The Florence Nightingale Museum tells the real story of Florence Nightingale, “the Lady with the Lamp”, from her Victorian childhood to her experiences in the Crimean War, through to her years as an ardent campaigner for health reform. Nightingale is recognised as the founder of modern nursing in the United Kingdom and throughout the world. The museum explains her global legacy and also celebrates nursing and healthcare today. The Museum is designed around three areas that tell her story. Early Life tells the story of Nightingale’s privileged childhood and her struggle against stifling social conventions. Crimean War shows how Nightingale and her team coped with the crisis in the military hospitals where the legend of the Lady with the Lamp was born. Later Life shows the other side of Nightingale, the reformer who campaigned tirelessly for health reform at home and abroad, and the statistician who pioneered data visualisations to bring data and evidence to life.
What we’re looking for
The Florence Nightingale Museum is seeking an engaged strategic leader to Chair the Board of Trustees. While a background in nursing is not essential, an appreciation of the profession and Florence Nightingale’s enduring legacy is crucial. Our ideal candidate will be forward-thinking, able to ask, “Where do we need to go, and how are we going to get there?” Beyond Nightingale’s contributions to nursing, the Museum also explores her impact on STEM, society, and gender, and we need a Chair who can help us shape and share this broader narrative. The successful candidate will understand the museum sector, including its operational challenges, funding landscape, and audience engagement strategies. Experience in governance, fundraising, and advocacy within the cultural sector is highly desirable. Above all, we are looking for someone who can provide clear strategic direction, ensuring the Museum remains a vibrant and sustainable institution that continues to inspire and educate for years to come.
Chair requirements
- Diverse perspectives – Bringing broad experiences, points-of-view and sense of purpose to the Museum through interdisciplinary skills, experience and expertise.
- Value-adding contributions – To include institutional connections and contacts; relevant international connections would also be highly desirable.
- Commitment & energy – Able to devote time both within and beyond the Boardroom, proactively seeking ways to make an impact on the Museum’s mission, vision and emerging strategic objectives.
- Strategic thinking & entrepreneurial mindset – With the ability to “think big” while also possessing the pragmatism to turn ideas into a tangible reality through actions and outputs.
- Breadth & depth of knowledge – Of any of the following: community engagement, fundraising, legal, capital development planning, business, as well as driving an institution through change, on both a micro and macro scale.
- An understanding of, empathy with, and connections to nursing and the wider healthcare and science sectors, both in the UK and internationally, would be highly desirable.
Application & interview
To express your interest in the role of Chair of the Florence Nightingale Museum, please send a (maximum) one-page covering letter along with a CV, with subject reference “FNM Chair” to:
In your covering letter, please include responses to the following:
- What is your motivation for applying to become Chair of the Florence Nightingale Museum?
- What value do you feel you would bring to the Florence Nightingale Museum Board as Chair?
Your completed application will be reviewed by the Chair recruitment panel as well as representatives of the Museum.
Closing date for applications is midnight on 17 April, 2025.
Note that interviews are scheduled to take place on 1/2 May. Those who are successful in the first round of interviews will be invited to meet Trustees virtually w/c 5 May
Additional information
Number of meetings per annum/time commitment: Attend a minimum of quarterly meetings of the Trustee Board, the AGM, ad hoc meetings and “Away Days” as required.
Daytime or evening meetings: Evenings
Contact details or web link for applicants to find out more: https://www.florence-nightingale.co.uk/vacancies/