British Museum - 3 x Trustees
- Body
- British Museum
- Appointing Department
- Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
- Sectors
- Charity & Public Sector, Culture, Media & Sport
- Location
- London
- Number of Vacancies
- 3
- Remuneration
- The post is unpaid, but travel and accommodation expenses can be claimed
- Time Requirements
- The Board meets four times a year, with most meetings and associated activities lasting half a day and one meeting usually spent away from the Museum over a weekend. Most Trustees also serve on one or more committees or advisory groups, each meeting around three to four times a year. Additional time will be required to study papers, to attend events at the Museum, including fundraising events, and to represent the Museum at other functions.
Campaign Timeline
-
Competition Launched
25/10/2018
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Closed for Applications
07/12/2018 at 12:00
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Panel Sift
15/01/2019
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Final Interview Date
Interviews will take place on 6 & 7 February
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Announcement
08/04/2019 at 10:00
Announcement
An announcement has been made on the outcome of this appointment.
The Prime Minister has appointed three new trustees to the board of the British Museum. Dame Vivian Hunt and George Weston have been appointed for four years from 25 March 2019, Philipp Hildebrand has been appointed for four years from 1 August 2019.
Assessment Panel
- Panel Member
- Emma Squire
- Positions
- Departmental Official
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- Panel Member
- Sir Richard Lambert
- Positions
- Representative of Organisation
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- Panel Member
- Charles Mackay
- Positions
- Senior Independent Panel Member
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Vacancy Description
The British Museum holds the greatest collection in the world representative of human cultural achievement, ancient and modern. It was founded by Parliament in 1753 with the purpose of preserving and maintaining the collection “not only for the inspection and entertainment of the learned and curious, but for the general use and benefit of the public”. That founding purpose remains true today. It is a centre of research and inquiry at all levels, providing a forum for the expression of many different cultural perspectives and a place to increase understanding of the cultural connections and influences linking citizens of both the UK and the world – it is a museum of the world, for the world.
The British Museum Board is seeking to recruit three Trustees, two immediately and one from August 2019.
Person Specification
Essential Criteria
All successful candidates will demonstrate:
- An understanding of and commitment to the objectives and work of the British Museum as a museum of the world for the world.
- Strategic decision-making ability.
- A commitment to supporting fundraising activity.
- Excellent communications and representational skills.
- The ability to work effectively as part of a team, with experience of collective decision making at a senior level.
In addition, the British Museum is particularly keen to recruit those who can support a major fundraising campaign.
In making its final recommendation to the Prime Minister, the advisory panel will also take account of the need to maintain diversity of the Board.
Time Commitment
Successful candidates will need to spend time familiarising themselves with the Museum and its workings and keeping that knowledge up to date. The Board meets four times a year, with most meetings and associated activities lasting half a day and one meeting usually spent away from the Museum over a weekend. Most Trustees also serve on one or more committees or advisory groups, each meeting around three to four times a year. Additional time will be required to study papers, to attend events at the Museum, including fundraising events, and to represent the Museum at other functions.
Location of Meetings
Board and Committee meetings are usually held at the Museum.
Remuneration
The post is unpaid, but travel and accommodation expenses can be claimed.
Term of Appointment
Four years.
Additional Information
Since its foundation, the Museum has been governed by a Board of Trustees responsible for ensuring that the collection is housed in safety and is available for study and enjoyment by current and future generations in the UK and across the world.
The Board comprises 25 Trustees, drawn from a broad range of people with diverse skills and experience, reflecting the Museum’s national and international role, as well as its mixed public, charitable and commercial business model. The Trustees provide vision, direction, control and accountability in fulfilling the Museum’s public purpose. They uphold the highest levels of probity, financial stewardship and corporate performance.
The British Museum has been transformed over the last decade or so, but faces many challenges which the Trustees will have to address to ensure that it continues to thrive and to maintain its world-class position. The Trustees will have to respond to the economic challenge posed by reductions in public funding by, among other things, helping to raise other income. Trustees also need to lead a fundamental reshaping of the presentation of the collections both physically and digitally, and to oversee the development and implementation of long-term plans to improve the building to make it fit for purpose over the next century.
For more information about the British Museum and for a list of current Trustees, please visit the About us section of the Museum’s website: www.britishmuseum.org
How to Apply
To apply, please send:
- A CV of no more than two sides of A4; this should provide details of your education and qualifications, employment history, directorships, membership of professional bodies and details of any publications or awards.
- A supporting statement of not more than two sides of A4, setting out how you meet the criteria – please make sure you refer to the contents of this document;
- The Conflicts of Interest Form and the Diversity Form. The Diversity Form will be kept separately from your application and Conflicts of Interest Form, and will not be seen by the selection panel in order to meet the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments.
Completed applications should be sent to: publicappointments@culture.gov.uk Please put ‘British Museum’ in the subject title. Alternatively, they can be posted to Public Appointments Team, 100 Parliament Street, London, SW1A 2BQ.
We will acknowledge receipt of all applications, and will deal with your application as quickly as possible.
Please note that the closing date will be Friday 7th December at 12pm.
DCMS does not reimburse travel expenses.