The National Archives Trust is looking for an outstanding fundraiser and leader to become its new Executive Director and play a key role in raising funds to transform the way in which people engage with the nation’s documentary heritage.
About The National Archives Trust
The National Archives Trust (NAT) is an independent charity launched in February 2020 with the mission of engaging the public in England & Wales with the nation’s archives and documentary heritage, both through The National Archives in Kew and at venues across the country.
From Domesday to Downing Street tweets, The National Archives is a treasure trove that reveals the millions of stories that form our nation’s past, but its potential to enrich our cultural landscape has yet to be fully realised. In partnership with The National Archives, we have ambitious plans for a two-phase campaign, initially piloting imaginative, creative projects and working with communities across the country. The outcomes will inform the long-term strategy for transformation of engagement with archival heritage in the UK.
The Executive Director has full executive responsibility for delivery of NAT’s strategy and for its administration and will:
- Devise and implement a fundraising strategy;
- Work collaboratively with colleagues in the national and regional archives sectors to shape planned activities;
- Oversee within NAT the successful delivery and evaluation of these programmes;
- Manage the administration and finances of NAT and maintain an unblemished reputation for NAT and its stakeholders, in particular The National Archives;
- Work closely with NAT’s trustees, ambassadors and stakeholders to establish the Trust’s public profile and act as a public face of NAT where appropriate.
We envisage that the Executive Director will be supported initially by an additional fundraiser (who will be appointed by the Executive Director), and a governance and administration manager who will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the charity’s operations.
Who we are looking for
As a newly established charity, the Executive Director will be responsible for the first fundraising campaign – as such this is a very hands-on role, requiring creativity, experimentation and a self-starting approach.
Essential experience and knowledge:
- Significant track record of achieving fundraising targets through Trusts and Foundations and HNWI.
- Previous experience of devising, developing and leading a successful fundraising strategy.
- A highly ethical approach to, and comprehensive understanding of, compliance and regulations in relation to charitable fundraising.
- Deep knowledge of the education and/or heritage funding sectors and what motivates funders in these areas.
- Understanding of the fundamentals of charity management to ensure the Trust is run in line with charity law and Charity Commission guidance, and within its constitution and charitable objects.
- Demonstrable ability to engage and work with prospective donors and in collaboration with colleagues across the broader relevant sectors.
Essential qualities and skills include:
- A highly independent and self-motivated leader, with a creative and collaborative approach.
- Strong credibility and excellent interpersonal skills. Able to work with trustees, patrons, ambassadors, colleagues, stakeholders and our partners at all levels.
- Motivation and enthusiasm to work collaboratively with colleagues and partners to overcome challenges, manage competing priorities and continuously improve.
- Exceptional communications skills, with the ability to create and deliver messages (both spoken and written) that are clear, convincing and inspiring, using appropriate media to best effect with different audiences.
- A high level of digital literacy, including standard office software, knowledge of databases and their use in customer relationship management. Familiarity with social media platforms and their effective use in a communications strategy is also expected.
- Demonstrable affinity with the aims of the NAT and enthusiasm for history and cultural heritage.
For further information about the role, or to arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultants at Peridot Partners
Dr Jenn Allen | jenn@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07739 364034
Simon Callaghan | simon@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07702 678658
Welcome from the Chair
The National Archives are the nation’s DNA, holding over 11 million records covering a thousand years of history. Archives are not only full of documents, they are full of people like you and me, the lives they lived and the decisions they made that got us to where we are today. Despite this, archives are not currently as well visited by our citizens as museums, galleries and even libraries. Few people are aware of the wealth of opportunities that archives have to offer, and fewer still ever visit one.
At The National Archives Trust, we want to change this, and bring this vast treasure trove out to the nation. We want to transform the way we engage with the documentary heritage that makes up our rich and vibrant history. We all have our own stories – of family, of community, of identity – and we want everyone to be able to discover them in innovative, engaging and immersive ways. By supporting the education and public engagement work of The National Archives (at its home in Kew, around the country and online), we will create new forms of access to this extraordinary resource around the country, for people of all ages and backgrounds.
As Executive Director of The National Archives Trust, you will play a pivotal role in this transformation. You will help to shape the programmes with your knowledge of the funding landscape, lead the campaigns to fund them, and then oversee their execution and evaluation for both funders and trustees. We imagine you will bring a record of leading successful fundraising campaigns, an imaginative approach and outstanding people skills to bring the many parties along with you. You will work with dedicated colleagues at The National Archives and across the nation, and with a talented, distinguished Board of Trustees, whose passion for telling the stories of our past is unlimited and who bring a wealth of skills and experience.
This is a truly unique and exciting opportunity to make a real change to the nation’s understanding of its own past and how we understand ourselves. I firmly believe that this is our history – we are all part of it and it belongs to everyone – whether in Newcastle or Newquay, Kew or Crewe, and you can help to ensure we can give everyone the opportunity to hold our history in their hands.
Sir Anthony Seldon
Chair, The National Archives Trust
Accessibility
The NAT does not currently have premises, and any future policy on offices will be agreed in discussion with the successful candidate. For the purposes of the in-person final interviews, some examples of our accessibility provisions include:
- Step free access to the building, all key meeting rooms and bathrooms, and an accessible workstation
- Accessibility dogs are welcome
- Interviews can be held in meeting rooms that support hearing loops
- Papers and materials can be presented in different formats
- A sign language interpreter can be accessed for interview
- Working patterns and locations can be adjusted
If you have any further needs around accessibility, please get in touch with the advising consultants for a confidential chat on how we can best fulfil your needs.
Thank you for your interest in this role.
Please download the Job Description and Person Specification and complete this Equality Monitoring Survey.
To formally apply, please submit a CV and supporting statement (ideally maximum 2 sides of A4 each) that clearly outlines your suitability for the role against the criteria provided in the person specification, including your interest and motivation in applying for this position.
Please ensure that your application is emailed to response@peridotpartners.co.uk inserting “Executive Director – The National Archives Trust” into the subject field.
For further information about the role, or to arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultants at Peridot Partners
Dr Jenn Allen | jenn@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07739 364034
Simon Callaghan | simon@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07702 678658
We wish to encourage applications regardless of race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, age or religion or belief.
All applications will be considered solely on merit.
Disabled applicants are invited to contact us in confidence at any point during the recruitment process to discuss steps that could be taken to overcome operational difficulties presented by the role, or if any adjustments or support are required regarding the recruitment process.
Closing date: 9 a.m. Monday 6th June 2022
First Interviews: Tuesday 21st June or Wednesday 22nd June 2022 (virtual)
Final Interviews: Friday 8th July 2022 (in person)
Equal Opportunities Monitoring
Peridot and The National Archives Trust are committed to promoting equality and diversity. To help us raise awareness and support a culture that is diverse and recognises and develops the potential of all, we need to appreciate the profile of candidates who apply for positions. We would therefore be most grateful if you would complete this equality monitoring survey.
The information will be treated confidentially and anonymously and will help us to support our commitment to fair recruitment practice. All information provided will be held in the strictest confidence and will not be shared with anyone, in line with the new Data Protection Act 2018 launched on 25 May 2018.
The information provided does not form part of the decision-making process and will not affect your application.
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