The Football Association – Independent Non-Executive Director (INED), Women's Game

Our Organisation

The Football Association [The FA] is the not-for-profit governing body of football in England. It is responsible for promoting and developing every level of the game, from grassroots through to the professional game, and generates significant revenue to support investment into English football each year.

The FA oversees England international teams across men's, women's, youth and para football. We manage FA competitions such as the Emirates FA Cup, the FA Youth Cup, and the Adobe Women's FA Cup. Additionally, we oversee men's and women's leagues below the professional level. Our remit includes the world-class facilities of Wembley Stadium and St. George's Park.

The FA Board currently comprises ten members, being an independent chair, four independent non-executive directors (inc. the Senior Independent Director), two stakeholder representatives from each of the Professional Game (being the Premier League and EFL) and the National Game (the collective term used for all football below the professional level) and the FA CEO.

Our shareholders have recently approved the appointment of an eleventh member, an INED who will bring rich knowledge and experience of the women's game from grassroots through to professional level.

The Role                                                                                                           

The primary role of the INED is to bring objectivity to board discussions and an independent point of view and judgement on matters such as strategy, performance, ways to manage and connect with the different stakeholders and ensure good governance.

The INED will:

• Be curious and provide both challenge and support to other Board Directors and the Executive team.
• Ensure that the Board acts with integrity and takes all the different stakeholder interests into account as it makes decisions. This includes supporting the Chair to manage the trade-offs that will naturally arise from these stakeholders to ensure that decisions are taken in the best, and long-term interests of the game.
• Be an ambassador for English football and The FA, both at home and abroad, building strong relationships at all levels across the game.

Candidates will likely have the following experience:

• Have played, coached or officiated at the highest level of the game – ideally in the Women's Super League.
• Have grassroots experience of the women's game, either as a participant or administrator.
• Have been part of the women's game for several years, with a knowledge base that spans the game's unique history through to a strong appreciation of the modern-day challenges and opportunities facing its development at all levels of the pyramid.
• Experience of contributing at Board or Committee level is an advantage but not essential. Knowledge of and experience of sport governance would be helpful too but not essential.

Individuals will have the following skills/style/interests:

• The intellect and natural curiosity to contribute to a broad range of topics.
• A progressive thinker who will use their skill, experience and values to support all areas of the organisation and ensure its culture continues to evolve positively.
• Independence of character and judgement, comfortable sharing views and making decisions whilst also showing an understanding of the whole game and therefore comfortable holding the tensions that can exist across the different parts.
• Well-developed relationship building skills and emotional intelligence, combined with a sense of determination, resilience and the ability to challenge where it can make a difference.
• Be keen and willing to travel to attend fixtures and events, in addition to attending Board Meetings and be prepared to serve as a member of various Board committees.

Term:

INEDS are given an initial term of three years and can serve for a maximum of 3 terms of 3 years.

Fees:

£35,000 per annum

Time Commitment:

Commit to up to 25 days per annum to attend FA Board and Board Committee meetings and to attend fixtures and events.

Definition of Independence:

A person who is generally considered to be free from any close connection to The FA and a close connection shall be deemed to include, without limitation, the following:

i) the person is, or has been within the last four years, actively involved in our affairs or held any position or role within The FA *

ii) the person holds, or has held within the last six months, a position or role with any Football Stakeholder (e.g. a league, club, County FA)

iii) the person has, or has had within the last six months, a Material Business Relationship with The FA

iv) the person has close family ties with any directors, senior employees or committee members.

* The Board has discretion to reduce this to six months in certain circumstances