RAF Museum - Trustee
- Body
- SofS Ministry of Defence
- Appointing Department
- Ministry of Defence
- Sectors
- Business, Finance & Skills, Charity & Public Sector, Communities, Defence, Education
- Location
- London and Cosford. Occasional travel to other locations may be required.
- Skills required
- Accountancy, Audit and Risk, Business / Commercial, Change Management, Communication / Media / Marketing, HR, IT / Digital, Legal / Judicial
- Number of Vacancies
- 8
- Remuneration
- No
- Time Requirements
- 5 Years. 15 days a year
Campaign Timeline
-
Competition Launched
24/02/2021
-
Closed for Applications
06/04/2021
-
Panel Sift
19/04/2021
-
Final Interview Date
24/05/2021 - 25/05/2021
-
Announcement
04/11/2021 at 08:00
Announcement
An announcement has been made on the outcome of this appointment.
The following were appointed as members to the RAF Museum Board of Trustees by Min(Lords) on 23rd July 2021 for a period of 5 years ending on 30 June 2026:
Mr John Banks Mr David Cooper Mr Jonathan Field Mr Matthew Gilpin Sir Stephen Hillier Mr Waseem Mahmood Air Marshal (Ret’d) Peter Ruddock Miss Helen Selby
Assessment Panel
- Panel Member
- Andrew Pulford
- Added
- 23/02/2021
- Panel Role
- Panel Chair
- Positions
- CHAIR OF TRUSTEES Senior Independent Panel Member
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| Political Activity | No |
|---|---|
| Notes | - |
- Panel Member
- Diana Brittan
- Added
- 23/02/2021
- Positions
- Retired Independent Member
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| Political Activity | No |
|---|---|
| Notes | - |
- Panel Member
- Rita McLean
- Added
- 23/02/2021
- Positions
- Museums & Heritage Consultant Representative of Organisation
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| Political Activity | No |
|---|---|
| Notes | - |
- Panel Member
- Jacqui Toogood
- Added
- 17/05/2021
- Positions
- Head of Secretariat and Civilian Workforce for the RAF Representative of Organisation
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| Political Activity | No |
|---|---|
| Notes | - |
Vacancy Description
The Royal Air Force (RAF) Museum was established as a legacy of the RAF’s fiftieth anniversary, opening our London (Hendon) site in 1972. From 1979, the Museum also managed the Cosford Aerospace Museum for the MOD, which had also been in operation since 1972. This was renamed the RAF Museum Cosford in 1998 when it formally joined the Museum portfolio. The Museum also has two external stores, one in Stafford and another within RAF Cosford.
The Royal Air Force Museum is a National Museum, a Government executive Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB) and a registered charity. The Museum is sponsored by the Ministry of Defence, investing annual Grant-in-Aid which is supplemented by commercial and fundraising income. The Museum is supported by its Trading Company, RAF Museum Enterprises Ltd, and the RAF Museum American Foundation (RAFMAF).
The Museum is outward focused and people centred, guided by its Strategy 2030 (see https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/about-us/). The Museum’s vision to inspire everyone with the RAF story – the people who shape it and its place in our lives, ensuring that the national collection is relevant, shared and well cared for. 2018 marked the Centenary of the Royal Air Force and, in June 2018, the Museum opened the major transformation of its London site and had its most successful year across both sites since the Museum’s formation, welcoming almost a million visitors. Equally importantly, its visitor profile has broadened and diversified significantly, and the partnerships – and friendships – that have developed over the period have laid a firm and inspiring foundation to build on for this next chapter of the Museum’s history.
COVID-19 has had significant impact on the RAF Museum. However, its team has focused on engaging with the public virtually, keeping its 240 staff and 500 volunteers well and motivated, and reappraising its Strategy 2030 to ensure its contribution to the national recovery. The RAF Museum was the first National Museum to reopen in July 2020 after the first lockdown, and its Cosford and London sites scored first and second respectively of 44 visitor attractions from visitor post evaluation for its warm welcome. Nonetheless, COVID has led to
a reduction in earned income (fundraising and commercial) by over £3M in 2020-21 with further losses projected for 2021-22. Costs have been reduced and other savings made to ensure the Museum’s long-term financial resilience in addition to seeking additional support to compensate for the losses.
Trustee Responsibility
Trustees have corporate responsibility for the policy and strategic direction of the Museum, subject to the terms set out in the RAF Museum’s Trust Deed. It is their responsibility to ensure that the Museum manages its resources effectively for public benefit and complies any statutory or administrative requirements for the use of public funds as an NDPO through Managing Public Money. Specifically, the Board:
- Determines the general policy of the Museum
- Appoints the CEO of the Museum, with the approval of the Secretary of State
- Monitors and oversees the CEO’s management of the Museum. The CEO is the Board’s Chief Executive and the Accounting Officer of the Museum
- Has legal responsibility for the buildings, collections and financial assets of the Museum and their care and management
- Approves the Museum’s Strategic framework
- Monitors the process of Risk Management within the Museum
- Publishes an annual report and accounts, audited by the Comptroller and Auditor-General.Trustees are expected to understand and uphold the Seven Principles of Public Life as defined by the Committee on Standards in Public Life (see Campaign Information Pack). Trustees must be positive advocates and ambassadors for the Museum. They will exercise drive with due tact and discretion as members of a corporate body with a collective and strategic role.
Person Specification
The Museum’s purpose is to share the story of the Royal Air Force, past, present and future – using the stories of its people and our collections to engage, inspire and encourage learning. We have a strong commitment to diversifying the Museum’s leadership and particularly welcome candidates from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds to contribute a breadth of skills, experiences and perspectives to our governance and to improve our effectiveness.
Candidates must demonstrate all of the following essential criteria:
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to both actively listen and to constructively challenge peers
- Ability to champion change and learning, while helping the executive think through the risks and mitigations
- An interest in the museum and cultural sector and the difference they can make to people’s lives within the current economic and political environment
- An interest in the Royal Air Force.
- An understanding of the charity sector and governance and of Trustees’ accountability and their responsibility to both lead and support the organisation with the Executive team
The following criteria are also desirable (within the five vacant roles, we require a minimum of one trustee with these specific skills or experience):
- A career in the RAF or strong links to the RAF
- In depth finance expertise
- Legal skills
- Digital skills and flair
- Audit and Risk expertise
Additional Information
Time Requirement: Board Members are appointed by the Secretary of State for Defence. As such the appointments are covered by the 2019 Governance Code and regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Candidates should be able to devote (on average) one day per month to the task.
There are four full Board meetings per year with additional time required for preparation. Trustees are also required to attend Museum events, to represent the Museum elsewhere, and to contribute to committees (currently Finance, Audit & Risk, Development, Staffing and Remuneration, Nominations and Governance, plus the Museum’s Trading Board, RAF Museum Enterprises Ltd).
Trustees give their services on an honorary basis and receive no remuneration, except for expenses reasonably incurred in performance of their duties.
How to Apply
To apply please read the attached Campaign Information pack then submit the following documents by email to DBSCivPers-ResNONSTDAPPTS@mod.gov.uk quoting reference number (38792) by 6th April 2021, 23:00.
- Expression of Interest form
- Diversity Monitoring Form
- Current CV