The post of Chair of English Heritage (EH), to succeed the estimable Baroness Kay Andrews, has been advertised with a closing date of 10 June and a salary of £40,000 for up to two days per week.
DCMS writes:
As the Government’s statutory adviser on the historic environment, English Heritage… There has never been a more important time… The future challenges are significant and the organisation is focused on maintaining its reputation for expertise and advice, and on continuing to forge strong partnerships within the heritage sector and outside it. Over £50m of its annual budget is currently generated through commercial activities, but increasing the financial sustainability of the National Heritage Collection is a key priority.
As Chair, you will work with English Heritage Commissioners and with Ministers to formulate strategy and ensure rigorous governance frameworks are maintained. You will also provide highly effective strategic leadership to the organisation, working closely with the Chief Executive and playing a high-profile ambassadorial role with a range of interested parties, including the general public.
Person Specification
The Chair of English Heritage provides strategic and business leadership. They are responsible for ensuring that the Commission provides effective corporate governance, and that the executive is efficient and effective in implementing the strategic plan. The Chair is also expected to be an ambassador and advocate for English Heritage, and for the historic environment in England.
The requirements for this role are as follows:
- The person should have a strong track record in business with senior board level experience and demonstrable business acumen.
- The person must have a broad understanding of the role that the sector can play in stimulating economic growth and investment and be able to drive forward English Heritage’s business model with energy and commitment.
Specifically the successful candidate will be able to demonstrate:
- A strong track record of leading boards in large and complex organisations.
- High levels of business acumen, experience of strategic planning and an extensive background in financial management.
- Experience of developing robust financial models and diverse funding streams, such as major fundraising programmes, philanthropic giving and increasing commercial income.
- Strong understanding of communications and the media platforms which can help organisations create innovative new work, improve experiences for their audiences, and open up new revenue streams.
- Understanding of heritage and the way that development and planning opportunities can be utilised to create more sustainable growth.
- A clear understanding of, and commitment to, the role of English Heritage, with an appreciation of the balance between a strong national overview, strategy and policy, and on the ground delivery.
- Excellent communication skills, complemented by vision, stature, and personal authority.
Additional Information
English Heritage is the Government’s statutory adviser on the historic environment. It helps people understand, value, care for, and enjoy England’s heritage and has four principal aims:
- to identify and protect our most important heritage, guided by the National Heritage Protection Plan which sets out priorities;
- to champion England’s heritage, including through its statutory role in the planning system;
- to support owners, local authorities and voluntary organisations to look after England’s heritage by offering grants, sharing expertise and building skills, and
- to help people appreciate and enjoy England’s history by conserving and opening to the public the National Heritage Collection of over 400 historic sites.
English Heritage has an annual budget of around £155m for 2012/13 of which over £50m is generated through commercial activities. In 2009/10 English Heritage’s grant in aid comprised 73% of its total income; in 2015/15 it will be 58%.
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