Volunteer Chair to drive forward our new strategy for a sustainable local museum for all | Wyco[...]

Wycombe Museum; High Wycombe; On-site; GBP 5,000 - 15,000; Part time

Job summary

Wycombe Museum is seeking a dynamic Chair to lead the Board and ensure effective governance. The role requires high-level leadership experience, a passion for culture and heritage, and the ability to engage with diverse stakeholders. This part-time position involves strategic oversight and advocacy for the museum's mission and impact in the community.

Qualifications

• Experience in high-level leadership and governance in a non-profit.
• Passion for culture and heritage.
• Ability to work effectively with a team.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Board on strategic direction and governance.
• Support financial sustainability and community engagement.
• Advocate for the museum and its mission.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic Planning

Financial Management

Communication

Negotiation

Problem Solving

Team Collaboration

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

SharePoint

Zoom

Job description

Wycombe and Heritage Arts Trust (WHAT) is seeking a dynamic person as our next Chair. Building on recent success, you will ensure our Board delivers its strategy for local people, working closely with our Museum Director.

What difference will you make?

Your dynamic leadership and commitment as Chair will oversee WHAT's delivery, value, and impact. As a 'free-entrance-to-all' museum and community asset, we display social history and the history of furniture-making through exhibitions, talks, workshops, family days, and volunteering. We foster joy, curiosity, learning, health, well-being, and local identity. We welcome 12,000 visitors annually, including 4,000 at events and 1,000 school children. We offer value-for-money museum services at 10% of 2009 expenditure, despite a collection of 23,000 objects. We champion equality of access. Our Chair Collection is of national importance, and our stories of local chair-making lead to community engagement, regeneration, and local pride. Our award-winning volunteer program boosts health and well-being, and partnership projects like Chalk, Cherries and Chairs lead to more impact and collaboration. As a valued community asset, the Museum is in an Opportunity Bucks ward with few green spaces or places for meeting.

What are we looking for?

• Experience high-level leadership and governance, including strategic planning, financial, risk, and performance management, as Board Director of a non-profit organization.
• Passion for culture and heritage, enthusiasm, integrity, strategic vision, and independent judgment.
• Experience working with volunteers.
• Skills in leading organizations through change, holding Board, staff, and contractors accountable.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, liaising effectively with stakeholders.
• Team spirit, consensus-building, and collaboration.
• Negotiating and influencing abilities.
• Creative thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Commitment to inclusion, equality, and diversity.
• Diplomatic and sensitive approach, willing to speak mind and listen to others.
• Ability to work effectively with a team of individuals.
• Willingness to gift time as Trustees.
• Independent judgment.

Other requirements

• Lives or works in or near High Wycombe.
• Can devote three days a month to the Chair role and 8 hours a month as a Trustee.
• Willing to serve a full four-year term.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, including SharePoint, and able to attend online meetings via Zoom.

What will you be doing?

Our challenges include navigating difficult times for local museums, with a focus on financial sustainability. The new Chair's role is to support and lead WHAT towards greater resilience and impact. Our 2023 strategy aligns with Bucks Cultural Strategy and aims to engage diverse audiences through collections, ensure a relevant and accessible collection, and use our nationally significant chair collection to explore Wycombe’s furniture-making heritage. Supporting aims include effective governance, financial sustainability, accessible and inclusive spaces, thoughtful communication, and advocacy.

Who we need as Chair of Trustees?

Someone experienced in strategic thinking, leading and inspiring people, a skilled negotiator, and an advocate with funders like Buckinghamshire Council. The Chair leads the Board on strategic direction, upholds governance standards, chairs meetings, and supports good relations among trustees, staff, and volunteers. External advocacy, engagement, and financial responsibility are also key responsibilities.