Job Vacancy: Museum Director

Role Description – Museum Director

Job Title: Museum DirectorSalary: £40,000Location: Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum, GloucesterReporting to: The Board of TrusteesDuration: Full-time permanent (37.5 hours a week)Closing date: 30 September 2026.

 Overview of RoleThe role of the SOGM Museum Director is to provide overall leadership of the operational delivery and financial performance of the museum. In addition to this, they will be responsible for oversight of collection management, and delivery of a high-quality visitor experience of the Museum.They will provide regular monitoring and reporting of progress of the museum to the trustees against the identified strategy and agreed targets.As the senior employed line manager at the museum, the Museum Director provides leadership of all staff and volunteers, reporting to the trustees, ensuring positive and productive working relationships across all levels of the museum.As such, he or she is the day to day face of and representative of the Museum at a local, national, and international level, acting as an advocate for the Museum’s activities and its interests to stakeholders across the political, business, heritage, community, and media sectors.The Museum Director’s other more specific responsibilities are as outlined in the remainder of this document.ResponsibilitiesStrategic direction and operational delivery:

1. In collaboration with the chair and trustees, develop the museum’s strategy, objectives, and the performance indicators which ensure the delivery of a high-quality and financially sustainable visitor experience at SOGM
2. Update the strategic plan annually and present for approval, and then report on its performance on a regular basis to the board of trustees
3. Support the implementation of the agreed strategy
4. Deliver the day-to-day running of the museum in line with the agreed strategy, including, but not limited to:
   1. The creative and historical expression of the museum’s purpose
   2. The condition and protection of The Collection
   3. Leading on the wellbeing and career development of museum staff (and volunteers)
   4. Managing the building, its maintenance and environmental impact
   5. Overall responsibility for museum security, including its contents
   6. Sales and marketing strategy and implementation
   7. Shop and hospitality services
   8. Visitor numbers and quality of experience

Financial Performance:

5. Lead on the annual budgeting process and monitor and report performance against these
6. Work closely with the Treasurer to provide timely and accurate monthly reports, ensuring the Board have all appropriate information to make informed decisions
7. Lead and deliver on income-generation and fundraising activities for the museum, including identifying potential grant applications, donors, and sponsorship
8. Manage the daily collection, recording, security and banking of cash

Staff and people management:

9. Lead the staff and volunteers at the museum, ensuring their wellbeing and a positive working relationships in fulfilment of the museum’s activities
10. Manage any HR issues, escalating these to the Board if appropriate
11. Provide annual and other informal appraisal of employed staff
12. Oversee and manage staff development, including training where appropriate
13. Ensure that staff management and employment conditions, including health and safety, in line with latest best practice

The Collection:

14. Ensure the safeguarding and protection of The Collection, ensuring all appropriate measures are taken to report on, and where necessary protect or restore, the condition of individual items in accordance with the Loan Agreement with the Gloucestershire Regiment Museum Trust (GRMT)
15. Ensure weapons and other items of armoury are secure and access to them by the public 100% restricted

Heritage, Education and Community Development:

16. To lead on the development and delivery of a high-quality visitor experience at the Museum, including but not limited to exhibitions, events, learning programme, community engagement programmes, and online engagement
17. Ensure SOGM represents and fosters the community groups it serves, including the military community, local people and all other stakeholders who remain important to its sustainability and long-term success
18. To ensure good working relationships with GRMT and RGHT for the maintenance and display of The Collection
19. Maintain and develop excellent working relationships with a variety of external organisations in order to further the reputation, educational role, and commercial performance of the museum, including local government, the media, and international organisations where relevant

Compliance:

20. Working closely with the board of trustees, committee structures, staff and volunteers, the Director will ensure the museum is fully compliant with all regulatory and accreditation bodies, and with all areas of English law.
21. Ensure that SOGM is in full compliance with the terms of the Loan Agreement with GRMT
22. Ensure the same with the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars Trust.
23. Safeguard the Museum’s sector standards with regards to museum Accreditation and associated policies
24. Ensure the Museum and Board of Trustees adheres to best practice in governance in line with the Charity Commission

Person Specification – Museum Director

Category	Essential	Desirable
Knowledge	A passion for history, culture, preservation and conservation	An understanding of military history
		Knowledge of facilities and building maintenance
		Sound grasp of museum sector best practices, ethical codes and accreditation standards
		Knowledge of collection management
Skills	Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills	Grant funding and application writing
	Excellent organisational abilities, be able to work under pressure, and know how to prioritise workload
	Leadership and people management
	Ability to work independently
	Possess excellent written and verbal communication skills
Experience	Leading and managing a team as well as working with a wide variety of people	Experience of working in the heritage sector
	Holding and managing budgets as well as keeping track of financial income and expenditure	Experience of operating collections management systems and other digital tools
	Have experience of project delivery and/or operational management	Experience of marketing and promotional techniques and experience of developing and sharing content on social media

How To Apply

To apply, please submit a copy of your CV and a personal statement of no more than 1,000 words outlining how your skills, experience and qualifications meet the requirements set out in the person specification. Applications should be sent to nicolanashsogm@gmail.com.

If you would like an informal chat about the role, please contact Nicola Nash (Trustee) via the email address above to arrange a conversationJob Specification: 20260813-SOGM Museum Director Job Role

Closing date: 30 September 2026.