Walthamstow Pumphouse Museum

The Walthamstow Pumphouse Museum is seeking to recruit several trustees.  This is an exciting time after a period of strategic change to join the museum as we deliver a new, innovative forward plan and seek to obtain Museum Accreditation for the first time.  We are looking for someone willing to work as part of a team – with the Chief Executive and the Trustee team to develop and implement the Museum’s policies and procedures.  We would like to hear from candidates who have held senior positions at successful, professional independent cultural organisations or large organisations.  Additionally, we encourage candidates who have experience and knowledge of charity law, governance, charity administration, fundraising, STEM-based education and strategic communication.  Candidates must have an interest in heritage, industrial/local history, engineering or other area relevant to the museum.

Key Responsibilities – all candidates

• Exercising honesty, integrity and creating a culture which helps to achieve the Charity’s core purpose and ‎ensure public trust and confidence in the charity
• Contributing actively in and out of Board meetings, events and promoting the Charity’s purpose
• Contributing actively to the Museum’s strategic direction, setting overall policy and exercising judgement and scrutiny
• Supporting the Chief Executive, working with partners and benefactors and with the Museum’s lawyers

Key Attributes – essential 

• Ability to adapt and explore new areas outside of existing experience
• Adhere to the Seven Nolan Principles of Public Life
• Willingness and ability to devote the necessary time and effort to the role – at least three hours per month + meetings. Travel and other expenses are covered.
• Willingness to experiment and do things differently where appropriate
• Ability and willingness to avoid or be impartial on politics social matters and activism

Desirable Attributes or Experience

• Business relationships
• Forward planning
• Charity\Corporate risk management
• Communications
• Community organisations
• Fundraising and/or funding
• Heritage and museums
• Arts Council Accreditation
• Policy development
• Project management and planning
• Safeguarding
• STEM-based education
• Working with local authorities
• Writing and communication skills

About the Walthamstow Pumphouse Museum

The Museum is an independent Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) operating as a local industry, transport and firefighting museum.  The museum is centred around a Grade II listed Victorian pumping station known as the Pumphouse.  Its primary exhibit is a pair of Grade II listed Marshall steam engines.  The rest of the museum is dedicated to local industry and transport and an extensive fire-fighting collection.  Our collection is an eclectic one, attracting a variety of audiences and giving the museum a unique feel with a charming effect.

The museum is strongly community-based and independent. It is free entry and particularly popular with local families and schools.  The museum is part-under construction and under active development.  It is a particularly exciting time for the museum with many opportunities and potential for development.   The museum also operates a gift shop, café, community workshop and a model railway.

The museum encourages volunteers and students under the age of eighteen to participate in order to provide a valuable learning experience.  The Museum seeks to develop its educational programme and attract young people from an early age to become interested in STEM-based subjects.  The museum sees this as essential for preserving engineering-based heritage.

The Board of Trustees is the strategic decision-making body with operational and day-to-day matters being delegated to the Chief Executive and other senior staff. The Museum has a trading subsidiary responsible for its non-primary trading activities.

We encourage candidates to visit the museum on Sundays. This should provide you with a ‘feel’ for what the museum means to visitors and the community.

How to Apply

For more information or to apply, please contact us using the contact details below. We reserve the right to close the vacancy before the closing date.

Closing date:  1 June  2024

Additional information

Number of meetings per annum/time commitment: Three hours per month + 4 meetings per annum,

Daytime or evening meetings: evening, usually 19:00

Closing date for applications:       1 June 2024

Contact details or web link for applicants to find out more: enquiries@walthamstowpumphouse.org.uk

Organisation website: walthamstowpumphouse.org.uk