Kent Cricket is one of only 18 professional cricket clubs in England and Wales. Established in 1870, and still a Members’ Club, Kent has been a force in English cricket for over 150 years. 2021 saw its Men’s team winning the Vitality Blast T20 tournament and Kent Women winning the Women’s County T20 South East Group and Women’s London Championship titles.

The club is responsible for the growth and development of all cricket - from community and schools cricket to the professional game - across the County of Kent and the four “metropolitan Kent” London Boroughs of Lewisham, Greenwich, Bexley and Bromley.

Kent Cricket believes that cricket is a force for good in the community. It is focused on growing the game by inspiring a new generation of cricket fans, followers and players and ensuring that cricket is a game which is open to all.

As part of Kent Cricket's new governance structure, it is looking for passionate, committed, and experienced individuals to serve as Non-Executive Directors who will help support the development and delivery of the Club’s strategic plan. This includes:

• Approving the mission and strategic aims of the Club, and ensuring that there is clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction with ongoing monitoring of performance
• Ensuring that the Club fulfils its legal obligations
• Scrutinising Executive Leadership Team performance in meeting agreed goals and monitoring performance reports
• Overseeing the financial performance and satisfy themselves on the integrity of financial information including the establishment and monitoring of systems of control and accountability
• Ensuring that robust safeguarding and welfare measures are in place
• Making sure that controls and risk management systems are robust and that money is well spent
• Ensuring that that there are procedures for handling internal grievance, conflicts of interest, fraud and corruption; and to ensure that staff can raise matters of concern
• Monitoring and evaluating the performance and effectiveness of the Board itself

Kent Cricket is particularly keen to hear from candidates who will bring new ideas, approaches and perspectives to the Board and help develop good governance policy and practice. As part of a Board of up to twelve people, the successful candidates will be strategic and creative thinkers, passionate about contributing to Kent Cricket’s strategic development, and able to work in a collaborative manner.  

To support the key focus areas of its strategic plan, Kent Cricket is particularly interested in hearing from candidates who have understanding and experience of any of the following:

• Venue operations and facilities management: Kent Cricket operates two busy venues, as well as sports facilities and a physiotherapy clinic. To ensure that these are managed safely and effectively, it's looking for someone with experience in the facilities or events sector , including an understanding of security, health & safety risk management.
• Education and schools programmes: Kent Cricket currently works with over 200 schools in Kent, and is looking to grow this, with a particular focus in the four London boroughs which it serves. It's therefore looking for someone who understands the education sector, whether by working in it at a senior level or by delivering programs to schools.
• Women’s/girls sport, and community/recreational sports programmes: Ensuring that everyone, no matter who they are, is able and encouraged to play cricket is an essential part of Kent Cricket's ethos. Experience of managing sports programmes and increasing community participation in sport is therefore welcome.
• Equality, Diversity & Inclusion: Kent Cricket has an ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion and is  keen to hear from someone who understands the opportunities created by a diverse and inclusive culture and perhaps has experience of developing appropriate organisational change programmes.

Applicants will be confident in both supporting, and constructively challenging Kent Cricket’s executive Leadership Team, and willing to step out of their comfort zone to take an informed view of issues which may not naturally be their area of expertise. Candidates will ideally have some form of leadership experience, and Board experience is welcomed but not essential.

This role is unremunerated but reasonable, pre-agreed travel expenses will be reimbursed. The annual commitment is 10-12 days a year and the Board meets 7-8 times per year, normally in the evening; these meetings are held in person, either in Canterbury or Beckenham, South London. The appointment is for a period of up to three-years, which may be renewed for a further period at the discretion of the Board.