the Chair of the HoD AG, the role affords the opportunity to demonstrate leadership at a senior level. The Chair may find that the role enables them to enhance their own network and to add to their CV. Being Chair of the HoD AG provides an opportunity to shape the support offered by CASES to Institutions’ Academic Leadership Groups, Heads of Department and Course Leaders, which in the medium to long term, can have an impact on the development, direction and standing of Sport and Exercise Science within HEIs. The role may be suited to those at or aspiring to be at the level of Professor or Dean.

The successful applicant for the Chair will commence the role straight away, planning the theme for the winter 2026 online event and the next Heads of Department Forum in 2027.

The appointment of this role 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.

If you would like an informal chat about the roles, please contact CASES Chair, Prof Zoe Knowles FCASES (Z.R.Knowles@ljmu.ac.uk). Should you have any questions about the work of the HoD AG, then please contact Sue Watson, CASES Head of Operations (swatson@cases.org.uk).

To apply for any of these current vacancies, please submit a maximum of three pages of A4, outlining:

• why you are volunteering for this role,
• what skills and experience you would bring to the Advisory Group and this role,
• how you will improve equity, diversity, and inclusion within the context of the Advisory Group,
• how you will bring principles of sustainability into the workings and focus of the Advisory Group,
• and any ideas you have about moving forward the work and priorities of the Advisory Group.

The roles are normally initially for a two-year tenure. Applicants must be Professional members of CASES and currently be a member of their Institutions’ Senior Leadership Team. You can find the Advisory Group terms of reference here (Appendix AG13, pages 60-61.)

Please submit your expression of interest by 10 am on Thursday 22 Oct 2026 in a confidential email to iwilson@cases.org.uk. In the subject line, please include “Heads of Department Advisory Group” and state ‘Chair’ or ‘Member’.