Trustee vacancies

Would you like to chair the William Morris Society?

With 800 members worldwide, the William Morris Society celebrates the life and legacy of William Morris, the Victorian era’s greatest socialist designer and poet.

Based in Hammersmith, the Society runs a popular museum and shop from the coach house of Morris’s riverside home, Kelmscott House. It runs a successful series of talks and lectures on Morris’s life, work and its heritage collection. The Society also produces a magazine and academic journal which is distributed to its members.

This is an exciting time to join the Society, as it embarks on the development and delivery of its next forward plan. Following the pandemic and flooding to the Hammersmith headquarters the Society is looking to the future; to embed digital fully into all activity and to redevelop the Hammersmith site to meet the needs of current and new audiences.

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The William Morris Society is looking to appoint a new Chair of Trustees when Stephen Bradley steps down in 2023.

The role involves:

• Leading the Trustees and Society’s activity
• Chairing Trustee meetings and the AGM
• Managing Trustee/staff and Trustee processes (including convening and chairing the Finance and General Purposes Committee between meetings)
• Writing the annual report and accounts for the Charities Commission
• Engaging with external partners and stakeholders e.g. grant giving bodies, donors
• Managing the Society staff
• Acting (with others) as the public face of the Society

Essential requirements

– Enthusiasm for the ideas and legacy of William Morris and his circle.

– The ability to lead and take a strategic perspective.

– Skills and experience to work collegiately and chair meetings.

– Knowledge of the charity sector and its governance

Desirable requirements

– Appreciation of the charity sector and its governance, or a willingness to learn.

– Knowledge of the heritage business sector.

– Fundraising and financial skills.

Other information

Requires reasonable accessibility to London (the Society is based in Hammersmith) and might attract someone recently retired from senior management in the public, private or voluntary sectors.

Time commitment is 3-4 days monthly plus 5 board meetings annually.

The role is unpaid but out of pocket expenses will be covered.

The post holder will be co-opted onto the Trustee Board as soon as is convenient, to take up the post from the May 2023 AGM.

Download a full role description here.

Applications are also welcomed from those interested in becoming a Trustee.

To apply for either role, please send your CV and covering letter explaining how your interests and experience align with the role to Sarah Hardy.

Closing date for applications: 31 December 2022