Chief Executive Officer

Sporting Equals; England; Hybrid; GBP 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent charity in the UK is searching for an experienced CEO to lead efforts in empowering marginalized ethnic communities within the sporting sector. The role involves strategic leadership, governance, and building partnerships to enhance diversity and equity in sports. Candidates must demonstrate a strong commitment to race equality, community engagement, and effective risk management. The position offers a hybrid working model, a salary of circa GBP80,000, and a car allowance, with applications closing on December 19, 2025.

Qualifications

• Experience as a values-driven leader in non-profit or charity sectors.
• Strong understanding of race equality and systemic impact.
• Proven ability to engage and empower marginalized communities.

Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with legal obligations and uphold accountability.
• Lead delivery of the organization’s 5-Year Strategy.
• Manage relationships with stakeholders across the UK.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Community engagement

Risk management

Compliance knowledge

Collaboration

Job description

Hybrid working

Hybrid working; typically 2 days in the Coventry office (flexible working and reasonable adjustments considered)

Salary –

Circa GBP80,000 (dependent on experience) plus car allowance

Closing date for applications

Friday 19th December 2025.

About Sporting Equals

Sport has the power to change lives yet for too many people from ethnically diverse communities, that power remains out of reach. Sporting Equals was founded to close that gap. We focus our efforts on advancing racial equity in sport and physical activity, as defined by our charitable Objects. Ultimately, we champion equity so that every person, regardless of background, can participate and thrive. As a trusted partner of Sport England, Sport Scotland, national governing bodies, local authorities, and community organisations, we work across the UK to drive meaningful and measurable changes through our Charter offer, programmes and insight–led support.

The role and you

As the CEO of the UK's leading race equality charity in sport and physical activity your mission will be simple: empower marginalised ethnic communities, challenge inequalities, and create long–term, systemic impact across the sport and physical activity sector.

You are an experienced, values–driven leader who combines strategic vision with hands–on delivery, confident working with a Board of Trustees, funders, and partners, and adept at making evidence–based decisions. You excel at building trust with communities experiencing racial inequity and exclusion, and you understand how to lead through change, strengthen systems and processes, and inspire and support a diverse team. Bringing insight, ambition, and a collaborative mindset, you are deeply committed to race equality, inclusion, and social justice in sport. You recognise the challenges and opportunities facing a growing charity and are motivated by the opportunity to shape a more equitable and inclusive sporting landscape.

Key responsibilities

1) Governance & Strategic Leadership

• Ensure full compliance with constitutional, regulatory, and legal obligations, upholding the Nolan Principles and Charity Commission guidance.
• Work in partnership with the Board to advise on, draft, and recommend long–term strategy; provide evidence–based insights to support regular review of vision, mission, and values.
• Embed co–design and beneficiary voice at the heart of strategic planning through inclusive and accessible engagement with communities, partners, and staff.
• Maintain accountability for budgets, internal controls, and equitable resource allocation, providing timely and accessible management information.
• Ensure compliance with funder requirements (e.g., Sport England) and manage conflicts of interest transparently.
• Lead income generation across a diverse funding portfolio–including private, statutory, local authority, philanthropic and international/European sources–building values–aligned partnerships.

3) Core Strategy Delivery & Impact

• Lead delivery of the organisation's 5–Year Strategy with measurable equity outcomes, reasonable adjustments, and accessible communications.
• Strengthen community engagement and grassroots participation programmes that foster belonging, inclusive access, and (where relevant) targeted diversionary activity.
• Expand leadership pathways through, for example, the LeaderBoard Academy, promoting lived experience, inclusive recruitment, and leadership development.
• Lead, refine and grow Sporting Equals' Charter offer as a core mechanism for sector support, knowledge transfer and systemic leadership on race equity.

4) External Affairs & Communications

• Build respectful, reciprocal relationships with stakeholders across the UK, amplifying community evidence and beneficiary voice.
• Represent the organisation confidently in the media and at events, modelling inclusive language, behaviours, and values.

5) Risk, Compliance & People

• Actively manage the Risk Register, identifying and mitigating risks including governance failure, discrimination, and safeguarding, with clear escalation routes and accountability mechanisms, including safe recruitment and ongoing staff/volunteer training.
• Lead, support, and develop the Senior Management Team; set fair objectives, conduct appraisals, and champion wellbeing and professional development.

Sporting Equals is committed to making reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process to enable candidates to demonstrate their full potential. Inclusion is central to our process, and we endeavour to accommodate all of our candidates. In recruiting for our teams, we welcome the unique contributions that you bring in terms of your education, opinions, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and beliefs.