EXCITING opportunities are available to join the Board of Suffolk FA as a Non-Executive Director.

Suffolk County Football Association are inviting applications for new Non-Executive Directors to join the Board, initially through co-option with view to election in accordance with Suffolk FA Articles of Association. Director roles are voluntary, with travel expenses for meetings and events reimbursed.

The Suffolk FA Board are responsible for the continued development of the association, including ensuring the association satisfies all legal and contractual obligations, determining strategy, policies and the ongoing vision for the organisation, and securing financial investment which allows the organisation to achieve our vision and meet the needs of the Suffolk football community.

As well as contributing fully to the role of the Board, successful candidates will be required to lead a portfolio of the business which reflects their expertise, supporting and nurturing associated members of staff.

In particular, expertise is sought in the following areas:

• Corporate governance including risk management and company law
• Human resources
• Organisational growth, brand development and financial diversification
• Inclusion, equality and diversity
• The use of technology systems to increase interaction and engagement

Phil Lawler, Chairman of Suffolk FA, said: “The Board of Directors look forward to receiving applications from those both currently within and outside of the game who can add to the skillset of the Board in accordance with the attached Role Descriptor.

“We recognise the fabric of local football has and continues to change. Whilst the foundation of the game remains teams and clubs run by a volunteer workforce and using municipal facilities, more and more clubs are developing into hubs for their community, with 30-60 teams featuring 100s of youth and adult players, operating and maintaining their own facilities which offer more than just football provision, developing non-football revenue streams, and having employed members of staff.

“This trend of football clubs becoming businesses in their own right is set to continue, and Suffolk FA must be able offer clubs from across the entire spectrum the support to develop and prosper.

“The Board of Suffolk FA are also committed to ensuring football plays its part in wider societal issues; promoting equality, reducing inactivity, improving social cohesion, increasing physical and mental well-being, reducing crime, and enhancing youth employment chances.

“Our recent work with the Safeguarding Operating Standards, KickOff@3, Sporting Memories, the Suffolk Workforce Strategy, Rainbow Laces, the White Ribbon campaign, the One Community Cup, delivering refereeing skills workshops in local schools, and the #LiveFootballChallenge indicates our belief that football can and should play an even greater role in Suffolk life. Our intention is to pursue further partnerships which allow us to have even greater scope and impact.

“And finally, with a review of our current A Thriving Local Game strategy due in 2021, new technology systems set to be introduced over the next five years, the prospect of a new operating model for CFAs, and our determination to explore ways we can continually reinvest the maximum into the local game, the next strategy period promises to be both exciting and challenging for Suffolk FA as an organisation.”

For personal and professional reasons, Kirsty Clarke and Roger Peck have recently stepped down from the Suffolk FA Board and Phil Lawler acknowledged their contribution to the county.

He said: “Kirsty and Roger were fantastic Directors of Suffolk FA whose individual contributions mean the organisation is significantly stronger in a number of key areas, and we wish them all the very best with their future endeavours.

“Even prior to these changes, we recognised the need to increase the skill base and diversity of experience on the Board to ensure Suffolk FA continues to progress football across the county.”

For an informal discussion on the role of Non-Executive Director, please contact Phil Lawler 07904 323030 or Richard Neal 07903 842747.

If you feel you have the required skills, attributes and capacity to contribute to the continued growth of an organisation, please return a copy of your CV along with a covering letter detailing your expertise and suitability to the role to Chief Executive Officer, Suffolk FA, Bill Steward House, The Buntings, Stowmarket, IP14 5GZ, or via email to Richard.Neal@SuffolkFA.com by 23:59 on Sunday, November 17th 2019.

Please mark all correspondence ‘Private and Confidential’. Interviews will take place in the week commencing Monday, November 25th.