Community Trustee in Leeds

As the Thackray Museum of Medicine looks to build on a period of bold strategic growth since a major redevelopment (reopening in May 2021), we are seeking an experienced, ambitious and community-minded Chair to lead our Board of Trustees. The Thackray is the UK’s largest independent medical museum: a dynamic, ambitious museum in East Leeds with a nationally significant collection of over 80,000 objects and a clear mission to inspire people with the passion and purpose of medicine and healthcare – past, present and future. Since reopening it has grown audiences, deepened community partnerships and developed an ambitious plan to be the UK’s leading medical museum by 2030.

Role: Chair of the Board of Trustees

• Board meetings four times a year (three may be hybrid).
• The Chair will lead and steward an engaged, forward-thinking Board to support the CEO and senior team as the Museum consolidates recent gains and secures long-term resilience.
• You will ensure excellent governance, provide constructive challenge and support to the CEO, strengthen relationships with funders and partners, champion the Museum’s commitment to equity and community co-curation, and be an ambassador for the organisation locally and nationally.
• Lead the Board in shaping, approving and monitoring delivery of the CEO’s strategy to meet the Museum’s mission and 2030 ambitions.
• Own governance & risk: Ensure high standards of governance, legal and regulatory compliance, and effective oversight of the risk register.
• Drive trustee recruitment, induction, appraisal and succession planning to secure the skills, diversity and lived experience needed.
• Use networks to open doors to major funders, partners and donors, and actively raise the Museum’s profile.
• Ensure financial stewardship: Oversee budgets, reserves and trading activity with the Finance Committee and trustees, and scrutinise financial reporting.
• Act as an ambassador to civic partners, funders, media and diverse local communities.
• Support oversight of the CEO’s strategies for capital, maintenance and estate priorities for the Museum’s Victorian building.

Requirements:

• Experienced chair or senior trustee with sound knowledge of trustee duties, charity & company law and governance best practice.
• Proven at building relationships with funders, businesses or philanthropists, supporting successful income-raising and profile activity.
• Comfortable with budget scrutiny, risk oversight and the commercial realities of earned income models or trading subsidiaries.
• ED&I and community champion: Committed to equity, inclusion and co-creation, with evidence of diversifying leadership.
• Local affinity desirable: A strong connection to Leeds or experience working in diverse urban communities is an advantage.

There is also the opportunity for suitable interested candidates to speak to the Thackray’s CEO, current chair or other trustees in advance of submitting an application.

The Thackray is actively committed to promoting Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. We are a Disability Confident employer and welcome applications from all sections of the community.

As leading charity recruitment specialists and a certified B Corp, Harris Hill is committed to high and ever-improving standards of equitable and inclusive recruitment. We actively welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexuality and other protected characteristics.