Executive Director of Museum Operations

Salary (Grade E): £88,253 - £93,757 per annum (dependent upon experience)
Hours: 37.5 hours per week (Monday to Friday) - permanent
Location: Portsmouth Historic Dockyard with the opportunity to adopt hybrid working (combination of working onsite and from home)


Following the appointment of a new CEO in July 2024, there is an exciting and rare opportunity for an Executive Director of Museum Operations to join the senior team at the National Museum of the Royal Navy (NMRN). This role will report direct to the CEO and be accountable to Trustees for leadership of one of the two directorates within the National Museum. This is an exciting time for the Museum, following growth in visitor numbers and a record year for self-generated income in 2023-24, as it matures, reviews its strategy and builds its brand.

This is a chance to take responsibility for shaping and sharing the stories of a diverse national collection across a series of incredible museum sites. From national icons like HMS Victory, to museums like the Fleet Air Arm Museum at the cutting edge of technological change, to the new Royal Marines project which will create an entirely new immersive and interactive attraction.

The role will join an exceptional Executive Team and have the privilege of leading a diverse staff and volunteer body. This is the opportunity to shape the investments and programmes which will make an enduring difference to the Museum, to our visitors and to our people.

The Role

We are seeking an inclusive strategic leader, who will support the CEO to promote and build upon the current strategy, raise the distinctive profile of the NMRN and ensure continuing relevance and sustainability. The Executive Director role is an essential role in longer-term planning and in coordination across the business to ensure functional strategies connect and deliver.

The Executive Director will lead the Museum Operations directorate, with accountability for Commercial Operations, Heritage and Strategic Programmes and Marketing. Continuing to drive forward our vision to be the world’s most inspiring Naval Museum, Linking Navy to Nation.

Working closely with the CEO and Executive Director of Finance and Resources to increase self-generated income and strive for continuous improvements.

About You

You will have an inclusive leadership style that is visionary, promotes collaboration and inspires, empowers and motivates others. You will bring out the best in people within the directorate while also providing collaborative leadership across the National museum.

Adept at turning strategic vision into practical action with substantial leadership experience at a senior level within a similar role.

Demonstrating strong stakeholder skills as the role involves partnership building and creating beneficial strategic relationships with the Royal Navy, cultural and educational organisations and others.
You will have experience at a senior level managing complex stakeholder relationships, with significant budgetary responsibilities and commercial acumen.

You have an understanding of the complexity of managing a geographically dispersed and multi-disciplinary teams.

Experience in the delivery of strategic growth, and analysis of relevant opportunities.

You are able to demonstrate significant breadth of professional knowledge appropriate to the role, with depth of understanding in at least one key area - evidenced by an appropriate qualification for area of expertise or equivalent experience.

This post requires a standard DBS check as a requirement of working on the naval base.

We provide

• The opportunity to be part of a friendly and diverse workplace within a unique heritage environment.
• Group pension plan with Royal London (10% employer contributions, 2% employee contributions and death in service benefit).
• 25 days’ annual leave (plus bank holidays), increasing to 30 days’ annual leave (plus bank holidays) after 5 years’ service.
• Occupational sick pay.
• Enhanced maternity/adoption/shared parental leave and paternity pay.
• Flexible working.
• Free parking.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Free admission to other national museums and attractions within the reciprocal agreement.
• Discounts at our shops and cafes.
• Free and discounted tickets for family and friends.


For further details, or to arrange an informal discussion regarding the role, please email Matthew Sheldon, Chief Executive Officer: [email protected]

Applicants are asked to apply via https://jobs.nmrn.org.uk/ no later than midnight, Sunday, 11 August 2024. We will be conducting interviews at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.

If you require reasonable adjustments to be made to the application process because of a disability, please contact the People team on [email protected] for support.

Museum Website: https://jobs.nmrn.org.uk/