*Closes 03rd March*
- Digital & AI
- Property Development and Management
- Collections, Museums and Heritage
- Science & Engineering
Appointment description
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum is responsible for the whole of the Science Museum Group (SMG). The Trustees are appointed by and responsible to the Prime Minister through the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). The SMG Director, as Chief Executive Officer, is responsible to the Board of Trustees, and, as Accounting Officer, is accountable to DCMS.
Within the framework of their statutory duties as stated under the National Heritage Act 1983, the role of the Trustees is to assist the SMG Chair in meeting the board’s overall responsibilities, in accordance with the policies of the Secretary of State, and in compliance with charity law. The Board of Trustees also offers guidance and expertise on setting and implementing the strategy for the Group.
The Group has four Board meetings per year, one of which takes place the day before a residential ‘strategy day’. In addition, Trustees are expected to attend other committee meetings as necessary as well as occasionally attending profile-raising events at our museums. The total time varies depending on committee membership, but on average it will be not less than two days per month.
Science Museum Group – Trustee x 4
Number of vacancies x 4
Time commitment x 2 day(s) per month
Length of term x 4 years
Application deadline: 11:59pm on 3 March 2026
Organisation description
The Science Museum Group (SMG) incorporates the Science Museum in South Kensington, London; the Science & Industry Museum (SIM) in Manchester; the National Railway Museum (NRM) in York; Locomotion in Shildon; the National Science & Media Museum (NSMM) in Bradford, and the Science + Innovation Park (S+IP) in Wroughton, near Swindon.
The Group’s mission is to ‘inspire futures’ and our six sites are a key national resource. SMG shares its unparalleled collection of over seven million objects spanning science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) with over 3.8 million visitors each year, in addition to over 650,000 school visits and a huge digital audience. It is the world’s leading group of science museums and therefore is uniquely placed to draw people of all ages to engage with science in an inspirational and informal way, with its extensive national and international programme of exhibitions, research, skills sharing and consultancy.
Within the framework of their statutory duties as stated under the National Heritage Act 1983, the role of the Trustees is to assist the SMG Chair in meeting the board’s overall responsibilities, in accordance with the policies of the Secretary of State, and in compliance with charity law. The Board of Trustees also offers guidance and expertise on setting and implementing the strategy for the Group.
Board composition: https://www.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/about-us/board-of-trustees
Person specification
Essential criteria
Candidates for all roles must demonstrate:
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Knowledge: a clear understanding of the work, priorities and challenges of the Science Museum Group (SMG) and the context within which it operates.
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Judgement: effective decision-making skills with the ability to critically analyse information to make clear and objective evidence-based recommendations to support the delivery of the SMG’s objectives.
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Communication: strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to listen, accept challenges and constructively challenge others in discussions with clarity and respect.
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A demonstrable commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion and the importance of this for cultural organisations; and factoring nationwide perspectives into all decision-making
Additional criteria
In addition to the essential criteria outlined above, candidates must also be able to demonstrate one of the following additional criteria:
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Digital and AI: a professional background in digital strategy, technologies, and growth with experience of guiding organisations and overseeing complex projects to ensure digital opportunities are fully implemented.
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Property Development and Management Trustee: a professional background in property development or management with experience of overseeing high-level capital projects and an understanding of strategic management of complex estates.
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Desirable: knowledge or experience of built heritage in a conservation or historical context.
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Collections, Museums and Heritage Trustee: Senior experience in collections, museums and heritage, with the ability to apply this knowledge to the SMG’s collections and a strong understanding of SMG’s role in building, preserving and ensuring access to the world’s best science collections.
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Desirable: knowledge or experience of built heritage in a conservation or historical context.
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Desirable: specific experience of the railway heritage sector.
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Science and Engineering Trustee: a professional background in science or engineering or extensive experience in research of international distinction in a STEM subject area.
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Desirable: Demonstrable experience of engaging the public with science in an inspirational way to grow ‘science capital’ and foster a scientifically literate public.
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Desirable: Experience inspiring young people to pursue STEM careers and futures in science.
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Desirable criteria
We welcome applicants from a wide range of backgrounds and experience, particularly those who can demonstrate the following desirable criteria:
Northern base
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located in the north of England.
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an understanding of the role of the museum and cultural sector in place making.
How to apply
In order to apply you will need to create an account or sign in.
Once you are logged into your account, click on ‘apply for this role’ and follow the on-screen instructions To apply, all candidates are required to provide:
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equality information
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information relating to any outside interests or reputational issues
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a Curriculum Vitae (CV)
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a supporting statement
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a short professional biography (150 words)
