Beamish looks to the future as it searches for new boss to lead museum

Beamish Museum is searching for a new chief executive to lead its 400 staff and 500 volunteers.

The advert says its board of trustees are looking for someone who can develop and lead it’s long-term strategy of the “jewel in the crown for the North East” and hightlights they should have "personal integrity and emotional intelligence” among their skills.

The vacancy comes after its former boss Richard Evans resigned last summer following an eight-month suspension.

Whoever is appointed will need to steer the museum through the recovery from the pandemic.

In September, it started to consult on the redundancy of 59 jobs, with the museum facing a series of restrictions or closures due to Covid and appeals for support shared.

The recruitment advert for the role – which says the salary for the role is “competitive” – says the board is looking for “exceptional candidates” and adds: “They will be an ambassador and champion for Beamish locally, nationally, and internationally and work with colleagues to develop new opportunities and partnerships for the museum.

"Candidates will demonstrate evidence of strategic leadership, ideally in a time of change, and a track record in managing and developing high performing teams.

“It is expected that candidates will demonstrate a commitment to living and working in the North East of England.”

It goes on to say the museum, which welcomed 804,000 visitors in 2019/20, is keen to encourage applicants from a range of backgrounds and experiences.

The museum was founded in 1970 and tells the story of life in the region since the 1820s and is now developing its Remaking Beamish project, a £20 million capital investment programme, which will create more attractions to offer an insight into life into the 1950s, including the recreation of South Shields miners’ cottages and a rebuild of The Grand Cinema in Ryhope.

It has plans to then work on further additions which cover life in the 1980s.

Its shop is continuing to trade during the closure.

Durham Constabulary is continuing to investigate a complaint into financial matters, with a suspect attending an interview voluntarily during the autumn.

Applicants for the top job have until Monday, February 22, to apply.

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