Interim Director

THE STRAWBERRY HILL TRUST; Twickenham; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An established heritage destination is seeking an Interim Director to lead fundraising efforts and manage strategic operations. This role involves maximizing income opportunities, overseeing financial management, and enhancing the visitor experience. The ideal candidate will possess strong leadership skills and a proven track record in fundraising, ensuring the sustainability of this unique cultural site. Join a passionate team dedicated to preserving history and engaging the community through innovative programming and partnerships.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership skills with a strong track record in fundraising.
• Extensive experience in financial management and strategic planning.

Responsibilities

• Maximise income generating opportunities and maintain financial control.
• Deliver activity programmes on time and within budget.

Skills

Fundraising

Financial Management

Leadership

Communication Skills

Stakeholder Engagement

Tools

IT Literacy

Marketing Strategies

Job description

“Strawberry Hill House and Garden is the home of Gothic – inspiring the imagination through timeless stories of art, literature, architecture and landscape for today and future generations.”

Strawberry Hill House, designed and built by Horace Walpole from two modest houses into his own ‘little Gothic castle’, has been the subject of much interest as a residence and, more recently, as a museum, from the 18^thcentury to the present day. Extensively restored thanks to the Strawberry Hill Trust’s £10m restoration with substantial grants from National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF), English Heritage, the World Monuments Fund and generous donations from trusts and individuals, the Grade I listed House reopened to the public in 2010. Today Strawberry Hill House & Garden provides the visitor with a unique insight into the world of Horace Walpole and his friends, whose efforts produced the style of Strawberry Hill Gothic with its mystery, magic and ground-breaking impact.

Now an Arts Council Accredited Museum and member of the Association of Independent Museums (AIM), it has, over the past few years, had an engaging and successful programme of small exhibitions and Objects in Focus displays. It has also acquired, and continues to seek, some key works for the Collection through the Government Indemnity Scheme.

For more information on Strawberry Hill House, please go tohttps://www.strawberryhillhouse.org.uk/

The Trust’s income of approximately £850k is derived from ticket sales, events, grants, sponsorship, donations and membership fees from Strawberry Hill Members, and our catering concession.

The Trust’s wholly owned trading subsidiary, Strawberry Hill House Trading Services Ltd, is responsible for income from the shop and from hire activities, including private hire, weddings and filming.

The incoming Interim Director should have the ability and experience to be an effective fundraiser, maximising opportunities for support, and to maintain and develop partnerships with a wide range of external stakeholders. In particular, they should have grant funding experience to ensure the current grant activity is completed and reports undertaken for the funder, including an audience development and evaluation plan.

THE ROLE

Job Title: Interim Director

Reporting to: Chair and Trustees of Strawberry Hill Trust Board

Salary package: Competitive, depending on experience

Location: Strawberry Hill House, Twickenham TW1 4ST

The Interim Director, working closely with the Board of the Strawberry Hill Trust is joining the team at this unique house at a critical time, as it works to build a sustainable future. The Interim Director will need to implement the current plans which are part of an NLHF project and evaluate them as well as looking for further income and funding opportunities with the wider team.

The position is for a minimum 6-month period, with the possibility to extend. It is a full-time role, with some flexibility possible for the right candidate, and will involve some weekend and evening work. It is based at Strawberry Hill House, so easy access to SW London would be an advantage.

The Interim Director’s priorities will be to:

• Maximise income generating opportunities, especially fundraising support, and maintain financial control policies and procedures to enable the Trust to work within a break-even budget for 2025.
• Maximise footfall and ticket revenues, for the House and Gardens
• Ensure the activity programme for the year is delivered on time and within budget
• Work with the Property Operations Manager and the Curator to maintain the fabric of the House and the curatorial integrity of the Collection housed within, including those artefacts owned by the Strawberry Hill Collection Trust
• Continue to build the reputation of Strawberry Hill House & Garden as a heritage destination.

The five key elements of theInterimDirector’s role are:

1. Strategic and Financial Management: Implementing the operation plans and grant activity deliverables for 2025 and further developing the 3-year Business Plan for Strawberry Hill House & Garden, with the Board, staff and volunteers.
2. Leadership: Providing leadership and strategic vision by demonstrating a high level of emotional intelligence and excellent communications skills, to a team of professional employees (currently 9) and volunteers (currently about 200).
3. Fundraising:Acting as the 'face' of Strawberry Hill House & Garden, maintaining relationships with key bodies including the NLHF, the Arts Council England and English Heritage, local partner organisations, donors and sponsors both in the UK and internationally, local and national government, educational establishments, the Charity Commission and the media.
4. Marketing: Overseeing the execution of current marketing and communications plans.
5. Governance:Working with the Board and the team to maintain and develop policies and procedures to ensure Strawberry Hill House has a financially sustainable and safe future, including compliance with the laws governing charities, human resources and Health & Safety.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

In the Interim Director, the Board seeks candidates with strong strategic business skills, collaborative enthusiasm and entrepreneurial insight who can realise the potential of Strawberry Hill House & Garden and secure its longer-term sustainability as a heritage visitor destination. They will be good managers of staff and volunteers with the ability to motivate, lead and inspire. They will have experience of delivering and completing successful grant funded projects.

They will be sound financial managers with excellent and successful fundraising skills and an ability to develop the marketing strategy for the organisation to increase visitor numbers year on year. They will be flexible and sensitive to the requirements of the Trustees and have a strong awareness of the need for good governance at all times.

Candidates for this role will have the following attributes:

Essential

• Proven leadership skills
• Extensive experience in financial management
• Significant fundraising experience, and understanding of the fundraising climate for cultural/heritage organisations
• Experience of working with, and negotiating with, external stakeholders
• Excellent communication skills
• An eye for detail and excellence

Desirable

• An understanding of the museum/heritage world
• IT literacy
• Marketing

HOW TO APPLY

For further information, please visit our website via the button below.

In making an application, you are asked to submit:

• A comprehensive curriculum vitae (3 pages maximum) giving details of relevant achievements in recent posts;
• A (maximum two page) supporting statement that summarises your interest in this post and provides evidence of your ability to match the criteria outlined in this brief;

CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS:close of business on Friday 16^thMay 2025

Interviews are scheduled for Thursday 22^ndMay 2025