Non-Executive Chair of the Stakeholder Board - World Taekwondo Grand Prix Series III Manchester 2027 Organisation British Taekwondo Salary Voluntary with reasonable expenses Location Home based with meetings online and in-person in Manchester Contract type Fixed Term Closing date 30 March 2026 Job Description Great Britain has secured the rights to host the World Taekwondo Grand Prix Series III in Manchester in October 2027. This event is an important qualification event for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games with both Olympic and Paralympic competition on the programme. The UK has hosted Grand Prix events regularly since co-creating the format with World Taekwondo in 2013. This long-standing role at the heart of international Taekwondo has established the UK as a leading nation, and Manchester a leading city in our sport. In 2027, the Grand Prix will take place in a new venue, the National Cycling Centre in Manchester, and a visionary Chair is required to support the realisation of a modernised and future-ready Grand Prix that continues to deliver on our hard-earned reputation as ‘home of the Grand Prix’. We require a highly motivated individual to lead the Stakeholder Board (SHB) for this event. The SHB consists of four organisations, British Taekwondo (BT), GB Taekwondo (GBT), Manchester City Council (MCC) and UK Sport (UKS) as well as independent members. About the Stakeholders British Taekwondo is the National Governing Body for Taekwondo in the UK and is a Member National Association of World Taekwondo. It is based in the House of Sport Manchester. British Taekwondo is a membership organisation covering all UK Home Nations and supports people to participate in Taekwondo across various disciplines. GB Taekwondo is the body responsible for leading the Taekwondo Olympic and Paralympic High-Performance pathway in the UK and is based at the National Taekwondo Centre in Manchester. GB Taekwondo is recognised in this role by UK Sport and Sport England, and charged with delivering medals on the Olympic, Paralympic and World stage. Manchester is the host city for the event, and Manchester City Council serves as a key strategic partner for Taekwondo. The Council supports both British Taekwondo and GB Taekwondo through its provision of the National Taekwondo Centre, its role in funding and hosting major events, and its ongoing work, through Manchester Active, to drive sport development and community engagement for Taekwondo across the city. UK Sport is the nation’s highperformance sports agency, funded by the UK Government and The National Lottery, with responsibility for investing in Olympic and Paralympic sport and supporting the hosting of major international sporting events in the UK. UK Sport is a major funding partner for this event. About the Stakeholder Board The SHB brings together the organisations responsible for hosting, funding, and governing the event’s delivery. The remit of the SHB is to: - Set the strategic objectives and direction of the event. - Ensure compliance with stakeholder governance and funding requirements, and delivery of obligations to World Taekwondo - Oversee financial and risk management across the event. - Provide a unified and aligned foundation for the delivery of the event and its objectives. - Work with the Event Director to ensure operational plans are deliverable and meet strategic objectives. About the role The Chair will lead the SHB, provide independent oversight and ensure the event is delivered effectively, within budget and meets its strategic objectives. The Chair will set the tone for governance, decision-making, and lead the alignment of the stakeholders toward a shared vision. The Chair will work closely with the Event Director to ensure the LOC has the direction, support and challenge required to deliver the event to the standards expected by the stakeholders and World Taekwondo. The Chair will also represent the SHB externally, creating and supporting relationships with other strategic partners as required. With an extensive hosting record for this type of event, and a new venue in 2027, a creative and visionary Chair is needed to lead the re-imagining of the Grand Prix. The 2027 Grand Prix can become a model for operational efficiency and digital innovation that will benefit Taekwondo globally. Location: Meetings to be held throughout 2026 and 2027. Meetings will alternate between in person (Manchester) and online where possible. Time Commitment: Circa 10 days per year, the SHB will meet at 7-week intervals, with the meeting frequency increasing closer to the event. It is expected that the Chair will be available during the event itself, ideally attending live event days. Contractual Status:Fixed term until completion of World Taekwondo Grand Prix Series III Debrief (December 2027) Key responsibilities of the Chair Lead the SHB to set the vision for the planning and delivery of the World Taekwondo Grand Prix Manchester 2027. Ensure the SHB operates in line with the Code for Sports Governance, and MCC governance requirements. Lead SHB meetings: set clear agendas that drive the event forward with every meeting, ensure effective reporting from the Event Director and promote constructive challenge and robust decision making. Ensure effective oversight of: Budget and cashflow, and delegated procurement decisions Delivery milestones, event objectives, and the risk register To lead the SHB to set ambitious, impactful objectives for the event and effectively support their delivery. Champion a future-ready approach to planning throughout the SHB and LOC to support Taekwondo’s position as a credible bidder for future major events. Support the Event Director to ensure the LOC has a robust, workable, and viable operational plan. To act impartially in the best interests of the event, monitor and manage conflicts of interest and protect the integrity of decision making. To act as an ambassador for the event, supporting external engagement where required. Key Relationships SHB members (Manchester City Council, British Taekwondo, GB Taekwondo, UK Sport) Event Director GLL (venue operator) Person Specification Essential Proven leadership experience at board level, delivering results. Good knowledge of corporate and/or sports governance board-level responsibilities. A strategic and collaborative approach to stakeholder management High integrity, sound judgement, and ability to operate impartially. Tenacious and diplomatic, with the ability to identify and critically assess opportunities and threats to develop effective strategies and solutions. Strong financial and risk management skills Desirable A sound understanding of major sports events (ideally across both Olympic and Paralympic landscapes) An understanding of the UK sporting landscape including governance standards and funding systems and how these areas impact relationships with international stakeholders Knowledge of the stakeholder environment within Manchester Experience of international influencing through key volunteers and committee members within sport How to apply If this exciting position appeals to you, you should submit: CV (max. two pages) Covering letter of one page of A4 demonstrating your motivation for applying and how you will bring your experience, skills, and knowledge to be successful in the role. Please send your CV and covering letter to recruitment@britishtaekwondo.org Interviews will take place online w/c 06 April. For an informal chat about the opportunity, please contact Matt Marshall, British Taekwondo Head of Events on 07518 960 627 We are dedicated to creating a SHB that truly reflects the diversity of the Taekwondo community. We actively welcome applications from people of all ages and backgrounds, particularly from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic communities, Disabled people, and young people. If you have any accessibility requirements or would like to discuss reasonable adjustments, please contact Matt Marshall Email: Mathew.marshall@britishtaekwondo.org Telephone: 07518 960 627 Share X LinkedIn Email