Chief Executive – Icon (Institute of Conservation)

About Icon 

This is an exciting opportunity for an aspirational Chief Executive to join an ambitious charitable membership organisation in the cultural heritage sector.

We are Icon, the Institute of Conservation. With a membership of over 2000 and a turnover of c£1m, we are the leading voice of cultural heritage conservation in the UK and the authoritative source of information on conservation in practice, policy and the profession. Our ambition is to champion the public value of caring for cultural heritage through new and diverse stakeholder partnerships.

At Icon we value diversity and ensure that opportunities are open to all those who want to care for our heritage and encourage applications from all communities and abilities.

About the Role  

The Chief Executive is responsible for providing impactful hands-on leadership for the development and delivery of Icon’s strategic objectives. Working with the Board of Trustees, a small staff team and volunteers drawn from the membership, the Chief Executive, through their dynamism and ambassadorial approach, will drive innovative, diverse and sustainable growth.

Immediate priorities will include;

• Developing and delivering Icon’s strategy to achieve its charitable purpose.

• Advancing strategic external networks, relationships and partnerships with key influencers to champion, promote and advocate for Icon, the conservation profession and the conservation of cultural heritage, through policy and in practice.

• Identifying innovative and entrepreneurial opportunities to fundraise, grow and diversify Icon’s membership income, while also increasing membership value for conservation professionals and supporters.

• Increasing the financial and commercial sustainability of Icon, through prudent management, diverse income strategies and new fundraising opportunities.

• Evaluating and reviewing Icon’s value, inclusivity and relevance through active engagement with its membership and other stakeholders.

About You

Along with a people focused approach, an ability to support and develop a team to realise their potential and a real commitment to our purpose, you should also:

• Have a successful and substantial track record of leadership in an organisation of similar size and complexity, preferably in the charity sector.

• Be ambitious, resilient, a curious thinker always scanning the horizon, thinking about the future and taking advantage of opportunities while managing potential threats.

• Possess strong influencing and advocacy skills evidenced through established and extensive professional networks.

• Have evidential experience of embedding an equitable and inclusive approach across an organisation’s practices.

• Evidence of strong entrepreneurial and commercial acumen to drive forward growth in value, reputation, memberships, products, partnerships and income.

• Demonstrate balanced judgement, excellent communication skills, and the ability to work collaboratively, consultatively and creatively with varied stakeholders.

Conservation experience is not critical for this role, however, a willingness to embrace our purpose and lead with vigour and empathy is essential as is prior experience of reporting to a board.

How to Apply

A detailed Applicant Pack, including a list of benefits, can be found via Black Country Living Museum’s careers page. Interested applicants should apply with a current CV and a written or audio statement explaining their relevance for the role.

To find out more and apply, please visit: https://bclm.livevacancies.co.uk/#/job/details/117

Icon is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes and encourages applicants from all communities and abilities.

Please note, we are being supported by the Recruitment Team from the Black Country Living Museum (BCLM) for this role. Your application will be securely processed via BCLM’s Applicant Tracking System and transferred to Icon, for the purposes of considering your suitability for this role. All data will be securely stored and deleted post-appointment from this system.

Closing Date: 14 June 2023