Candidate Brief Ref: Director Royal Collection Trust

Introduction

Royal Collection Trust is seeking an exceptional individual to appoint as its Director.

The Director, Royal Collection Trust is responsible for all aspects of the leadership, management and administration of the Royal Collection Department, one of the five Departments of The Queen’s Household and for the management of the Royal Collection Trust in accordance with its charitable objectives. Working in a unique and high profile environment, the successful candidate will need to demonstrate relevant achievement in their careers to date and the experience, skills and qualities described in the following specification.

This document should be read in conjunction with other supporting material and information on the Royal Collection’s website, (https://www.royalcollection.org.uk/) and its annual report 2016-17 (https://www.royalcollection.org.uk/about/royal-collection-trust/annual-reports#/).

Royal Collection Trust

The Royal Collection is one of the largest and most important art collections in the world. It comprises almost all aspects of the fine and decorative arts, and is spread among some thirteen royal residences and former residences across the UK, most of which are regularly open to the public. A considerable number of works from the Collection are on long-term loan to institutions throughout the UK, and short-term loans are regularly made from the Collection to exhibitions around the world. The works of art contained within the Royal Collection are held by Her Majesty The Queen in right of the Crown and are held in trust for her successors and for the nation.

Royal Collection Trust, with its wholly owned trading subsidiary, Royal Collection Enterprises Limited, collectively referred to as Royal Collection Trust, is a charitable trust regulated by the Charity Commissioners with appropriate charitable responsibilities, as well as one of the Royal Household's five Departments. It was established in March 1993 in order to take responsibility for the trading activities which fund the maintenance, conservation, custody, presentation and curatorial aspects of the Royal Collection and the Royal Archives. The Trustees, on advice from the Director, determine how the income generated should be used.

Royal Collection Enterprises Ltd is responsible for the management and financial administration of public access at Buckingham Palace (including The Queen’s Gallery, the Royal Mews and Clarence House), Windsor Castle (including Frogmore House) and the Palace of Holyroodhouse (including The Queen’s Gallery). Royal Collection Enterprises also promotes access to the Royal Collection through publishing, retail merchandise and the Picture Library, in support of the Royal Collection Trust’s charitable objectives.

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Candidate Brief Ref: Director Royal Collection Trust

The Role

The Director is responsible for all aspects of the leadership and commercial activities of the Royal Collection Department, one of the five Departments of The Queen’s Household, and for the management of the Royal Collection Trust in accordance with its charitable objectives.

As the Head of Department with responsibility for the Royal Collection, s/he has the privilege of direct access to Her Majesty The Queen and is responsible for keeping Her Majesty informed of the Department’s activities and for obtaining The Queen’s approval for loans, exhibitions, acquisitions and publications.

The Director reports to the Lord Chamberlain.

As Director, Royal Collection Trust s/he is responsible to the Board of Trustees and its Chairman, His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, and for keeping them fully briefed.

S/he is a member of the Lord Chamberlain’s Committee, which oversees the running of the Royal Household, and generally represents the Department’s interests in the wider Household and externally.

S/he is an ex officio Trustee of Historic Royal Palaces (HRP), the charitable trust responsible for the running and opening of the unoccupied royal palaces (The Tower of London, Hampton Court, Kew Palace, Kensington Palace, the Banqueting House and Hillsborough Castle). These palaces contain a significant part of the Royal Collection, for which the Director is responsible in seeing that appropriate standards of custody, conservation display and interpretation are maintained in line with the objects and aims of the Trust.

Key duties of the Director include: . Ensuring excellent communication with HM The Queen in all relevant matters relating to the Royal Collection.

. Informing and advising HM The Queen and HRH The Prince of Wales about possible acquisitions for the Collection.

. Ensuring that all items in the Collection, including those entrusted to the care of HRP, English Heritage and other bodies, are subject to proper custodial and curatorial control, and that the Collections Management System is regularly and accurately maintained and updated.

. Overseeing the commercial activities of Royal Collection Enterprises Ltd, and ensuring the optimal return from all revenue-generating opportunities, as far as is compatible with the style and dignity of the Monarchy.

. Ensuring that conservation priorities across the Department are effectively managed

. Ensuring that the good reputation of Royal Collection Trust is upheld and enhanced through:

 advocacy of best curatorial and conservation practice and expertise;

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Candidate Brief Ref: Director Royal Collection Trust

 preparation and dissemination of knowledge about the Collection to the highest standards through publications and other media, and  provision of as wide access to the Collection as possible for the general public and for scholars.

. Ensuring that the organisational structure, reporting lines and staffing levels are correct and that staff of the appropriate skill and experience are employed; motivating and managing staff to ensure that they give of their best and have appropriate training and career opportunities; ensuring that there is a good, co-ordinated teamwork and an effective working environment; overseeing all personnel matters including performance management and remuneration.

. Establishing with colleagues the Department’s primary operating objectives in the context of its strategic plan. This will include revenue-generating initiatives and priorities for the re-display of interiors, exhibitions, loans, publications and other capital projects.

. Guiding and advising the Surveyors and Librarian as to priorities and work programmes for themselves and their sections, and ensuring they achieve their objectives.

. Ensuring that appropriate reports and information are provided to the Trustees of the Royal Collection Trust in an efficient and timely manner, and generally fulfilling the responsibilities of Secretary to the Trust.

. Ensuring that all aspects of the Department’s operations, including Royal Collection Enterprises, are subject to proper financial control and procedures. These will include external and internal audit arrangements and oversight of general financial propriety.

. Overseeing and, when appropriate, co-ordinating the response to media enquiries about the Collection.

. Overseeing the output and direction of the Learning section.

. Chairing or attending the various departmental committees and ensuring that information and reports appropriate to each committee are provided in a timely fashion.

Currently the nine members of the Management Board (to which the Board of Trustees has delegated responsibility for the day to day running of the Charity) are responsible for helping the Director (who at present is also Surveyor of Works of Art) fulfil the duties and objectives outlined below. They are:

. The Surveyor of The Queen's Pictures . The Deputy Surveyor of The Queen's Works of Art . The Finance Director . The Retail Director . The Director of Communications and Business Development . The Visitor Experience Director . The Director of Content and Audiences . The Future Programme Director . The Head of HR

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Candidate Brief Ref: Director Royal Collection Trust

Director RCT

Deputy Surveyor of Content & Visitor Experience Director of Surveyor of The Director, Future Head of HR Retail Director The Queens Finance Director Audience Director Communication Queens Pictures Programme Works of Art

Royal Collection Trust Management Board EA to Director RCT

Head of Development (BD and fund raising)

Head of Collections Information Management

In addition to the RCT Management Board direct reports, the Director also has an Executive Assistant, the Head of Development and the Head of Collections Information Management reporting into him/her.

The Director is assisted in future planning by the Strategic Development Committee, established in 2008. This committee incorporates the members of the Management Board and the Directors of Royal Collection Enterprises (eight of the ten members of the RCT Management Board) plus two non- executive directors, and the Trustees of Royal Collection Trust, excluding the Chairman. It is currently chaired in a non-executive capacity by the Keeper of the Privy Purse, who provides the Director with assistance and guidance in respect of financial and commercial matters. On the retirement of the current post-holder in December 2017, one of the other Trustees (Mr Marc Bolland) will become the new Chair.

Role Dimensions

Number of Staff: 730 full time equivalents, including a large number of seasonal staff. Royal Collection Trust Group turnover: approx. £62M. Numbers of items on the Royal Collection Inventory: approximately 850,000

Decision Making Responsibilities

The post-holder works independently as a Head of Department, referring where appropriate to HM The Queen, The Prince of Wales, the Lord Chamberlain, the Keeper of the Privy Purse and the Royal Collection Trustees. As a member of the Lord Chamberlain’s Committee, the post-holder is also expected to contribute to the overall direction and operations of the Royal Household.

Location and Travel

Principally based at St. James’s Palace, London, the post-holder will also be required to travel to other occupied and unoccupied Royal residences throughout the UK. The post-holder would also be expected to have a flexible approach to working hours.

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Candidate Brief Ref: Director Royal Collection Trust

Candidate Profile

Experience

Candidates will bring the following background and experience: . A good academic record and an understanding of the heritage and arts sector in RCT encompassing fine and decorative arts, exhibition curatorship, and conservation, and, ideally, of collections, library and archive management.

. Commercial experience with a successful track record within a premier organisation where high standards are the norm.

. A deep understanding of charitable trust status and not for profit organisations.

. Significant experience of working at a senior level in a complex organisation, with a large number of stakeholders.

. A track record in leading, developing and working with senior multi-disciplinary professional teams, ensuring effective teamwork.

. Experience of leading on strategy development and of financial planning and budget management.

Competencies

Candidates will bring the following skills and attributes: . Proven clear strategic and creative thinker with considerable forward planning skills, and the capability to make a significant contribution to the Royal Household's objectives, as well leading the Royal Collection Trust's strategy and intellectual agenda.

. An inclusive approach to leadership, with the ability to motivate and manage teams and work in a collaborative way with colleagues to achieve a cohesive approach, balancing delegation with direct hands-on involvement.

. Excellent influencing and communication skills, the ability to master complex detail and nuance, and to communicate sensitively and positively to all levels within the Royal Household and to Trustees.

. Strong analytical skills, with good judgement and decision making capability.

. The ability to represent the Royal Collection Trust internally and, importantly, externally.

. Commercial acumen and the ability to identify/support opportunities for revenue generation which are in keeping with the aims and image of the Royal Household/Royal Collection Trust.

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Candidate Brief Ref: Director Royal Collection Trust

How to Apply

The Royal Collection Trust has retained Russell Reynolds Associates to assist with this appointment.

Applicants should submit a detailed CV, and a statement briefly outlining the qualities they feel they would bring to the position, and their reasons for wishing to apply at this stage of their career. Applicants will be asked to submit a Royal Household application form as part of the vetting process. (Applicants who progress to the final stage will be expected to be security cleared.)

Please submit applications to [email protected]. All applications will be acknowledged.

The deadline for submitting an application is 15th September.

Contact Simon Kingston Henry Scarlett Russell Reynolds Associates Russell Reynolds Associates Almack House, 28 King Street Almack House, 28 King Street London London SW1Y 6QW SW1Y 6QW United Kingdom United Kingdom Tel: +44-20-7839-7788 Tel: +44-20-7839-7788 [email protected] [email protected]

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