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Sports President Role

Check all the important information about the role of Sports President.

Sports President

This role serves as the main representative of Strathclyde students as active individuals.

The Sports President leads the Sports Union including chairing committees and representing the members to the University and external audiences. They are responsible for campaigning to widen participation in sport and physical activity and supporting the development of the sports clubs.

Salary: £28,031

Term: 1st June 2026 to 11th June 2027

Working Hours: 35 hours per week (Full Time)

Annual Leave: 31 days plus 11 public holidays

Newly elected Full Time Officers are required to be available for handover and induction between 1st and 12th of June.

Useful Skills

Public speaking, facilitation, and communication skills

Experience of participating in Sports Union clubs, volunteering, and/or activities

Time management skills and the ability to manage multiple, ongoing projects

The ability to listen to, and advocate for, the concerns of students

The ability to work as a part of a team

Community engagement and capacity building skills

The ability to build relationships with people from a variety of backgrounds, and who hold a variety of roles (from undergraduate students to university leadership)

The ability to navigate sensitive political, professional, and personal issues with impartiality and confidentiality

Relationships, Responsibilities and Committees

Click to expand and explore key relationships, repsonsibilities and committees.

Key Relationships and Responsibilities
  • Work closely with other Elected Officers to speak collectively and represent Strath Union at meetings and events.
  • Be accessible to students, field student enquiries and signpost them to appropriate resources and services.
  • Build relationships with members of university staff and faculty to support students with their enquiries.
  • Liaise between Strathclyde Sports, the Sports Union, and Strath Union
  • Build relationships with sports clubs and field their enquiries
  • Work in partnership with relevant Strath Union staff, including the CEO, Deputy CEO, and Senior Management Team, Sports Union, Commercial, the Voice Team and the Advice Hub.
Key Committees
  • Chair Sports Executive, a student-led body that makes important decisions about the Sports Union.
  • Serve on a variety of University Committees which may include the Student Experience Committee, the Strathclyde Sport Engagement Group, the Alumni Fund Board Meeting.
  • Represent Strathclyde within strategic external partnership organisations, including British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) and Scottish Student Sport (SSS), serving on committees, participating in initiatives, and circulating opportunities to students, as required.
  • Work with the Sports Executive to lead the organisation and delivery of General Meetings
  • In advance of committee meetings, review papers, prepare agendas, and provide Student Union updates as required.
  • Attend other committees whose participation is shared by all Elected Officers.

Capacity Building and Policymaking

  1. Contributes to the development of sports clubs, Strath Active and intermural sports
  2. Campaign to widen participation in sport, increase access to sporting activities and improve the diversity of activities offered with a focus on physical health and wellbeing
  3. Engage with external stakeholders to further opportunities for students 
  4. Develop and advocate sports related policies 
  5. Facilitate input to university strategic initiatives and ensure student voice is heard in in corporate governance meetings

Events and Activities

  1. Contribute to the organisation and delivery of Sports Union events including Glasgow Varsity and Annual Sports Ball
  2. Amplify and promote Union and Societies events, attending when possible 
  3. Contribute to the organisation and delivery of Sports Union Elections

All Executive Officers

  • Sit on and fulfil the legal requirements of a Trustee on the Board of Trustees for Strath Union, which is responsible for the management and administration of Strath Union, and is made up of Sabbatical Trustees, Student Trustees and External Trustees.
  • Sit on the Senate, the academic governing body for the University.
  • Represent students at the Senate Disciplinary Committee, which considers individual disciplinary cases as well as makes recommendations on matters of disciplinary policy.
  • Attend and provide reports to Student Parliament.
  • Promote sustainability, entrepreneurship, and student welfare in their role, through their respective areas of influence.
  • Amplify and promote Union events, attending when relevant and possible.
  • All Executive Officers are required to meet eligibility criteria relating to employment and their suitability to serve on the Board of Trustees. Most students, including international students, are eligible, although there may be rare exceptions.

If you would like further clarification, please contact strathunion.dem@strath.ac.uk.

Role Specific Training

  • Extensive training and support will be provided to ensure you are fully equipped for the role.
  • Executive Officers are required to attend a handover and induction period between the 1st and 12th of June, during which annual leave cannot be taken.
  • The summer period also includes additional fixed training and conference dates, so Executive Officers should liaise with Students’ Union staff before confirming any summer holiday plans.
  • Further training and ongoing support will be provided throughout the academic year.
If you’re thinking about it, I’d say do it. Even if you’re running against someone who’s already been an Exec, like I did, believe in yourself.

Mairi MacVicar, VP Sports & Wellbeing 2014/15

Mairi MacVicar

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