Could you be our new Chair?

An invitation to become Chair of Birmingham’s award-winning architectural preservation trust

For nearly 40 years, Birmingham Conservation Trust has been a leading force in preserving Birmingham’s architectural heritage.  Past projects include rescuing the city’s last court of Back to Backs, and our most recent major project is the multi-award winning ‘Newman Brothers Coffin Works’ in the Jewellery Quarter, where we are running our own heritage attraction – a new departure for the trust.

In addition to the Coffin Works, the Trust provides consultancy services and specialist support to some of Birmingham’s most important historic buildings and landscapes such as the Jewellery Quarter Cemeteries, the Highbury Estate and Moseley Road Baths.  It is also currently working with partners to find ways to save the Cadbury Barn at Manor Farm Park and the 16 listed post-war prefabs on the Wake Green Road.

The challenge:

 To champion the work of the Trust, and build the support and partnerships needed to secure sustainable and imaginative new futures for Birmingham’s endangered historic buildings

• To guide the development and diversification of the trust as it tackles new projects
• To increase corporate engagement with the trust
• To shape the board of trustees by leading on the recruitment of four new trustees
• To develop the trust’s strategic and business plans
• To ensure the effective administration of the trust and its financial stability
• To take a leading and high-profile role in the advocacy of the trust, promoting it to a wider audience, including the business community
• Plan and chair meetings of the Board of Trustees, ensuring it functions effectively and annually reviews its performance

The reward:

 To make a real difference to Birmingham and the local community

• To help ensure Birmingham’s architectural heritage is preserved for future generations
• To use your skills and experience to help shape the future of the trust
• To develop new skills, knowledge and contacts

Your qualifications as Chair:

 An interest in and commitment to the heritage of Birmingham

• A readiness and ability to play a role in fundraising/development activities
• The qualities of fairness, impartiality and openness to new ideas
• Good leadership skills, including in creating and delivering a clear strategic vision and direction
• Board level (or equivalent) experience and proven competence in chairing meetings and managing performance
• An understanding of the challenges of leading an organisation in periods of significant change
• Ability to work with the Director to maintain the appropriate balance between management and governance
• Ability to inspire and lead a team of highly skilled and motivated individuals
• An ability to command respect among local, regional and national stakeholders – acting as an ambassador for the trust
• Senior-level experience and well-established networks in one or more of the following areas:
• Management or Business
• Planning / Architecture
• Finance, Law or Human Resources
• Fundraising
• Communications, Marketing or Public Relations
• Heritage, Museums, Tourism or the Arts
• Education / Academia
• Community Service (paid or voluntary)

Want to know more?

 More details on the role and how to apply are available in a briefing pack.  Please email our Director, Simon Buteux: simon@birminghamconservationtrust.org.  Simon can also be contacted for an informal chat on 0121 233 4785 or 07973 498013. An open evening is being held at the Coffin Works for potential candidates at 6.30 on Thursday 26^th May.

Further information about BCT is available on our websites, www.birminghamconservationtrust.org and www.coffinworks.org, and our lively Facebook pages and Twitter feeds (@BirminghamCT @coffinworks).

Deadline for applications is the 3^rd June and interviews will take place on the 8^th June.