Deputy Director of Legal and Regulatory Affairs

Organisation: UKAD
Salary: £84,000 - £88,000
Location: Stratford, London
Contract type: Permanent (Full time)
Closing date: 22 March 2026
Job Description: UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) is on a mission to protect clean sport and currently has an exciting opportunity available for you to join us.

We’re looking to recruit a Deputy Director of Legal and Regulatory Affairs, a key senior leadership role in supporting, assisting and deputising across the breadth of UKAD’s legal, regulatory and compliance issues, ensuring the highest quality legal advice is made available to the organisation in the most efficient and timely way.

About us

Our purpose:

To ensure doping-free sport, promoting and protecting clean sport through education, testing and enforcement.

Our values:

Integrity – We do what is right for clean sport, we are equitable and ethical, ensuring everyone is treated fairly and with respect.

Collaboration – We work together and with others, sharing knowledge and building relationships to better tackle doping.

Excellence – We strive to achieve high standards in the protection of clean sport, evolving with the times and finding solutions.

Passion – We are dedicated to keeping sport clean, are proud of what we do and know it matters.

Job purpose

You will support the Director’s leadership of the Legal & Regulatory Affairs Directorate (which consists of the Case Management, Results and Assurance teams) and be directly responsible for the line management of at least two of the Heads of those teams.

You will work alongside the Director, as required, and specifically in respect of the following, which are primarily the responsibility of the Director:

• Supervising the delivery of the organisation’s results and case management functions to best practice standards, whilst ensuring that UKAD complies with both its international and national obligations.

• Developing protocols and procedures consistent with the World Anti-Doping Code, UK Anti-Doping Rules and National Anti-Doping Policy and promulgating these both within and outside the organisation.

• Keeping the National Anti-Doping Policy and UK Anti-Doping Rules under review, to lead on changes as and when appropriate, and to effectively communicate and implement changes.

• Developing and implementing protocols and procedures to review compliance with the National Anti-Doping Policy and Assurance Framework within the UK sporting landscape and to address and manage any aspects of non-compliance.

• Developing and leading a professional, high-performing legal directorate.

• Maintaining an appropriate balance between internal and external legal resource, and working within a defined budget, as authorised by the Director.

• Working with the Chief Executive and the Directors to shape the strategic direction of UKAD.

Key result areas include

Leadership

• Work with the Director in leading the Directorate to deliver the effective application of the World Anti-Doping Code, UK Anti-Doping Rules and National Anti-Doping Policy through its results management, case management and assurance functions

• Contribute to the effective leadership of the organisation by deputising for the Director (as required) within the senior management team and at Board, and by working with colleagues throughout the organisation to identify and deliver ways of improving UKAD’s effectiveness and efficiency across its anti-doping functions

• Provide people management leadership through setting direction, monitoring and developing performance, building morale and generating a sense of common purpose

• In partnership with the Director, lead the Directorate in the provision of high quality, accurate and timely legal advice and service to all areas of the organisation

Service Delivery

• Provide direct supervision and guidance on all aspects of results management, case preparation, presentation and prosecution, and personally undertake such work as required, particularly in respect of complex and/or high-profile matters

• Develop protocols with the Director for the accurate and timely prosecution and determination of cases and for any subsequent appeals processes

• Assist the Director with the assessment and management of the strategic and legal impact of case decisions

• Develop and maintain with the Director internal procedures and external communication protocols consistent with the need to protect the confidentiality of cases and the privacy of individuals

• Provide direct supervision and guidance on all aspects of UKAD’s non-contentious legal work, including requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act

• Assist with ensuring that the organisation meets its responsibilities under the Data Protection Act and GDPR, through general advice as necessary and direct assistance to the Data Protection Officer

• Support the Director as required in providing advice on matters of policy, company law, corporate governance, parliamentary accountability, regulatory matters

• Provide guidance to the Assurance team on compliance with the National Anti-Doping Policy and Assurance Framework, and on intervention and reporting in cases of non-compliance

• Act as a media spokesperson for UKAD as required

Relationship Management

Work closely with the Director, or lead as required, on the following:

• Managing the relationship with the King’s College Laboratory, particularly in respect of performance and results management related matters

• Managing relationships with National Governing Bodies

• Managing the relationship with WADA in respect of legal and compliance matters

• Liaising with law enforcement agencies and regulatory bodies as appropriate

• Working closely with the Director of Operations regarding intelligence management and the interaction between the Intelligence and Investigations team and legal colleagues

• Managing the relationship with external legal firms and external counsel

Governance

Work closely with the Director, or lead as required, on the following:

• Planning, managing and monitoring the financial and people resources of the Directorate

• Advising on the legal effect of policy proposals relating to anti-doping in sport which may arise from WADA, DCMS or international conventions

• Providing policy guidance, negotiating positions and briefings for public representation to the Chief Executive, Chair and Board

• Providing analysis and guidance for DCMS

Projects

• Manage projects as appropriate

In addition to the above, there will be specific work areas that the Deputy Director will be entrusted with and responsible for.

Person specification

Qualifications/experience/knowledge

• Barrister or Solicitor with a current practising certificate and a minimum of ten years’ post qualification experience

• Substantial experience of managing anti-doping disputes or other complex sports regulatory issues and litigation

• Extensive experience in managing complex and high-profile cases, including in administrative law areas that involve liaison with both public and private authorities

• Extensive experience of communicating and presenting to a variety of levels of seniority and backgrounds, both internally and externally

• Extensive experience of managing sensitive and confidential information in an appropriate manner

• Proven experience of managing regulatory investigations and utilising appropriate intelligence and investigation tools

• Proven experience of providing legal advice to senior management and Board

• Proven experience of line management of other colleagues

• Experience of managing Freedom of Information Act, Data Protection Act and GDPR matters (desirable)

• Experience of drafting and reviewing commercial contracts (desirable)

• Experience in Swiss law and/or managing proceedings before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (desirable)

• A passion for, and wider knowledge of sport

Skills

• Ability to build and sustain relationships with a network of key stakeholders internally and externally

• Self-aware and excellent interpersonal, influencing, negotiation and

communication skills

• Excellent oral, written and presentation skills

• Strong organisational skills and the ability to meet tight deadlines

• Ability to work with and across teams, whilst prioritising own workload and working under a tight schedule with competing deadlines

• Ability to use initiative and judgement, with a proactive approach to problem solving

• Excellent attention to detail

• Ability to work proactively with external suppliers and consultants

• Ability to use Microsoft Office efficiently

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds.

We are a disability confident employer and actively welcome applications from people with disabilities and long-term health conditions.

If you meet the definition of ‘being a disabled person’ according to the Equality Act 2010, and meet the minimum criteria for the role, you may be eligible to apply for an interview via the Disability Confident Scheme and will have the opportunity let us know as part of your application.

As an organisation working across the sports sector, we value a team that brings a wide range of perspectives and experiences. This diversity helps us understand the communities we support, strengthen our work, and create an inclusive environment for everyone.

We warmly encourage applications from women, individuals with diverse abilities, and people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds. Recruitment is always based on merit, skills and experience.

Our hybrid working principles currently require colleagues to work two days in the office per week, one day of which will be a ‘team day’ with colleagues from the same team working together in the office on the same day.

Please note that UK Anti-Doping are currently unable to provide Visa Sponsorship.
How to apply: Our values are at the heart of what we do, so if they align with you and you’re up for the fight against doping in sport, please complete the online application - https://careers.ukad.org.uk/jobs/7354174-deputy-director-of-legal-and-regulatory-affairs Deadline for Applications is 11:59pm on 22 March 2026. Interviews will take place on 01 and 02 April 2026. Please note: If we receive a high number of applications, we may close the advert earlier than planned. If this role feels like a great fit for you, we’d be thrilled to receive your application sooner rather than later.