*** SEARCH CONCLUDED ** CHAIR - BRITISH BOBSLEIGH & SKELETON ASSOCIATION

A unique and exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and enthusiastic senior leader to chair the Board of the British Bobsleigh and Skeleton Association (BBSA), Britain’s most successful winter sport team in recent years.

British Skeleton athletes have won medals at the last five winter Olympic Games, culminating in an unprecedented 3 medals (gold and two bronze) in PyeongChang 2018. UK Sport (UKS) has committed £6m of funding to support the Skeleton World Class Programme in its preparations for Beijing 2022. The national governing body is working to a set of conditions from UK Sport as part of the funding agreement. A detailed change plan has already commenced to meet the conditions, and the new Chair will need to play a significant role in continuing this change process, so that the sport can achieve positive and sustained medal success.

Performances by the bobsleigh team, while successful, (achieving bronze in Sochi, the best ever 2 women bob result in PyeongChang and a high performance youth team) are not currently at the level to justify continued UKS funding after the 2019 world championships in Whistler. The performance programme for bobsleigh will come off UKS funding after the World Championships in 2019. With the right leadership, some private sector funding and a continued drive for performance improvement, the team is aiming to justify further UKS funding before Beijing.

The successful candidate will be required to ensure the two sports, with significantly differing levels of investment, are appropriately and independently managed. Specifically, the Chair will be responsible for oversight of the budget for the Skeleton World Class Programme, to ensure that the funding award for skeleton is deployed to maximum effect and that the appropriate performance sub-committee is in place to ensure support, expert guidance and constructive challenge to the Skeleton World Class Programme.

The Chair will line manage the skeleton Performance Director and BBSA General Manager and will oversee the development of appropriate performance and governance support for the Bobsleigh squad. The Chair will also engage with the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation ensuring the international influencing requirements of both disciplines are well represented as well as supporting leadership of the BBSA membership association.

Key responsibilities include:

  • Being the catalyst to drive high performance and positive cultural change throughout the organisation, across the Board, staff, coaches, athletes and all stakeholders 
  • Ensuring the BBSA fully meets the conditions of the skeleton award as outlined in UK Sport’s funding offer (and subsequently agreed by the BBSA) 
  • Being the accountable officer, providing oversight of and support to the Performance Director in the delivery of the Skeleton World Class Programme, working with the Non-Executive Chair of the Performance Management Group 
  • Ensuring proper leadership of the other constituencies (outside of skeleton) for which the Board is responsible 
  • Leading the Board and both disciplines to attract external resources outside of lottery funding 
  • Ensuring that the BBSA meets all its legal and Code of Sports Governance requirements on an on-going basis Acting as the organisation’s representative in its dealings with key national and international stakeholders 

We are looking for candidates who have a passion for winter sports. You must have the time and expertise to take a hands-on, supportive role to drive the BBSA through a period of transition and change over the next 12 months at the same time as ensuring optimal delivery within the performance programmes through the four year cycle. Candidates will be able to evidence a successful track record in leading organisations through a period of structural and cultural change and will work closely with UK Sport to ensure the funding conditions are met.

Possessing excellent communication and leadership skills, you will ideally have a robust but empathetic style, ensuring that all views are heard while also being able to make clear decisions.

The position is voluntary with expenses paid. The term is for four years, with a maximum of two terms allowed. The role will require 3 to 4 days per month with a regular presence in Bath. In the first instance a greater time input will be required to support the recruitment of a new Board, the establishment of a structure for the effective oversight of the Skeleton WCP, and the needs of the bobsleigh performance programme and the membership organisation. There are currently 6 Board meetings per year, normally in London but this is open for the new Chair and Board to finalise.

  • Time Commitment: 3 - 4 days a month, but with a greater time commitment required in the first year to support recruitment of new board members and finalise management recruitment 
  • Remuneration: voluntary, plus expenses 
  • Location: The BBSA office is based in Bath, Board meetings are normally held in London Introduction 

We welcome applications from all sections of the community, regardless of age, race, colour, sex, marital status, religion, ethnic origin, nationality, disability or sexual orientation.

To apply, please send your CV to: daryl.mason@hartmannmason.com