Tennis Wales
Tennis Wales Ltd is the governing body for the sport in Wales, working with the Lawn Tennis Association and Sport Wales to grow the game making it accessible to all sectors of the community. It seeks to do this by increasing junior and adult participation at clubs and community venues, developing a trained and experienced workforce of coaches and tennis leaders, and creating a nation of champions by providing a pathway which can help talented players to realise their full potential.
Skills and Experience
The primary role of the Chair is to ensure the effective management of the organisation, and so the individual appointed to the position will require a mix of relevant skills and experience:
Essential
- A high level of integrity and probity
- Proven leadership skills, including the ability to chair meetings effectively and manage discussions to reach clear decisions
- Excellent management skills, including experience of managing the Chair/CEO relationship or of similar senior partnerships
- Good communications skills, with the confidence to speak in front of groups of all sizes and the ability to express ideas clearly
- Knowledge of, or the ability to rapidly assimilate the key issues faced by Tennis Wales, tennis in Britain and the wider sporting landscape in Wales
- Experience of dealing with sensitive and confidential issues
- The ability to attend Tennis Wales events, including Board and committee meetings, functions and tennis events
Desirable
- Experience of working at senior management or leadership level
- Knowledge of the statutory requirements relating to limited companies
- Experience or skills in corporate governance, including previous Board-level experience
- Experience of managing a staff team and/or working closely with a CEO in a supervisory role
The Role of the Chair
The Chair should:
- Provide leadership to the Board, by ensuring that the Board sets the strategy (in conjunction with stakeholders), assesses the financial risks to the organisation and satisfies itself that adequately skilled staff are in place
- Work in partnership with the CEO, taking on the role of line manager, setting objectives for the CEO, carrying out an annual performance appraisal and providing support, encouragement and an initial point of contact to discuss issues and new ideas prior to full Board discussion
- Represent Welsh tennis, by ensuring that she/he is visible to funding partners and to the tennis community in Wales, representing the views of the Board to stakeholders, attending appropriate forums and meetings, attending or supporting major tennis events across Wales, leading the Annual General Meeting, and acting as an open channel for Board members, staff and the wider tennis community to air ideas, concerns or grievances
The Chair should support other Board members, ensure that they understand their role, uphold the highest standards of integrity and probity, and ensure that good governance in line with the Governance & Leadership Framework for Wales is embedded in the organisation at all levels.
The Chair will be required to provide varying amounts of time to the role depending on their circumstances and the needs of Tennis Wales at certain times, but is expected to attend all Board meetings (at present 5 per year) and chair the Annual General Meeting as well as having regular (probably monthly) meetings with the CEO and email/phone contact between meetings. The Chair should attend meetings with stakeholders as required and attend LTA, Sport Wales and other meetings to understand new initiatives and issues affecting tennis and the wider sporting community.
Tennis Wales is an equal opportunities organisation and welcomes applications from all interested individuals.
The Chair’s role is part-time and voluntary. Expenses will be paid in accordance with the Tennis Wales expenses policy.
To apply for this role please send a full current CV together with a covering letter outlining your areas of expertise and the skills and contribution you could offer by 5 November 2017 to Maria Rees at Tennis Wales Ltd, Francis House, Drake Walk, Waterfront 2000, Cardiff CF10 4AN (or email to maria.rees@tenniswales.org.uk). Interview dates for shortlisted candidates will be agreed on an individual basis.