The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport wishes to appoint a Chair to the Board of National Museums Liverpool. This is an extraordinary opportunity for an individual who is passionate about the Museums Sector and about the growth and exposure of the North West as a cultural powerhouse of the United Kingdom.
The Chair will be expected to:
- Provide leadership and focus for the Board, ensuring it meets its financial and statutory obligations; and to maintain a balanced, diverse and supportive Board.
- Work closely with the Director to develop the vision and strategies of NML, and to provide appropriate support to the Executive Team in delivering agreed priorities to appropriate standards, on time and within budget.
- Promote and champion NML, building and strengthening public understanding of its potential, and articulating the need for fresh investment from both public and private sources
- Work with the City Region and Cultural Partnership in particular to lead an ambitious and future facing heritage offer
- Monitor performance and ensure that Government’s expectations are understood and met, that NML achieves its goals and has the professional capacity to support the sector and its stakeholders.
- Oversee and assess the performance of the Director and the Executive Team, attending as necessary to their diversity, recruitment, professional development and remuneration.
National Museums Liverpool (NML) is an executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. It is unique in that it is the only national museum service in England which is based wholly outside London. The museums group manages internationally recognised museums and art galleries, including World Museum, Walker Art Gallery and Museum of Liverpool, which between them attracted more than three million visitors a year prior to the Covid pandemic. The range of the collections is immense, including archaeology, fine and decorative art, science, slavery natural history and social history. Reflecting this, approximately 50% of NML's visitors come from outside Merseyside.
NML holds a unique civic and cultural position and is home to some of the most visited museums and galleries in the country, including the Museum of Liverpool, World Museum and the International Slavery Museum.
With a collection of more than four million objects spanning art, history, science, and human rights, NML’s mission is to engage diverse audiences, challenge perceptions, and celebrate the stories that shape us. It plays a vital role in the social and economic life of the North West, welcoming millions of visitors each year and working in close partnership with communities. At a moment of bold organisational renewal and with an ambitious new strategy in place, NML is at an exciting juncture to welcome its next Chair.”
The NML Board is appointed by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. More information on the current Chair and Trustees can be found on the
Board of Trustees.
This post is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. For more information, please refer to the
Commissioner’s website