Independent Chair - Eligibility Panel
This is a Temporary, Part Time vacancy that will close in {x} days at {xx:xx} BST.
The Role
Help support fair and robust decisions concerning eligibility for public funding and publicly funded benefits.
UK Sport is seeking to appoint a legally qualified independent expert to chair its Eligibility Panel.
The UK Sport Board has delegated decision-making authority to the Eligibility Panel to determine matters relating to the eligibility of Athletes and Athlete Support Personnel to receive Public Funding and/or Publicly Funded Benefits, in accordance with the UK Sport Funding Eligibility Policy.
This is an opportunity to play an important role in supporting fair, independent and robust decision-making within the UK high-performance sporting system.
About the Role
As an Independent Chair, you will chair Eligibility Panel hearings and support the Panel in reaching fair, evidence-based and procedurally robust decisions.
You will help ensure that cases are considered independently and consistently in accordance with the UK Sport Funding Eligibility Policy. You will work alongside other Panel members, drawing on the collective experience, capacity and skills required to understand UK Sport’s investment role and the interests of relevant stakeholders.
Please see the job description for a full overview of the role and its responsibilities.
Who We Are Looking For
We are seeking legally qualified candidates who are practising barristers, solicitors or CILEX Fellows and who have experience of chairing or sitting on disciplinary panels.
Applicants must be able to consider complex and sensitive information objectively, provide appropriate challenge and support fair and robust outcomes.
What You Will Bring
The successful candidate will demonstrate:
- experience of chairing or sitting on disciplinary panels;
- strong judgement and the ability to analyse complex information and evidence;
- the ability to chair proceedings fairly, independently and effectively;
- excellent communication and listening skills;
- the confidence to provide appropriate and constructive challenge;
- a commitment to fair and robust decision-making; and
- a strong understanding of equity, diversity and inclusion considerations.
A full person specification is available in the accompanying job description.
Please note: UK Sport is recruiting both Independent Chairs and Independent Members. Legally qualified applicants will only be considered for the Independent Chair role.
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
At UK Sport, we are committed to building inclusive leadership and governance structures that bring together people with different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. We believe better decisions are made when a broad range of voices and experiences are represented on the Panel.
We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds and are particularly interested in attracting individuals whose lived experience, professional expertise or career journey may bring additional insight and challenge to the Panel’s discussions.
We are committed to providing an accessible recruitment process and will make reasonable adjustments wherever needed to ensure candidates can participate fully in the appointment process.
Why Join Us?
This is an opportunity to contribute to independent and effective decision-making within the UK high-performance sporting system.
As an Independent Chair, you will use your legal expertise and disciplinary panel experience to help ensure that complex eligibility matters are considered fairly, consistently and robustly.
Terms of Appointment
- Appointment for a term of up to four years.
- Eligibility for consideration for a further term of up to four years, subject to mutual agreement.
- A maximum of two terms may be served.
- Primarily remote working, with occasional meetings in London.
About UK Sport
UK Sport is the nation’s high-performance sports agency, funded by the Government and The National Lottery. Working in partnership, our mission is to lead Olympic and Paralympic sport in the UK to world-class success and create extraordinary sporting moments that reach, inspire and unite the nation.
How to Apply
To apply, please complete the application form and submit your CV.
Closing date: 11:59pm on Sunday 11 October 2026.
Interview dates: Candidates should note that interviews will be held during the week commencing Monday 2 November 2026. Due to the appointment timetable, we are unable to guarantee that alternative interview dates outside of this week will be available. Interviews will take place online.
Supporting You
UK Sport is the nation’s trusted high-performance experts, powering our greatest athletes, teams, sports, and events to achieve positive success.
Through strategic leadership and investment of National Lottery and Government funds since 1997, UK Sport has transformed the high-performance sporting system, winning more Olympic and Paralympic medals than ever before and is recognised as one of the top nations in the world for event hosting capabilities.
At UK Sport we will utilise the following the tools to support you on your own personal journey to success:
- Ways of Working Framework – UK Sport’s Ways of Working centres around a central employee engagement plan, where we work and when we work, encouraging mutual trust and respect to create a flexible approach to works with your lifestyle.
- Access to ‘The Learning Arena’ – Drive your own development through access to our World Class Digital Learning experience used by the UK’s High-Performance Coaches, Athletes and Practitioners.
- Enhanced Induction Programme – Ensuring you touch every part of the business and an introduction with our CEO within your first three months.
- 30 days Annual Leave + all UK Bank Holidays.
- Holiday Buy & Sell Scheme – Buy extra holiday for that holiday of a lifetime, to spend extra time with your loved ones or sell up to 5 days if that’s a more practical option for you and your lifestyle.
- Enhanced Family Leave – up to 26 weeks full pay for parents with 12 months’ service or more, and inclusive policies to cover baby loss, fertility treatment and menopause.
- Enhanced Sick Leave – up to 6 months at full pay from day one.
- Sports Leave – up to 4 days off to be a competitor or an official, encouraging you to give back to the sporting community.
- Compassionate Leave - up to 5 days’ time off to support the loss or serious illness of loved ones.
- Emergency Leave – up to 5 days’ full pay to cover life’s unplanned events.
- Healthy Lifestyle Allowance - up to £50 a month encouraging our employees to pursue sport, hobbies and development opportunities.
- Pension – UK Sport matches 10% of your annual salary into your pension to help you save for the future.
- Employee Support – We know it’s sometimes helpful to talk to someone impartial. UK Sport provides all employees with access to confidential assistance and therapy through fully trained counsellors on any personal and financial matters they may face.
- Travelling to Work – Whether you choose to take the train or cycle to one of our offices, UK Sport can support a season ticket loan or purchasing a bike through the Cycle to Work scheme.
A Place For Everyone
With all our office-based roles available across any of our Manchester, Loughborough or London offices, we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace culture where difference is embraced, and exceptional talents can flourish. We strongly encourage applicants from all backgrounds and walks of life, and we’re interested to hear from people that may require flexible working patterns or may want to work less than a full-time contract.
As we strive to ensure our workforce is more reflective of UK society, we particularly welcome applications from people with ethnically diverse backgrounds or with a disability or long term health condition as these groups are currently underrepresented at UK Sport.
We guarantee interviews to applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role if:
- they have a physical or mental impairment that has a “substantial” and “long-term” negative effect on their ability to do normal daily activities.
OR - they are applicants from ethnic minority backgrounds.
To qualify, you need to demonstrate in your application that you meet the minimum criteria for the role and belong to one of the above groups. If you have a disability, please contact us to discuss any adjustments you may need at interview or in the role, if successful.
It is important to note that there may be occasions where it is not practicable or appropriate to interview all disabled people who meet the minimum job criteria. For example, in certain recruitment situations, such as an extremely high number of applications that have opted into the scheme and high-peak times, we may have to limit the overall number of interviews offered to all candidates.
UK SPORT IS PROUD TO BE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER. At UK Sport we are determined to lead by example, striving to be a role model organisation in all we do in equality, diversity and inclusion, from leadership to delivery.
Our Values
Pride & Passion
Commitment to excellence
Integrity and openness
Working together
Our Offices
We have three modern and accessible offices available to all UK Sport Staff:
London 6th Floor, 10 South Colonnade, London, E14 4PU
Loughborough Pavilion 3 Level 2 Sport Park, 3 Oakwood Drive, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 3QF
Manchester - 299 Alan Turing Way, Manchester, M11 3BS
Our People
UK Sport Perks
10% Pension Employer contribution
30 days' annual leave
Hybrid Working
Retail discounts
and much more!
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