Chief Executive

Permanent 

Location: Any of our offices across the UK including London (with the expectation of a minimum of 2 days per week in London)

Salary: Competitive and commensurate with experience 

Ref: GSe78047

The National Lottery Heritage Fund is the largest dedicated grant funder of the UK’s heritage. Distributing National Lottery grants from £3,000 to £5million and over, we fund projects that sustain and transform the UK's heritage.  We have a broad definition of heritage, funding projects from local parks to landscapes, castles to community projects. We are a non-departmental public body accountable to Parliament via the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) although our decisions about individual applications and policies are independent.  We are a UK wide body working across all four nations of the UK, with 300 colleagues located in offices in London, Belfast, Cardiff and Edinburgh as well as Exeter, Cambridge, Birmingham, Nottingham, Manchester, Leeds and Newcastle.

We are now seeking a new Chief Executive at a pivotal moment for the Fund, which is supporting heritage sites, attractions and organisations which have suffered a loss of income as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. This is an opportunity for an outstanding person to make a huge contribution to the heritage of the UK and to our national life.   

Our Chief Executive will report directly to the Board and work closely with its Chair and oversee the overall strategic direction, development, management and conduct of the National Memorial Heritage Fund and the Heritage Fund, including all areas of business, strategies, policies and the implementation of our Strategic Funding Framework for investment. As Accounting Officer for both Funds to Parliament, the Chief Executive will develop a strong working relationship with DCMS and Ministers.  They will work closely with other key stakeholders in both national and local Government, including the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.  

The Chief Executive will provide inspirational leadership to our team of three Executive Directors and strategic leadership and direction to the 300 colleagues who are based across the UK. As a champion of equality, diversity and inclusion, our Chief Executive will ensure that we reach and support all sections of society and all parts of the UK, as well as developing the Fund’s own workforce diversity.  

We are therefore seeking an inspirational leader with previous experience of operating at senior leadership level in a complex organisation.  You will have worked closely with Boards and have a demonstrable track record of financial and business planning and driving organisational effectiveness, performance and continuous improvement.  As a skilled influencer, you will bring strong stakeholder engagement skills and be comfortable representing the Fund externally. A values-driven leader, you will role model our values of being Inclusive, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trusted, inspiring colleagues across the organisation to live our values and demonstrate the behaviours which bring them to life.

If you have the requisite skills, experience, knowledge and commitment to safeguarding and enhancing the nation’s heritage and making it accessible then we very much look forward to hearing from you. 

For more information or for an informal discussion about the role please click Apply or contact our retained executive search consultants at GatenbySanderson:

Michelle Sander, Research Lead

E: michelle.sander@gatenbysanderson.com

T: 07341 773 817

Joanna Thornton, Partner

E: joanna.thornton@gatenbysanderson.com

T: 07384 258 626

Closing date: Midnight Monday 4 October 2021

The National Lottery Heritage Fund pledges to provide an inclusive working and learning environment for our people which prioritises fairness, equality, diversity and inclusion as well as dignity and respect for all. We will create a workspace where intimidation, discrimination, harassment, bullying and victimisation are not tolerated and actively prevented and opposed.

Disability Confident employer

We are committed to supporting and promoting diversity, equality and inclusion – both through The National Lottery funds we distribute and as an employer. We always endeavour to make reasonable adjustments for disabled staff. As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum essential criteria for every vacancy.