Museum Director

GREAT WESTERN SOCIETY LIMITED; Reading; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Didcot Railway Centre, home of the Great Western Society, seeks an experienced Museum Director to lead the organisation, deliver strategic growth, and ensure the long-term sustainability of this nationally significant heritage site.

Reporting to the Board of Trustees, the Director will oversee a diverse senior team across commercial activity, visitor experience, curatorial work, restoration, operations and business support.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years’ senior leadership in a museum, heritage site, or visitor attraction.
• Proven success managing and growing operating budgets.
• Strong track record improving commercial and trading performance.
• Experience managing staff recruitment, development, and performance.
• Experience working with volunteers.
• Understanding of museum accreditation, safeguarding, licensing, and H&S requirements.
• Commitment to on-site leadership and being a visible role model.
• Commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.
• Experience working directly with a Trustee Board.
• Experience delivering major change projects or grant-funded programmes.
• Project management or contractor oversight experience.
• Charity sector experience.
• Marketing and communications experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead organisational strategy and business planning with the Board of Trustees.
• Manage capital and revenue budgets and deliver strong financial performance.
• Oversee curatorial standards, accreditation, and development of the historic GWR collections.
• Enhance visitor experience, learning programmes, and commercial opportunities.
• Act as the organisation’s principal representative and spokesperson.
• Ensure a safe, welcoming environment for staff, volunteers, visitors, and collections.
• Build strong relationships with partners, communities, museums, and local authorities.
• Lead and motivate staff and volunteers across all operational areas.

Skills

Senior leadership

Budget management

Commercial growth

Staff recruitment

Volunteer management

Museum accreditation

Equity & inclusion

Trustee Board experience

Change projects

Contractor oversight

Charity sector experience

Marketing & communications

Job description

Didcot Railway Centre, the home of the Great Western Society, is entering an exciting period of transformation, and we are seeking an experienced Museum Director to lead the organisation, deliver strategic growth, and ensure the long‑term sustainability of this nationally significant heritage site.

Reporting to the Board of Trustees, the Museum Director will oversee a diverse senior team covering commercial activity, visitor experience, railway operations, curatorial work, restoration, infrastructure, and business support. The role also includes directing the delivery of Didcot’s Historic Engine Shed Project to deliver The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s investment principles.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead organisational strategy and business planning with the Board of Trustees.
• Manage capital and revenue budgets and deliver strong financial performance.
• Oversee curatorial standards, accreditation, and development of the historic GWR collections.
• Enhance visitor experience, learning programmes, and commercial opportunities.
• Act as the organisation’s principal representative and spokesperson.
• Ensure a safe, welcoming environment for staff, volunteers, visitors, and collections.
• Build strong relationships with partners, communities, museums, and local authorities.
• Lead and motivate staff and volunteers across all operational areas.

Essential Experience & Skills

• Minimum 3 years’ senior leadership in a museum, heritage site, or visitor attraction.
• Proven success managing and growing operating budgets.
• Strong track record improving commercial and trading performance.
• Experience managing staff recruitment, development, and performance.
• Experience working with volunteers.
• Understanding of museum accreditation, safeguarding, licensing, and H&S requirements.
• Commitment to on‑site leadership and being a visible role model.
• Commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.
• Experience working directly with a Trustee Board.
• Experience delivering major change projects or grant‑funded programmes.
• Project management or contractor oversight experience.
• Charity sector experience.
• Marketing and communications experience.

Terms

Salary £60,000–£65,000 depending on experience. Full‑time, 35 hours per week, with additional hours across the full week, inclusive of weekends on the occasions when this is needed.Six‑month probation period.