The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport is seeking to appoint three individuals to join the Board of Trustees of the Royal Armouries, the nation’s museum of arms and armour.
Reflecting the Royal Armouries’ status as one of the country’s great collections (and indeed as the world’s oldest museum), they are seeking Trustees who combine exceptional experience within their fields (including museum policy and governance, finance and commercial) with a breadth of understanding and vision that will help guide the museum within a national and international context.
Appointment description:
The key role of a Trustee is to play a collective part in the governance of the Royal Armouries in ensuring it meets its duties as set out in the National Heritage Act (1983).
As a Trustee, you will share ultimate responsibility for ensuring the Royal Armouries continues to be a sustainable, well-run organisation, focussed on delivering its mission. You will combine the legal duties of a Trustee, to ensure compliance, prudence and care, with the ethical values of the organisation, to serve its public, to be inclusive, empathetic and forward-looking and to help unlock ways in which the nation’s collection of arms and armour can help unlock wider community benefits and ensure richer and larger lives for all.
Generally, all Trustees will, through either the Main Board or the delegated activities of its sub-committees:
- Contribute actively to the Board of Trustees role in giving a clear steer in relation to the strategic direction of the museum
- Oversee the risks and opportunities for the Royal Armouries’ main activity
- Oversee the financial stability of the Royal Armouries
- Protect the assets of the Royal Armouries
- Ensure the museum’s performance is properly evaluated and recorded, setting appropriate targets and reporting in line with its duties under the Act and Framework Agreement
- Demonstrate an energetic commitment to the Royal Armouries’ mission, brand and values
- Actively support the Royal Armouries’ public fundraising and campaigns
- Act as positive champions and advocates for the Royal Armouries and its work
- Comply with the intentions of Corporate Governance in Central Government Departments: Code of Good Practice 2011 in so far as they are relevant to a NDPB and Charity Commission governance rules etc;
- Embody in all respects the Seven Principles of Public Life
More specifically, the Board of Trustees is intended to offer the skills and expertise which DCMS and the museum believe will be needed to guide the strategic direction of the Royal Armouries in the foreseeable future, particularly for the successful completion of the current Corporate Plan (2023 – 2028), roll-out of the next 5-year plan (2029 – 2034) and the development of the museum’s Armouries 700 masterplan. The required skills and experience are intended to complement and amplify rather than replicate those of the Executive Board.
Organisation description:
The charitable objectives of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Armouries are set out by Parliament (under the provisions of the National Heritage Act 1983) to preserve, add to and exhibit the national collection of arms and armour and promote its public enjoyment and understanding. It does this through operating the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds, the Tower Armoury at the Tower of London, the Royal Armouries’ museum of artillery at Fort Nelson near Portsmouth and the National Firearms Centre in Leeds.
The Royal Armouries is one of 23 Government-sponsored Arms-Length Bodies (ALBs) that enjoy certain operational freedoms, in recognition of the unique nature and value of their work. There is a Framework Agreement in place with the Department of Culture, Media and Sport and receipt of Grant-in-Aid is dependent upon the Royal Armouries’ compliance with the agreement. The Royal Armouries is an exempt charity under the Charities Act 2011.
Key skills & responsibilities’:
The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate in their application the following qualities:
- Knowledge: a clear understanding of the work, priorities and challenges of Royal Armouries and the context within which it operates.
- Relationship building: ability to build strong stakeholder relationships, including with Ministers and Senior Government officials, with Local and Regional Government and external stakeholders.
- Communication: strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to listen, accept challenges and constructively challenge others in discussions with clarity and respect.
- Judgement: effective decision-making skills with the ability to critically analyse a wide range of information to make clear and objective evidence-based recommendations to support the delivery of the Royal Armouries’ objectives.
- Collaboration: ability to work closely with the executive board and other key stakeholders, providing support, constructive challenge and assurance as appropriate.
- A demonstrable commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion; and improving opportunities for people throughout the UK.
How to apply: Please click here to find out more & apply for this position
