Additional Regional Group Champions needed

ARMA is seeking members to fill Regional Group Champion vacancies across a number of our newly established Regional Groups. Regional Groups provide opportunities for members to connect with colleagues in their local area, share knowledge and discuss matters affecting research management and administration within their region. The Regional Groups are a new initiative designed to strengthen local networks and create additional opportunities for member engagement and professional development.

The activities of Regional Groups are led by our member volunteers, known as Regional Group Champions and we are looking for additional Champions to join the following groups:

• London – 3 vacancies
• North-East – 2 vacancies
• West Midlands – 1 vacancy

All Regional Groups should ideally have at least three and no more than five Champions, and Champions must be from different research organisations.

As a result, applicants are encouraged to review the current composition of their Regional Group Champions before applying, as we are unlikely to appoint more than one Champion from the same organisation. We are particularly keen to achieve a diverse mix of organisations within each Regional Group and therefore welcome applications from individuals working across different types of research organisations, including universities, research institutes, independent research organisations, public sector research establishments, Catapult centres, NHS bodies, mission groups, government departments, research funders, charities (non-university), Trusts and Foundations.

As these Regional Groups are still in their early stages of development, this is an exciting opportunity to help shape the future direction of local ARMA networks. The London Regional Group has already held its first online event and our North-East and West Midlands groups are in the process of planning their programmes of activity. We are therefore seeking enthusiastic volunteers who can help build engagement, develop ideas for future activities and support the growth of these new communities.

Why you should become a Regional Group Champion

Regional Group Champions work together to plan and deliver at least two topical and networking events per year – at least one of these will take place in-person. They will curate regional resources on the ARMA website and also facilitate discussions on the Regional Group JiscMail list.

Becoming a Champion will allow you to:

• Apply your skills, experience, creativity and knowledge to new challenges
• Gain governance and leadership experience by coordinating local activities and initiatives
• Connect with like-minded individuals and engage with key stakeholders in your region and across the sector
• Make a difference in your region by addressing local needs and challenges
• Increase your visibility and raise your personal and professional profile.

For further information about the role, please read the Regional Group Champion Role Description.

How to express interest

If you are interested in becoming a Regional Group Champion, please email a supporting statement (up to 400 words) to nicole@arma.ac.uk by Monday 14 September 2026 with the subject line: ‘Regional Group Champion Vacancy – ADD NAME OF REGION’. The statement should outline your background, why you are interested in becoming a Regional Group Champion and what you will bring to the role. Full details on what to include and how applications are assessed are provided below.

How Regional Group Champions are selected

All supporting statements will be reviewed by a panel comprising existing Regional Group Champions, representatives from the Member Engagement Committee and ARMA Executive Office. All statements will be anonymised with the name and current organisation redacted, so if you can avoid using these details in your statement that will be helpful.

The panel will score the statements based on the below areas:

• Relevance of background/experience

• Motivation and ability to engage the regional community

• Interest in the Regional Group champion role

While we do not require you to be an ARMA member to express interest in this role, in the event that you are successful, you will be asked to join the Association.

Our commitment to EDI

ARMA is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion. It is a strategic priority for us to improve representation within our organisation. We particularly welcome applications from groups who are underrepresented within our community. We are committed to taking active steps within our recruitment process to reduce bias and minimise barriers to application and participation. We are also committed to offering a flexible and inclusive working environment for our employees. We offer a range of adjustments throughout the process to enable full participation. If there is anything further we can do, we encourage you to get in touch.