Conservation Trustee

Job Title: Conservation Trustee

Candidates should take the time to read all the elements of this job advert carefully Please make your application promptly.

Salary: Unremunerated (all reasonable travel expenses reimbursed) / Four meetings per year plus an annual discussion day / Fixed-term for four years

About the Role:

Are you willing to commit some of your time, energy and experience to help care for some of England’s most important historic sites and artefacts so future generations can enjoy them as we do today?

We are the charity that cares for the National Heritage Collection – over 400 historic sites and more than a million artefacts across England. Some are internationally known, others are local treasures, but all belong to the nation.

We are recruiting for a Trustee to assist with the conservation and management of the collection and to help guide our long-term strategy to preserve these sites and to make them accessible and meaningful to people across the country.

What is the Role of a Trustee?

As a Trustee of English Heritage, you will be responsible for ensuring that English Heritage carries out its charitable purpose for the public benefit, delivers its charitable objectives, remains solvent and properly managed, and complies with all relevant legislation and governance best practice.

You will attend four board meetings a year and an annual discussion day. These are usually in London and are planned well in advance, as well as one to two regional visits to English Heritage sites. Our Trustees are expected to participate in one of our sub-committees, such as the Remuneration Committee, Nominations Committee, and Audit and Risk Committee. In addition, there is the London Blue Plaques Panel, and we anticipate that the Conservation Trustee would participate in the new English Heritage Conservation Committee and engage with HECC (Historic England Conservation Committee).

Further, Trustees may be asked to advise the executive on specific issues from time to time and will be invited to attend events such as capital project launches, cultivation events and blue plaques unveilings.

Initial appointments are made for four years, and Trustees are eligible for reappointment for a further term. The role is unremunerated, but all reasonable expenses (such as travel and childcare) are claimable. We`ll give you a full induction and ongoing development, including sessions at selected Board meetings about our work and the Trustee role. An experienced English Heritage Trustee will be your mentor for your first year.

Required Experience, Attributes and Skills:

The ideal candidate would be a qualified and experienced practitioner in the conservation and maintenance of historic buildings, having held senior and long-term responsibility for maintenance regimes and major capital repairs across a range of historic building types. You will also have experience in large-scale programme management involving partnerships with funders and contractors.

You will bring:

• An understanding of English Heritage’s work, and a commitment to our charitable purpose, vision, and values.
• An understanding of the role of a trustee and how a trustee could best collaborate with English Heritage’s senior leadership team.
• Knowledge and experience of strategic planning and monitoring.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building abilities, with the ability to work effectively as a member of a team.
• The time and focus to ensure the role can be fulfilled to the highest standard.

The experience, attributes and skills we’ve listed represent the “perfect candidate”. Please do not be deterred if you do not fulfil every line. We are looking for someone committed to English Heritage’s mission and values and who can fulfil the overall brief.

How to Apply:

We are committed to ensuring diversity and equity are part of English Heritage. The more diverse our Board, the better able it is to bring new perspectives and support us in achieving our mission. xwzovoh

If you are interested in applying for the role, please select the apply button shown and send a CV and cover letter detailing how you meet the ‘Required Experience, Attributes and Skills'.

The deadline for applications is the 29th of May 2026.