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Appointment details

Royal Museums Greenwich Trustees

Summary

Organisation
Royal Museums Greenwich
Sponsor department
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
Location
London
Sectors
Culture, Media & Sport
Skills
Accountancy, Audit and Risk, Commercial, Communication, Technology / Digital
Number of vacancies
2
Time commitment
4 meeting(s) per annum
Length of term
4 years
Application deadline
11:59pm on 1 January 2024

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Timeline for this appointment

  1. Opening date

    20 November 2023

  2. Application deadline

    11:59pm on 1 January 2024

  3. Sifting date

    8 February 2024

  4. Interviews expected to end on

    5 April 2024

Timeline dates are only an estimate and can change

About the appointment

Introduction

The Prime Minister is seeking two new Trustees with a background in either Astronomy or Finance and Accounting to join the Board of Trustees of Royal Museums Greenwich. 

Appointment description

The Board of Trustees is now seeking a Trustee from each of the following fields: Astronomy; Accountancy and Finance
Members of the Board have corporate responsibility for ensuring that Royal Museums Greenwich complies with any statutory or administrative requirements for the use of public funds. Other important responsibilities of Board members include:
- overseeing the delivery of planned results by monitoring performance against strategic objectives and targets;
- representing Royal Museums Greenwich, as its ambassadors, to stakeholders and potential donors; and
- ensuring that high standards of corporate governance are observed at all times.

Organisation description

By virtue of its sites and subjects, Royal Museums Greenwich enjoys a unique conjunction of subjects - History, Science (in particular, astronomy), Arts - and works with its audiences at local, regional, national and global levels to provide a greater understanding of humanity’s connection with the sea, space and time. RMG aims to be a welcoming place for everyone, receptive to engage with communities and provide a multi perspective social history, to become a place of memory and dialogue. 
The National Maritime Museum was opened by King George  VI in 1937. The Queen's House was part of the Museum from the  outset whilst the Royal Observatory, Greenwich was an addition of 1953.  In 2011 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II formally approved ‘Royal Museums Greenwich’ as the new group brand and in 2015 the Cutty Sark was donated to the National Maritime Museum collection. The Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre, completed in September 2017, consolidated and upgraded the collections storage and conservation functions on the Museum's Kidbrooke site. 
The Museum's collection comprises more than 3 million items. There are some 45 thousand three dimensional objects – which include ship models, scientific and navigational instruments, and instruments for time-keeping and astronomy. There are around 75 thousand oil paintings and prints and drawings and over 2 million manuscripts, rare books, ships plans, sea charts and historic photographic negatives. Its British portraits collection is exceeded in size only by that of the National Portrait Gallery and its holdings relating to Nelson and Cook, among many other individuals, are unrivalled.
The Museum has the world’s largest maritime archive and  maritime historical reference library including books dating back  to the 15th century. An active loans programme ensures that items  from the collection are seen in the UK and overseas. Through its displays, exhibitions and learning programmes the Museum also explores our current relationship with the sea, and its future as an environmental force and resource.
We are currently embarking on a once in a generation redevelopment of the Royal Observatory Greenwich, to celebrate the 350th anniversary of celestial observation at Greenwich in 2026, making it a place of ‘awe and wonder’; not only an essential stop off on the tourist map to visit the Prime Meridian but also a ‘must-see’ destination for the domestic audience to discover Time and Space.

Regulation of appointment

This post is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. For more information, please refer to the Commissioner’s website 

Person specification

Essential criteria

All candidates will need to demonstrate in their application that they meet the following criteria to a high standard:

  • The ability to work collaboratively with other Trustees and the senior management of the Museum; 

  • The ability to contribute to Board discussion on strategy, governance and policy development;

  • Good communication skills with the ability to act as an advocate for the Museum in areas such as research, media, fundraising and community engagement;

  • A strong interest in and commitment to the values of the Museum, as well as its future development; and

  • A commitment to highlighting and preserving cultural heritage, and improving education and understanding of British and World history.

Astronomy Trustee

  • Experience in the field of historical and contemporary astronomy at national and/or international level; and

  • Experience establishing relationships with academic and commercial partners and  key stakeholders in the astronomy field. 

Finance Trustee

Candidates for the Finance Trustee role must demonstrate appropriate evidence that they can become Chair of RMG’s Audit Committee including: 

  • Significant experience in Accountancy and Finance, including experience of the work of audit committees; and

  • Experience of risk management.  

Desirable criteria

Astronomy Trustee

  • Significant expertise in astronomy in particular its communication to the public and in the media;

  • A personal profile and network within the field of science; and 

  • The ability to influence and persuade external partners to contribute funding and other support to the development of the Museum's programmes

Finance Trustee

  • An accountancy qualification;

  • Experience of working with internal and external auditors and/or the National Audit Office;

  • Familiarity with Government Risk Management and Internal Audit Standards; and 

  • Experience in investment management. 

Application and selection process

Additional information for candidates

Attachments