Department for Culture Media and Sport

national museums liverpool

Introduction

National Museums Liverpool (NML) is the only national museum service in England based wholly outside London. It manages a number of internationally recognised museums and art galleries, which between them attract more than 2 million visitors per year. The range of the collections is immense, including archaeology, fine and decorative art, science, natural history, social history and slavery.

NML is an innovative museum service, and its priority is to manage museums that are both professional and popular, with diverse audiences. It is acutely aware of its social responsibility to deliver a vibrant museum service that is used widely and valued highly.

The main venues are:

  • World Museum (founded 1851, opened 1860/1, known as Liverpool Museum until 2005)
  • Walker Art Gallery (opened 1877)
  • Lady Lever Art Gallery (opened 1922)
  • Sudley House (built early 19th century)
  • Merseyside Maritime Museum (opened 1980. Also home to Seized!, the national museum of the UK Border Agency)
  • International Slavery Museum (opened 2007)
  • Museum of Liverpool (opened 2011)

The Museum of Liverpool opened on Liverpool’s waterfront in July 2011. This is the largest newly-built national museum in the UK for over a hundred years. 

The displays in the new museum draw on exhibits relating to the city from NML’s entire collection. The Liverpool story is told through archaeological material, social and urban history objects, oral testimonies, entomology collections, botanic collections, photographic archives, costume and decorative art collections.

National Museums Liverpool is an exempt charity by virtue of Schedule 2 to the Charities Act 1993. It receives grant of £21m a year from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. It generates income from a number of sources, employs 531 people and operates shops, cafés and conference services through NML Trading Ltd.

For more information please visit the NML website: www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk

The NML Board of Trustees

NML’s wide ranging collections and active outreach work programme are overseen by its management and Board of Trustees. The chief role of Trustees is to assist the Chair in meeting the Board’s overall responsibilities under the Charities Act and in accordance with the guidance issued by the Secretary of State.  Trustees offer guidance and expertise on NML’s strategy and its practical implementation.

Person criteria

We shall welcome applications from those with relevant background and experience, both nationally and locally, and wherever resident in the UK. We shall also be seeking to complement the current balance of the Board.

Successful candidates will be able to demonstrate;

  • A strong interest in the work of NML and an enthusiasm for Liverpool and its place within the UK cultural landscape;
  • An understanding of the role that a national museum can play in society;
  • Excellent communication and representational skills;
  • An understanding of fundraising in the corporate sector and of philanthropic opportunities;
  • Have an understanding of the diverse communities in the UK and a real commitment to promoting diversity;
  • An ability to operate effectively at main Board level, contributing to future policy and strategic developments with innovative thinking.

Desirable criteria

Among the group of Trustees to be appointed through this recruitment exercise, NML will be particularly looking for the following:

  • Financial understanding and an accountancy/audit qualification. This Trustee will join the Finance and/or Audit Committee;
  • Legal experience;
  • Recent experience of being actively engaged at a practitioner or senior management level in arts;
  • Recent experience of being actively engaged at a senior level in education.

Time Commitment

In addition to attending 5 Board meetings per year, trustees may also be expected to serve on a Committee in a particular area suited to their expertise. This would require a total time commitment of up to ten days a year.

Term of Appointment

4 years.

Start Date

April 2012 or as soon as possible thereafter.

Location of meetings

Liverpool.

Remuneration

The Chair and Trustees give their services on an honorary basis. However, reasonable expenses are paid.

Appointment Process and how to apply

The closing date for applications is Tuesday 21 February 2011 and interviews are expected to take place in mid-March.

For further information and an application form please contact:

Claire Harvey
National Museums Liverpool
Tel: 0151 478 4202
claire.harvey@liverpoolmuseums.org.uk

Please contact claire.harvey@liverpoolmuseums.org.uk should you need any further information about the vacancy or George Cutts on 0207 211 2046 or george.cutts@culture.gsi.gov.uk for more information about DCMS public appointments.

DCMS promotes an equal opportunities policy.  Appointments are made on merit, following a fair and transparent process, and these appointments are regulated by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.  Applications are welcomed regardless of gender, age, marital status, disability, religion, ethnic origin, political opinion, sexual orientation for whether or not you have dependents.

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