Museum Director – Weald & Downland Living Museum

The Weald & Downland Living Museum is a multi-award-winning, nationally and internationally recognised open-air museum near Chichester, run as an independent charitable trust. Originally founded in 1970, the Weald & Downland is one of the leading museums of historic buildings in this country, representing 900 years of the vernacular architecture of the South East of England. The Museum brings to life the working lives, homes, farmsteads and rural industries of the people who lived in the region. The collection of historic buildings comprises those which would otherwise have been lost to the nation through, for example, demolition resulting from site development.

The Museum welcomed over 130,000 visitors last year, a return to pre-pandemic levels and close to a record high and has recently reopened the iconic Titchfield Market Hall following an extensive programme of conservation. It also continues to provide world-class education and be the home of the University of York’s MSC Degree Programmes in Building Conservation and Timber Building Conservation.

The Museum now seeks an inspiring Director to sustain and build upon this success and lead the organisation into the next chapter of its journey. The Museum Director will align the entire organisation behind a passion for maintaining success in pursuit of the Museum’s key aims, applying commercial experience to increase visitor numbers and revenue goals, create highly effective systems for internal and external communication, and drive a culture of continuous improvement whilst maintaining the Museum’s values, heritage and legacy. Candidates should bring a successful track record of senior leadership in a relevant context, along with financial and commercial acumen, entrepreneurialism, excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, an inspiring and collaborative leadership style, and an alignment with the Museum’s charitable objectives and purpose.

Terms of appointment

This is a full-time role based at The Weald & Downland Living Museum, Town Lane, Singleton, Chichester, West Sussex, PO18 0EU. Due to the nature of the Museum, the role does involve some weekend working.

The salary range for the role is £75,000 – £80,000 pa.

The Weald & Downland Living Museum offers an employer contribution of 3% if the employee contributes 5% into a workplace pension scheme. Employees will automatically be enrolled after 3 months unless they opt-out.

26 days annual leave plus 8 Bank Holidays. The holiday year runs from the 1st Jan – 31st December.

The successful candidate will be entitled to some relocation assistance if applicable.

How to apply

Saxton Bampfylde Ltd is acting as an employment agency advisor to the Weald & Downland Living Museum on this appointment.

For further information about the role, including details about how to apply, please click here using reference JBNHA. Alternatively telephone +44 (0)20 7227 0880 (during office hours).

Applications should be received by 12noon on Wednesday 8 May 2024.