People & Culture Board Member

About Girls United

Girls United is creating a world where girls and women can reach their potential through the power of football. Across London and Mexico, it combines accessible football programmes, life-skills development, local female coach development and community-led action. In 2024/25, 1,832 young people attended weekly sessions across 47 venues and schools.

Why this role now

As Girls United enters the exciting 2027-2031 Strategy, it’s important that we add specific strengths to the Board to assist the CEO and current Board Members in ensuring we build and maintain excellence in our people and culture. The Board needs someone who can help the organisation make sensible, human decisions about its people while keeping the boundary between governance and management clear.

The candidate for this role can be based and have expertise in the UK or in Mexico.

The opportunity

Girls United is looking for a People & Culture Board Member who can bring clear strategic judgement, relevant experience and practical support at a point of growth. This is a governance role: the successful person will help the Board ask better questions, make sound decisions and support the Chief Executive without stepping into day-to-day management.

Role at a glance

• Role: People & Culture Board Member
• Reports to: The Board, through the Chair or nominated Co-Chair
• Term: Terms of maximum of two years, with possible renewal for 1 further term.
  
• Location: Mexico or the UK – meetings are mainly online, with some in-person activity in London and/or Mexico.
  
• Renumeration: This position is voluntary.
• Time Commitment: Four Board meetings, monthly subcommittee meetings, one annual half-day strategy session, preparation time and agreed support between meetings

What all Board Members are there to do

• Set and protect the organisation's purpose, direction and values.
• Oversee strategy, financial health, risk, safeguarding, impact and organisational sustainability.
• Act in the best interests of Girls United and the girls and communities it exists to serve.
• Bring independent judgement, ask constructive questions and contribute to collective decisions.
• Maintain confidentiality, declare conflicts of interest and follow the organisation's governing documents and agreed policies.
• Support an inclusive Board culture in which different experiences, identities and perspectives are heard.
• Be an active ambassador for Girls United and open relevant doors where appropriate.

What the People & Culture Board Member will bring

• Help the Board and Chief Executive shape a proportionate people and workforce approach linked to the 2027-2031 strategy and future operating model.
• Advise on organisational design and workforce planning across London and Mexico, including the mix of staff, coaches, local leaders, volunteers and specialist support needed for growth.
• Advise on leadership capacity, succession, culture, development and the risks that come with expansion.
• Support the Board to oversee people-related risk, including capacity, retention, wellbeing, inclusion, safeguarding culture and the use of appropriate employment or HR advice.
• Act as a thoughtful sounding board to the Chief Executive on complex people questions.
• Help Girls United clarify which people processes can be handled internally, which can be delegated and when specialist employment advice is needed.
• Support fair, consistent and inclusive approaches to recruitment, onboarding, performance, development and departures across different teams and locations.
• Help the Board think about how the female coach and local-leader pipeline supports programme quality, the Girls United methodology and longer-term sustainability.
• Contribute to the Finance & Governance Subcommittee or another relevant committee agreed by the Board.

Contribution between meetings

Board Members are expected to contribute outside formal meetings, but that support should be purposeful and manageable. For this role, that is likely to mean occasional advice, introductions or a short piece of agreed work up to four hours a month, with any heavier commitment agreed in advance.

• Respond to reasonable requests for advice or introductions in your area of expertise.
• Join short conversations with the Chief Executive or a relevant team member when another perspective would help.
• Take on a clearly defined piece of work only where the purpose, boundaries and end point are agreed.
• Avoid directing staff, making operational decisions or becoming a substitute for paid specialist capacity.

What we are looking for

Essential

• Senior people, HR, organisational development or culture experience in a growing, multi-location organisation.
• Experience helping leaders think through team design, capability, culture and difficult people decisions.
• Experience of workforce planning and building leadership or talent pipelines through periods of growth.
• A clear understanding of the boundary between Board oversight, executive responsibility and independent professional advice.
• The confidence to challenge practices respectfully
• A commitment to gender equality and to creating better opportunities for girls through sport.
• The time and willingness to contribute between meetings within clear boundaries.

Desirable

• Understanding of safeguarding cultures in organisations working with children and young people.
• Experience in a charity, social enterprise, founder-led organisation, sport organisation or international team.
• Knowledge of UK or Mexico employment practice and/or experience working across the UK and/or Mexico.
• Experience of coach or volunteer workforces, executive support, leadership development, workforce wellbeing or succession planning.

How we will work together

• The Board works collectively. No single Board Member owns a decision or directs the executive team.
• Requests will be clear about whether Girls United needs a decision, advice, reassurance, an introduction or time-limited help.
• The Chair will check that expectations remain realistic and that the role is adding value for both Girls United and the Board.
• The Board will receive an appropriate induction, access to key documents and a named point of contact.

How to apply: Please apply through Girls United Bamboo hiring platform – any questions please email romina@girlsunitedfa.org.

Deadline: 02 November 2026, 11:59PM (GMT)