Chair of Board 

Time commitment: Approx. 4-8 days per month   

Term: Up to 4 years (initial term) 

Renumeration: £15,000 per annum 

England Athletics is seeking an exceptional and inclusive leader to become its next Chair of the Board to lead us forward, to provide experience, vision and direction. 

As the national governing body for grassroots athletics and running in England, we support over 181,000 registered athletes, c.1,850 clubs and a wider community of millions of runners. We are also proud to partner with our official charity, Personal Best Foundation, to increase opportunities for children and young people at risk of exclusion to enjoy our wonderful sport. 

As an organisation we have strong foundations from which we can build, including a healthy and inclusive culture, a diverse and skilled Board, a committed and knowledgeable network of regional advisory councils, and an experienced and focused staff team. 

Our purpose is to inspire more athletes and runners of all abilities and backgrounds to fulfil their potential and have a lifelong love for the sport. We are delivering an ambitious long-term strategy to 2032, placing athletes and runners at the heart of everything we do. Strong progress has been made—membership growth, improved stakeholder satisfaction, a growing workforce, and a stable financial position—but important challenges remain, including youth retention, competition modernisation, and diversification of our revenue streams including commercial investment. 

England Athletics works in partnership with the wider athletics and running family, including Uk Athletics, the other Home Countries Athletics Foundation, a wide range of competition providers, and key stakeholders such as Sport England and London Marathon Events. We also license and insure over 3,000 off track and multi-terrain events over a range of different distances. England Athletics plays a pivotal role in the delivery of the Commonwealth Games, working in partnership with Commonwealth Games England and in managing talent and performance pathways across England. 

We are now seeking a Chair who can provide strategic leadership, strong governance, and inclusive oversight helping us grow participation, modernise the sport, and ensure athletics and running remain relevant and accessible to all. The Chair will be a collaborator, have proven leadership experience, passion for success, and demonstrate a strong commitment to the delivery of excellence and quality. The successful candidate will also align with our values of integrity, inclusivity, inspiration, and fun and will be a strong people leader, possessing empathy and a demonstrable understanding of a positive culture and teamwork. 

If this exciting position appeals to you, and if you would like further information, you can contact Gill Jones (Head of HR & People Development) on gjones@englandathletics.org.

How to Apply: Please upload your CV and covering letter detailing what you think you can bring to the role and why it appeals to you, by visiting Careers - England Athletics 

Closing date:  Monday 20th July 2026  

Initial Interviews (TEAMS):  Monday 7th & Thursday 10th September 2026 

We are aware of the increase in the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Generative AI (Gen AI), such as ChatGPT, for applications. At England Athletics we are keen to get to know you as a person, so if you use AI, it should accurately help us to get to know you as a person and how you fulfil the criteria of the role you are applying for. Your application should convey your individual skills, knowledge, and experience. Please note, this does not apply to the use of any other adaptive technology required to support an applicant’s individual needs. 

England Athletics is committed to providing and supporting an inclusive culture that promotes equality, diversity, and inclusion. We are proud of the diverse community we represent and want to ensure our workforce is representative of that community, so welcome applications from all sections of the community and diverse groups. We will, at every opportunity, advance equality, and inclusivity within the organisation, by addressing barriers, encouraging participation, and taking all relevant steps to meet everyone’s needs.