Help support fair and robust decisions concerning eligibility for public funding and publicly funded benefits.

UK Sport is seeking to appoint a legally qualified independent expert to chair its Eligibility Panel.

The UK Sport Board has delegated decision-making authority to the Eligibility Panel to determine matters relating to the eligibility of Athletes and Athlete Support Personnel to receive Public Funding and/or Publicly Funded Benefits, in accordance with the UK Sport Funding Eligibility Policy.

This is an opportunity to play an important role in supporting fair, independent and robust decision-making within the UK high-performance sporting system.

About the Role

As an Independent Chair, you will chair Eligibility Panel hearings and support the Panel in reaching fair, evidence-based and procedurally robust decisions.

You will help ensure that cases are considered independently and consistently in accordance with the UK Sport Funding Eligibility Policy. You will work alongside other Panel members, drawing on the collective experience, capacity and skills required to understand UK Sport’s investment role and the interests of relevant stakeholders.

Please see the job description for a full overview of the role and its responsibilities.

Who We Are Looking For

We are seeking legally qualified candidates who are practising barristers, solicitors or CILEX Fellows and who have experience of chairing or sitting on disciplinary panels.

Applicants must be able to consider complex and sensitive information objectively, provide appropriate challenge and support fair and robust outcomes.

What You Will Bring

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• experience of chairing or sitting on disciplinary panels;
• strong judgement and the ability to analyse complex information and evidence;
• the ability to chair proceedings fairly, independently and effectively;
• excellent communication and listening skills;
• the confidence to provide appropriate and constructive challenge;
• a commitment to fair and robust decision-making; and
• a strong understanding of equity, diversity and inclusion considerations.

A full person specification is available in the job description.

Please note: UK Sport is recruiting both Independent Chairs and Independent Members. Legally qualified applicants will only be considered for the Independent Chair role.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

At UK Sport, we are committed to building inclusive leadership and governance structures that bring together people with different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. We believe better decisions are made when a broad range of voices and experiences are represented on the Panel.

We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds and are particularly interested in attracting individuals whose lived experience, professional expertise or career journey may bring additional insight and challenge to the Panel’s discussions.

We are committed to providing an accessible recruitment process and will make reasonable adjustments wherever needed to ensure candidates can participate fully in the appointment process.

Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to contribute to independent and effective decision-making within the UK high-performance sporting system.

As an Independent Chair, you will use your legal expertise and disciplinary panel experience to help ensure that complex eligibility matters are considered fairly, consistently and robustly.

Terms of Appointment

• Appointment for a term of up to four years.
• Eligibility for consideration for a further term of up to four years, subject to mutual agreement.
• A maximum of two terms may be served.
• Primarily remote working, with occasional meetings in London.

About UK Sport

UK Sport is the nation’s high-performance sports agency, funded by the Government and The National Lottery. Working in partnership, our mission is to lead Olympic and Paralympic sport in the UK to world-class success and create extraordinary sporting moments that reach, inspire and unite the nation.

How to Apply

To apply, please follow this link, to complete the application form and submit your CV. 

Closing date: 11:59pm on Sunday 11 October 2026.

Interview dates: Candidates should note that interviews will be held during the week commencing Monday 2 November 2026. Due to the appointment timetable, we are unable to guarantee that alternative interview dates outside of this week will be available. Interviews will take place online.