As the Thackray Museum of Medicine looks to build on a period of bold strategic growth since a major redevelopment (reopening in May 2021), we are seeking an experienced, ambitious and community-minded Chair to lead our Board of Trustees.
The Thackray is the UK’s largest independent medical museum: a dynamic, ambitious museum in East Leeds with a nationally significant collection of over 80,000 objects and a clear mission to inspire people with the passion and purpose of medicine and healthcare – past, present and future. Since reopening it has grown audiences, deepened community partnerships and developed an ambitious plan to be the UK’s leading medical museum by 2030.
Role: Chair of the Board of Trustees
Term: Minimum three years from 12 May 2026, renewable (maximum six years)
Commitment: Approx. 1–1.5 days per month (voluntary; reasonable out-of-pocket expenses reimbursed)
Your location: Ideally Leeds (nationwide considered); Board meetings four times a year (three may be hybrid; in-person presence preferred).
The Role:
The Chair will lead and steward an engaged, forward-thinking Board to support the CEO and senior team as the Museum consolidates recent gains and secures long-term resilience. You will ensure excellent governance, provide constructive challenge and support to the CEO, strengthen relationships with funders and partners, champion the Museum’s commitment to equity and community co-curation, and be an ambassador for the organisation locally and nationally.
Key responsibilities:
- Set strategic direction: Lead the Board in shaping, approving and monitoring delivery of the CEO’s strategy to meet the Museum’s mission and 2030 ambitions.
- Own governance & risk: Ensure high standards of governance, legal and regulatory compliance, and effective oversight of the risk register.
- Build board capability: Drive trustee recruitment, induction, appraisal and succession planning to secure the skills, diversity and lived experience needed.
- Partner with the CEO: Line-manage and support the CEO – offering constructive challenge, guidance on operations and people matters, and ensuring strong executive accountability.
- Champion income & profile: Use networks to open doors to major funders, partners and donors, and actively raise the Museum’s profile.
- Ensure financial stewardship: Oversee budgets, reserves and trading activity with the Finance Committee and trustees, and scrutinise financial reporting.
- Lead effective meetings: Chair Board meetings, encourage robust discussion, ensure timely decisions and follow-through on agreed actions.
- Represent and advocate: Act as an ambassador to civic partners, funders, media and diverse local communities.
- Steward the estate: Support oversight of the CEO’s strategies for capital, maintenance and estate priorities for the Museum’s Victorian building.
Who you are:
- Seasoned governance leader: Experienced chair or senior trustee with sound knowledge of trustee duties, charity & company law and governance best practice.
- Strategic thinker: Track record of leading strategy in complex, stakeholder-facing organisations.
- Fundraising connector: Proven at building relationships with funders, businesses or philanthropists, supporting successful income-raising and profile activity.
- Financially literate: Comfortable with budget scrutiny, risk oversight and the commercial realities of earned income models or trading subsidiaries.
- ED&I and community champion: Committed to equity, inclusion and co-creation, with evidence of diversifying leadership.
- Confident ambassador: Excellent interpersonal and public-facing skills; able to represent the Museum credibly to varied audiences.
- Supportive leader: Able to challenge and develop senior executives while fostering a collegiate, high-performing board culture.
- Local affinity desirable: A strong connection to Leeds or experience working in diverse urban communities is an advantage.
For full details of the role including how to apply, please download the full appointment brief . To apply, please send an up-to-date CV, a Supporting Statement (no more than two A4 pages) outlining your interest and relevant experience, in confidence to Jenny Hills at executive@harrishill.co.uk.
For an informal and confidential conversation about this position, please contact Jenny Hills at Harris Hill at executive@harrishill.co.uk with times to speak and (optional but appreciated) a CV or professional profile which will be treated with the strictest confidence. There is also the opportunity for suitable interested candidates to speak to the Thackray’s CEO, current chair or other trustees in advance of submitting an application.
Closing date for applications: 11.59pm, Tuesday 31 March 2026.
First stage interviews: w/c 13 April 2026 (tbc).
Second stage interviews: w/c 20 April 2026 (tbc).
The Thackray is actively committed to promoting Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. We are a Disability Confident employer (registration number DCS036392) and welcome applications from all sections of the community.
As leading charity recruitment specialists and a certified B Corp, Harris Hill is committed to high and ever-improving standards of equitable and inclusive recruitment. We actively welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexuality and other protected characteristics.