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Six Trustee Roles

Employer
National Museum of the Royal Navy
Location
Hampshire
Salary
Unremunerated but with the payment of reasonable travel expenses
Closing date
6 Mar 2020

View more

Function
Trustees & Chair, Volunteering
Sector
Arts / Culture
Hours
Part Time
Contract Type
Permanent

Introduction

National Museum of the Royal Navy is looking to appoint six trustees to its Board of Trustees.

The National Museum of the Royal Navy’s vision is to become the world’s most inspiring Naval Museum, enabling people to learn, enjoy and engage with the epic story of the Royal Navy and its impact in shaping the modern world. The National Museum, headquartered in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, includes sites across the UK. You will be joining at a very exciting time as we embark on our next major capital programme, to deliver a new Royal Marines Museum, a regeneration project for Hartlepool and the future of the Fleet Air Arm Museum.  If you want to make a difference, share a passion for change and excellence and possess the leadership qualities to help us achieve this we want to hear from you. You will also have the opportunity to learn new skills and meet people from a diverse range of backgrounds, the National Museum would also welcome those new to trusteeship and would be willing to support any development required to assist you in your new role as a trustee and expects all trustees to undertake a minimum of one day a year in relevant training/CPD.

The National Museum of the Royal Navy was established in 2008 and is a registered charity, a company limited by guarantee and a Non-Departmental Public Body, sponsored by the Ministry of Defence and the parent company of the NMRN group.  The day-to-day operation of the National Museum is delegated to the Director General (also the Accounting Officer) and to the Executive Directors with 350 staff and over 300 volunteers. The National Museum attracted 1.24 million visitors to its sites in 2018/19. Further information about the National Museum of the Royal Navy can be found on its website www.nmrn.org.uk/about-nmrn

Background

The National Museum’s Articles of Association make provision for up to 16 Trustees, who are also the Members and Directors of the National Museum of the Royal Navy for the purposes of company law, and who collectively form the Board. The Board of Trustees meets four times a year to set the long-term strategic objectives of the National Museum, agree corporate priorities and review performance. The role of the Board is also to ensure the distinct legal obligations and charitable objectives are fulfilled, ensuring high standards of corporate governance are maintained, with effective control systems and decision-making processes in place. 

The trustees are also expected to act as ambassadors for the National Museum, attending fundraising events, the opening of new exhibitions and meetings with the Royal Navy/MOD or other key partners and stakeholders.

In addition to the Board of Trustees, there is a separate NMRN Operations Board, charged with responsibility for the operational delivery of the corporate priorities. At least one trustee from the Main Board is also an NMRN Operations trustee. There are also four committees: Audit and Governance Committee, Nomination and Remuneration Committee, Collections, Research, Access and Learning Committee and Fundraising Committee. Trustees are typically expected to be appointed to at least one of these committees with a possibility of appointment to ad hoc project boards or other subsidiary’s within the NMRN group.

Person Specification:

Essential criteria

Candidates  must demonstrate all of the following essential criteria:

  • An understanding of and commitment to the objectives of the National Museum of the Royal Navy and the issues and challenges it faces in delivering them and a enthusiasm and passion for the Royal Navy.
  • Ability to apply strategic insight, innovative advice and constructive challenge to the Executive team’s plans
  • Excellent communication, influencing and representational skills to act as an ambassador for the museum with networking and relationship building skills

Skills Mix on the Board

Six Board members are being recruited and to be successful candidates are sought with demonstrable leadership skills in at least one of the following “Essential skills” plus demonstration of another  essential or desirable skill. All candidates are expected to share NMRN’s commitment to diversity and equality.

Essential Skills

(At least one required)

  • Legal
  • Museology/Collections/Development of Museums with particular reference to comparable multi-site institutions.
  • Fundraising – “traditional”, project and membership led.
  • Exploiting Digital opportunities to achieve/enhance delivery of the museums objectives
  • Commercial experience
  • Media, Marketing and PR
  • Direct Experience of the Submarine Service
  • Direct Experience of the Fleet Air Arm

Desirable Skills

  • Property – exploitation, funding and development.
  • Experience of Charity Governance/Company Law

How 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 bodes, Two references at least one of which of a professional nature and details of any publications or awards.
  • A supporting statement of not more than two sides of A4, clearly setting out how you meet the criteria and skills as set out above.
  • The completed Declaration Form, the Conflicts of Interest Form and the Diversity Form.  The Diversity Form will be kept separately from your application and will not be seen by the selection panel in order to meet the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments. These may be found on the Cabinet Office's Public Appointments website or on request from the below email. 

Questions and completed applications should be sent via the apply button.

Additional information

The National Museum of the Royal Navy’s Trustees are not subject to Ministerial appointment, however, the appointments process will be conducted under the Governance Code on Public Appointments. The Seven Principles of Public Life (the Nolan Principles) defines the ethical standards expected of the National Museum of the Royal Navy’s Trustees and Committee Members.

The National Museum of the Royal Navy promotes an equal opportunities policy.  Appointments are made on merit, following a fair and transparent process.  We particularly welcome applications from female, young people and black and ethnic minority candidates, who are currently under-represented.  We would also welcome applications from candidates who have a disability or who are new to trusteeship. The appointment is not remunerated but reasonable expenses will be paid.

Trustees are appointed for an initial term of five years, with the opportunity to extend for a further term subject to appropriate reviews and satisfactory performance. 

Applications will be shortlisted with those on the shortlist expected to attend interviews in Portsmouth, likely to be in mid-March. Candidates may be asked to make a short presentation details of which will be provided on shortlisting. The interview panel will consist of members of the N&RC committee with the Director General in attendance.

There may be an opportunity for candidates unsuccessful for these roles, but of an appropriate calibre/expertise, to be appointed to NMRN subsidiary Boards and committees, please indicate on your application if this is something you would be interested in.

NMRN’s privacy statement for candidates is available on the NMRN recruitment page on the NMRN website or on request.

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