Director - National Gas Museum Trust in Leicester

About the role

• Strategic Leadership and Governance: Working with the Board of Trustees, develop and implement the Trust’s strategy and strategic action plan. Lead the Trust’s commitment to its vision and mission, ethos and values, acting as a champion for the preservation of the history of the gas industry. Ensure compliance with charity law, financial regulations, and health, safety and safeguarding legislation. Ensure fit for purpose governance structures and processes are in place to meet the Trust’s obligations. Embed and implement risk management processes to identify and monitor strategic and operational risks. Report regularly to the Board of Trustees, preparing papers, operational updates, and budget reports.
• Fundraising, Grants and Partnerships: Lead the Trust’s fundraising strategy, securing income from Trusts, foundations, corporate sponsors and individual donors. Identify, cultivate and manage relationships with key funders and partners. Manage and grow annual income, in line with targets set by the Board of Trustees. Write persuasive and successful proposals and funding applications to a diverse portfolio of funders. Ensure compliance with funder requirements and grant reporting.
• Operations and People Management: Oversee the financial planning, budgeting and accounting for the Trust, working with the Treasurer as required. Develop and maintain financial systems which ensure that Trustees are up to date with the organisation’s financial position. Provide support to the Curator, and any other staff should they be appointed. Develop and implement a volunteering strategy for the Trust and oversee the management of any volunteers. Oversee the upkeep and improvement of the Museum premise, escalating any issues as and when necessary.
• Communications and Engagement: Lead planning and delivery of the Trust events, including any fundraising events, overseeing participant engagement, event logistics, and sponsor liaison. Ensure high-quality public engagement through media and digital presence. Represent the Trust publicly, promoting its work to funders, partners and the media, acting as a spokesperson and chief advocate for the Trust. Build and enhance the Museum’s public image to expand interest and support. Lead the development of an effective communications plan to raise the profile of the Trust and to manage, secure and maintain the property, collections and facilities of the Museum.

About you:

• Experience in a senior leadership role, ideally within the heritage, museum, or charitable sectors.
• Track record of raising and managing income through sponsorships, grants and donations.
• Strategic thinker with practical, hands-on experience in charity or museum operations.
• Experience in stakeholder engagement, partnership development and public representation.
• Good grasp of charity law and regulatory requirements.
• Proven track record of successfully delivering and driving change to achieve short and long-term ambitions.
• A self-starter, able to deliver innovative solutions, work on their own initiative and with considerable autonomy.
• Familiarity with the gas industry and/or heritage sector and key stakeholders.
• Experience managing volunteers, small teams and Trustees.
• Understanding of a museum’s role in the community, education, and cultural discourse, with the vision to expand audience access and relevance.
• Experience of working with donors, foundations, public agencies, and other relevant institutions at the regional and national levels.

What we can offer you:

• Performance bonus
• Double-match pension scheme - for every £1 you put in, we add £2
• Opt-In flexible benefit scheme, including salary sacrifice car, private healthcare, dental insurance, technology plans and more
• 10x salary death in service and financial support if you're unable to work due to long term illness
• Employee assistance programme offering free confidential professional counselling 24/7
• Financial support to cover the cost of relevant professional membership subscriptions
• Appreciate scheme and retail offers.

Other ‘nice to knows’:

• This is a part-time position, 3 days per week
• Hybrid working between the Museum in Leicester and from home
• Occasional weekend/ evening work a possibility when required

About us:

National Gas is the backbone of Britain’s energy system. We transport gas across Great Britain, repair and maintain gas pipelines, and manage the meters that allow power stations, businesses and millions of homes to access the energy they need. We are Britain’s national gas network, providing secure energy to power the country, achieve net zero, and maintain our industrial competitiveness. At National Gas, we’re committed to building a workforce that reflects the communities that we serve. We celebrate the different experiences our colleagues bring and encourage applicants of all backgrounds to apply. To that end we want to support you during the interview process, please advise your recruitment partner if you require any reasonable adjustments.