About the Organisation

Hunts FA have been governing football in the county since 1894. We are proud of our history, and we continue to evolve and support the community which we serve. As we look to the future, we are looking for Directors who are engaged and inspired to help us move forward into our next chapter, continuing our proud football traditions whilst also ensuring we reflect and promote the nature of football in our county.

Our Leagues and Clubs form the backbone of football played and organised within the county, and we work with our members to help support and deliver best in class experiences. In addition, we work to grow the game and offer counsel and support for Clubs and individuals, including safeguarding.

We want to ensure everyone who is involved in football has a great experience – regardless of gender, sexuality, ethnicity, ability or disability, faith or age. Both the FA and County FAs are working to ensure everyone can have the opportunity to be part of the game.

Collectively, the Board of Directors of Huntingdonshire Football Association are required to direct the business affairs of the Association and to determine the vision and strategy, plans, policies and financial investment required to achieve the Association’s aims. The Directors are accountable, individually and collectively, to support the sustainability and vision of the organisation. Directors are expected to be active board members, providing strategic oversight and to constructively challenge and review the Huntingdonshire Football Association’s strategic plan.

In addition, the Board supports an experienced executive team in helping to foster and embed a culture of diversity and inclusion throughout the organisation. Helping to support grassroots football across communities and to help grow the game, increase participation and to ensure that football is a game for all throughout the county.

In 2024, The FA launched it’s new landmark national strategy to grow and develop grassroots football in England together with it’s overall four-year strategy “Inspiring Positive Change Through Football” which has a clear focus upon the biggest opportunities and challenges that need to be addressed in the game. Following on from this, our new four-year strategy has been put in motion and is largely aimed at supporting sustainable growth across both new players and new teams.  Our key drivers to deliver our strategy are:

1. Supporting thriving community clubs
2. Connecting and serving participants and
3. Progressing the game’s governance

At Hunts FA, we are committed to increasing the diversity of our Board to ensure that it reflects the football community. Increasing gender diversity on the Board remains important as we seek to reach a minimum female representation of 30% to be delivered in line with our current strategy. The Board size is currently 10 with 4 members from Council, 2 Ex Officio and 4 independent non-executive directors.

The aim is to reach a maximum of 12 and as a result we are now looking to recruit 2 new independent Board members.   

All Board members are expected to:

• Provide constructive challenge to the work of the Board and help to develop the organisation’s policies, strategies, goals, and objectives.
• Safeguard the assets of the business and the interests of the Membership and stakeholders of the Association.
• Develop and maintain an effective corporate governance structure including compliance with the FA’s Code of Governance for County FA’s.
• Work with the executive team, Board, and other key stakeholders to ensure the organisation is governed successfully.
• Monitor the financial affairs of the Association through reports provided by the Finance Director and ensure the effective use of financial and other resources.
• Championing and upholding the FA’s values, being a strong external advocate for its work and ensuring a positive and inclusive organisational culture.
• Scrutinise management performance in meeting agreed goals and objectives.
• Be an effective Board member, participating actively in Board discussions and supporting management outside Board meetings where required.

The Board meets 4/5 times a year. Meetings are face to face with the option of hybrid currently under review. With ad hoc discussions and occasional visits, the time commitment is typically 2/3 hours a month. 

The Huntingdonshire Football Association is committed to tackling inequalities and discrimination. We want to ensure our board reflects the broad diversity of the county, recognising the essential dividends that a diversity of thought, enhanced creativity and audience engagement will bring. We welcome all individuals who share our passion and vision to apply, particularly women, individuals from culturally diverse backgrounds, the LGBTQ+ community and those with disabilities.

Selection Criteria

Candidates will demonstrate a passion for the power of sport, an inclusive leadership style and an understanding of the communities we serve. They will bring excellent communication skills and will be proactive in considering the views and needs of others allowing them to work collaboratively with our key stakeholders to enable our mission. Providing robust check and challenge and strategic acumen, they will work to ensure that we benefit from contemporary governance.

Essential requirements for both roles:

• Interest in grassroots sport, knowledge and understanding, or willingness to learn about how our organization operates
• Proven leadership experience. Previous Board experience is not essential for these roles.
• Strong interpersonal skills, an ability to manage relationships with, and to inspire a diverse range of, stakeholders, internally and externally.
• Knowledge of or an appreciation for the safeguarding requirements embodied in the work of a County FA
• A commitment to strong teamwork, accountability, and transparency.
• Commercial and financial acumen
• Ability to embrace change and experience of change management programmes.
• A passion for enhancing diversity in the game and championing our goals to widen participation.
• Integrity, good judgement, and independence.
• Appreciation and adherence to the FA’s values of integrity, collaboration, and innovation.

Specific requirements for the individual roles:

Role 1: Independent Board Director, with charity experience

Hunts FA is a registered charity, and we would welcome candidates who have experience of working in this sector. This may come from a direct role in a not-for-profit organisation or from work of a consultancy nature. Specific areas of expertise of interest include strategic partnerships, a knowledge of funding structures and proven experience of finding new revenue opportunities. You may also have direct experience of working with the Charity Commission

Role 2: Independent Board Director, Member without portfolio

We welcome applicants for this role who feel they have a contribution to make which will enhance the diversity and skill sets of our Board. We ask applicants to consider their own skills and experience and how they may wish to add value to our organisation in order to create a positive difference to the work we do.

Hunts FA is actively working towards making football more inclusive and we would therefore like to hear from you if you bring knowledge and an interest in EDI that you feel will help develop our strategies and culture in this particular area. 

How to Apply

WB Bespoke Search Team are running the process.

Do get in touch with the team – Rachel Tranter and Hannah Wakeman via applications@wbdirectors.co.uk if you would like to have a conversation.

Candidates should submit their CV, together with a short covering letter (no more than two pages) expressing the rationale for their interest and the specific competencies and leadership experience that they would bring to the role.

Submissions by email should be sent to: applications@wbdirectors.co.uk.

If you would like an informal conversation about the role with our current Chair please contact us on the above email for this to be arranged.

The closing date for application is 6^th March 2025.