Chair of Trustees

We are working in partnership with the New Forest Heritage Trust (NFHT), who operate the New Forest Heritage Centre in Lyndhurst. Their charitable aim is to inspire visitors and supporters to explore and value the New Forest through their collections and archives, comprising a completely unique 50,000-item collection of books, manuscripts, documents, maps, objects, film and oral histories, and by providing educational activities and information to a broad range of audiences. The purpose of the Centre is to be a hub where local people and visitors to the New Forest can discover more about the history, customs, people, wildlife and future of this special landscape. 

The Board is seeking to appoint a new Chair of Trustees. The Chair will be an inspirational individual, passionate in supporting the Trust through a period of very exciting change and into a fresh phase of their successful history. Museums and heritage sector experience is not essential for this role, but an understanding of charities, and a love of culture, landscape, community and social purpose are vital.

Successful candidates must also be able to demonstrate:

• Experience of charity governance and working with/or as part of a Board of Trustees.
• Experience of operating at a strategic leadership level.
• Significant experience of chairing meetings.
• Experience of external representation, with strong interpersonal and relationship building abilities, strong networking capabilities and be comfortable in an ambassadorial role.
• Interest in and willingness to learn about the museum/heritage sector and current issues affecting it.

The Board meets every quarter in person at the Heritage Centre, with meetings approximately 2 hours in length and usually held on Fridays starting at 10am. Beyond Board Meetings, there are commitments needed of the Chair, which range from periodic calls with the Director, occasional ad hoc video or in-person meetings, exhibition previews and events, and other times when visibility is important at the Centre or at occasional functions in the Forest. The expected commitment is somewhere in the region of 15 to 20 days annually.

For more information, please contact Katherine Anderson-Scott, Associate Director, Charisma Charity Recruitment. Your expression of interest should be submitted through the Charisma website and include your CV and supporting statement.

We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, or other category protected by law.

Closing date: Wednesday 14th August 2024

Vetting interviews with Charisma must take place by close of play on Monday 19th August.

Interviews with NFHT: late August / early September