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The Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport wishes to appoint a new Board Member to The Birmingham Organising Committee for the 2022 Commonwealth Games (“the OC”). 

On 21 December 2017 the Commonwealth Games Federation awarded the hosting rights for the 2022 Games to Birmingham. The OC has the ultimate responsibility for the planning and delivery of the Games in coordination with its Games partners, namely, The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Commonwealth Games England, Birmingham City Council and the West Midlands Combined Authority.

Birmingham 2022 will be the biggest sporting and cultural event ever to be held in the West Midlands. Across 11 days, athletes in 19 different sports will compete in front of over a million spectators and a global TV audience of 1.5 billion. The Games is about much more than 11 days of sport – we want to leave a lasting legacy underpinned by the vision of a Games for Everyone that will bring people together, improve health and wellbeing, act as a catalyst for change, help the region to grow and put the region firmly on the map. Birmingham 2022 will also be at the heart of the economic, cultural and social renewal of the region post COVID. 

The newly appointed Non-Executive Board Member will be a strong advocate for Birmingham and the West Midlands, be passionate about sport and the Commonwealth Games, and a champion of the vision of a Games for Everyone. The successful candidate will also be required to Chair the Athletes Advisory sub-committee of the Board.

Remuneration: The role is unremunerated, but reasonable expenses will be met

Time Requirements: The Organising Committee currently holds bi-monthly Board meetings (i.e. 6 per year). In addition, the successful candidate is expected to attend and act as Chair of meetings of the Athletes Committee as necessary as well as occasionally attending profile-raising events for the Games. The total time varies depending on committee membership, but on average it will be two or three days per month.

Person Specification

The OC Board comprises of members with a mix of skills and all candidates must demonstrate in their applications how they meet the following essential criteria:

• The ability to provide strategic leadership and to act as an unbiased, objective and impartial member of the Board, ensuring that all decisions are taken in the best, long term interests of the OC, Commonwealth Games and their stakeholders.
• Political sensitivity and understanding, with the ability to secure the confidence of those around them, and to build highly effective, influential and collaborative relationships with national, regional and local government.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and presentation skills with the ability to influence and offer advice and guidance to the Chief Executive and other Senior Executive team members of the OC. 
• The ability to work in an environment with a high level of scrutiny.

The OC Board would welcome applications from candidates who demonstrate the following desirable criteria:

• A track record of working with and within mega multi-sport events as an athlete, coach and/or official at an elite professional level, and an understanding of what makes a great Games for these groups.
• An understanding about how domestic and international sport operates, particularly how it relates to the Commonwealth Games.

Deputy Chair

In addition to the normal responsibilities of all Board members, the successful Board member may be appointed as the Deputy Chair of the Board. This role has two fundamental components:

• standing in for the Chair at times in their absence; and
• conducting on behalf of the Board the annual review of the Chair’s performance. 

Among the responsibilities that the Deputy Chair might have to fulfil, in standing in for the Chair are:

• leadership of the Board, setting values and standards, maintaining a relationship of trust with the Executive, ensuring its effectiveness in all aspects of its role including the setting of the strategic agenda;
• ensuring that all members receive accurate, timely and clear information;
• ensuring that all members continually update their skills and the knowledge and
• familiarity with the OC required to fulfil their role both on the Board and on committees;
  facilitating the effective contribution of non-executive members in holding the  Executive to account and; 
• ensuring constructive relations between executive and non-executive members.

How to apply

To apply, please send:

• a CV of not more than two sides of A4
• a supporting statement of not more than three sides of A4, providing examples and setting out how you meet the criteria
• the Monitoring Form concerning your personal information and political activity, and the Declaration of Interests Form.

Completed applications should be emailed to: publicappointments@dcms.gov.uk. 

Please put ‘Birmingham 2022 Organising Committee Board Member’ in the Subject line.

Essential attachments

• Board member role advert HERE
• Diversity monitoring form accessible HERE
• Declaration of conflicts of interest form HERE
• Public appointments privacy notice HERE
• OCPA complaints procedure HERE
• Code of conduct for boad members of public bodies HERE

If you have any questions about the appointments process, please contact Phil Hodges, Campaign Manager at DCMS (philip.hodges@dcms.gov.uk 020 7211 2898). 

If you would like to speak about the role itself, please contact Maria Alexandri (maria.alexandri@dcms.gov.uk), Head of Organising Committee Sponsorship in the Commonwealth Games Delivery Unit.

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