Chair of the Board

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

As the national governing body for grassroots athletics and running in England, England Athletics supports over 181,000 registered athletes, approximately 1,850 clubs, and a wider community of millions of runners. The organization also partners with Personal Best Foundation to increase opportunities for children and young people at risk of exclusion to participate in the sport.

England Athletics has strong foundations from which to 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.

The organization’s purpose is to inspire more athletes and runners of all abilities and backgrounds to fulfill their potential and develop a lifelong love for the sport. England Athletics is delivering an ambitious long-term strategy through 2032, placing athletes and runners at the heart of everything it does. Strong progress has been made through membership growth, improved stakeholder satisfaction, workforce expansion, and financial stability. Key priorities moving forward include youth retention, competition modernization, and diversification of revenue streams, including commercial investment.

England Athletics works closely with the wider athletics and running community, including UK Athletics, the Home Countries Athletics Federations, competition providers, and stakeholders such as Sport England and London Marathon Events. The organization also licenses and insures more than 3,000 off-road and multi-terrain events and plays a significant role in Commonwealth Games planning and talent development pathways across England.

The Chair will provide strategic leadership, strong governance, and inclusive oversight to help grow participation, modernize the sport, and ensure athletics and running remain relevant and accessible to all. The successful candidate will be a collaborative leader with proven leadership experience, a passion for success, and a commitment to excellence and quality. Candidates should align with the organization’s values of integrity, inclusivity, inspiration, and fun, while demonstrating empathy, strong people leadership, and a commitment to fostering a positive culture and teamwork.

For additional information, candidates may contact Gill Jones, Head of HR & People Development, at gjones@englandathletics.org.

How to Apply

Please submit your CV and cover letter outlining what you would bring to the role and why the opportunity appeals to you via the England Athletics Careers page.

Application Deadline: Monday, July 20, 2026

Initial Interviews (Microsoft Teams):

• Monday, September 7, 2026
• Thursday, September 10, 2026

England Athletics recognizes that applicants may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT during the application process. Any use of AI should accurately reflect the candidate’s individual skills, knowledge, and experience. Applications should provide an authentic representation of the applicant and how they meet the role requirements. This guidance does not apply to adaptive technologies used to support individual accessibility needs.

England Athletics is committed to fostering an inclusive culture that promotes equality, diversity, and inclusion. The organization welcomes applications from all sections of the community and is committed to removing barriers, encouraging participation, and ensuring individuals have the support they need to succeed.

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