Sport and Exercise Nutrition Register (SENR) Board Membership (Practitioner Registrant)

SENR Board Member (Practitioner Registrant)

The BDA invites applications for the above post. 

Period of Appointment:

February 2025 – January 2028

Role of the SENR Board:

The Board shall have strategic oversight and set direction for the work of the Register.

The Board will oversee a quality assurance framework to register Sport and Exercise Nutrition professionals and to endorse and accredit education and training in Sport and Exercise Nutrition. The Board will also work to develop external relations, including opportunities for internationalisation and research, and will engage in overarching quality assurance activity.

Board Membership:

Board membership shall include:

• Chair
• Vice Chair(s)
• Three members to lead on the strategic areas of registration, accreditation and endorsement, and external engagement
• A representative from each of the four country Institutes of Sport with current Graduate or Practitioner Registrant status
• The Chair of BDA Sports Nutrition Group (SNG)
• A Graduate registrant
• At least two other members, appointed to address additional skills, competencies, and knowledge the Board should require

One, or more, of the members will be appointed as Vice Chair by the Board.

Chair: The SENR Board to be chaired by a non-executive Director member of the BDA Board and appointed by the BDA Board. .

• Vice Chair(s): Nominations for the roles of Vice Chair of Board shall be received from the SENR Board members. In the event of multiple expressions of interest for these positions, the SENR Board will vote for its preferred candidate. The Board Vice Chair shall be a BDA member in any one of its membership categories.

SENR Executive Team: The SENR Executive Team will comprise the SENR Executive Support Consultant and selected individuals from the BDA. These individuals will provide expertise to support the operational requirements of the SENR.

The Board oversees two operational committees: Endorsement and Accreditation Committee and the Registration Committee. The committees are chaired by members of the SENR Board and provide assurance to the board on the quality and consistency of processes required for a robust and accurate register.

Areas of accountability:

Registration

1. Ensure the standards of competence and conduct required for registration for each element of the register (Graduate, Practitioner and Academic Registrant) remain fit for purpose;
2. Ensure the fitness for purpose of the Register; decide policy on its content and on access to it;
3. Oversee the registration assessment process, ensuring that a fair, robust and equitable system is operated by and that guidelines are set under which SENR staff or its agents may determine individual applications for registration; for amendment of an entry; removal from the Register; or restoration to it;
4.  Review fees for entry, retention on and restoration to the register; and make recommendations to the BDA Board;
5. Set, maintain and secure high standards of quality in the administration of the Register and the data it holds.

Accreditation and Endorsement:

1. Ensure systems for Accreditation (post-graduate (PG) programmes) and Endorsement (under-graduate (UG) programmes) for Higher Education Institutions remain fit for purpose;
2. Set and maintain competency frameworks and associated requirements;
3. Oversee the quality assurance processes underpinning accreditation and endorsement including initial application, annual review, major change review and re-accreditation / endorsement;
4.  Review the fee scale applied to accreditation and endorsement and make proposals to the BDA Board.

External Relations including Internationalisation and Research:

1. Identify key UK and international policy issues relating to the SENR and where necessary formulate strategies for address them;
2. Promote the SENR as a recognised Register of excellence;
3. Establish links and shared working (as appropriate) with all Institutes of Sport;
4. Raise the profile of SENR registrants amongst the UK and international sports and exercise community;

Overarching Quality Assurance Activity:

1. Keep under review the Code of Professional Conduct for Sport and Exercise Nutritionists, and other guidance published on standards of professional competency for practice;
2. Maintain oversight of actions  section)taken in cases where the conduct or competency of a registered practitioner is in question to the point where there appears to be an immediate risk to a client, the public or to the registrant. The management of this process is delegated to the BDA;
3. Secure effective control of expenditure by scrutinising annual budgets.

Knowledge, skills and experience required:

Time Commitment:

The Board will normally hold a maximum of one face-to-face meeting and two virtual meetings per year. Members may be involved with additional task and finish groups, meetings / teleconferences where appropriate. Meetings will normally be held at the BDA offices in Birmingham.

Administrative support is provided by the BDA. Board membership is a voluntary, unpaid position, but members may claim travel expenses in accordance with the BDA expenses policy.

Term of Office:

This post is for a period of three years and Board members may be reappointed for one further term of office.

How to Apply:

For an informal discussion on the role please contact the Chair below.

To apply, send your CV and a letter of application (no more than 2 sides of A4 each), explaining how and why you believe you meet the criteria and what you will add to the role of Board Member. 

Applications must be returned by email or post to:

Elaine Buckley,

SENR Board Chair and BDA Non-Executive Director,   

The British Dietetic Association,

3^rd Floor Interchange Place,

151 – 165 Edmund Street,

Birmingham B3 2AT.

Email address: [email protected]

Closing date for applications is 5pm on Monday 27 January 2025.

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to an online interview.