Heritage & Engagement Director

The Role

Are you passionate about preserving history, telling captivating stories, and engaging the public with heritage? Leeds Castle Foundation is seeking a dynamic Heritage & Engagement Director to lead the conservation, collections management, storytelling and public engagement for one of the UK’s most beloved estates.

Leeds Castle is not just any castle – for 900 years, it has been a glamorous retreat, with a rich history of female ownership, including six medieval queens and the glamorous Anglo-American millionaires Lady Olive Baillie. Set within 990 acres of stunning Kent parkland and surrounded by a serene moat, the Grade I listed castle is a living, breathing place, with unusually diverse use.

Hosting over 500,000 visitors annually and with a broad range of popular major events, including Christmas Lights, Fireworks, Queens Joust & Motors by the Moat, Leeds Castle offers an unparalleled blend of history, relaxation, and entertainment. Our grounds host four major gardens, three playgrounds, a Maze, a Bird of Prey Centre, golf course and unique accommodation, ranging from Castle & Stable Courtyard bedrooms to cottages and Lakeside Lodges

As Heritage & Engagement Director, you will take overall responsibility for Leeds Castle’s heritage, collections, curatorship, and public engagement strategies. You’ll lead efforts to preserve and interpret the castle’s rich history, leading research, developing innovative exhibitions and experiences that resonate with diverse audiences. 

You will lead teams responsible for learning, curatorship, collections, community engagement & outreach & fundraising. Leeds Castle want to achieve a more balanced financial model, drawing in external funding to augment our commercial funding streams, as well as involving local communities in our work. This role will have responsibility for leading that major change.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead curatorship and collections management, ensuring the care and conservation of Leeds Castle’s historic assets.
• Develop and implement public engagement programs, from interactive exhibitions to community outreach and volunteer initiatives.
• Drive fundraising efforts, working closely with the Grants & Fundraising Manager to secure support for vital projects like Castle Conservation and the creation of a new Kitchen Garden.
• Build partnerships with educational institutions and community organizations to expand the Castle’s reach and impact.
• Collaborate with the Senior Leadership Team to ensure the estate’s long-term financial sustainability and environmental goals, including renewable energy initiatives and biodiversity improvements.

The Candidate

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced leader, deep knowledge of heritage conservation, a flair for storytelling, and a strategic mindset. You should have at least five years’ experience in a senior curatorial role and a proven track record of delivering exhibitions that drive visitation, as well as major projects that extend public engagement.

Strong audience focus, excellent communications& stakeholder management skills are essential, as well as the ability to inspire and manage a dedicated team of staff and volunteers. Leeds Castle is an unusual place, so you will also need to be curatorially pragmatic & commercially aware.

This is an exciting time to join Leeds Castle Foundation. We have ambitious plans to grow our income and to surprise & delight our visitors, all while ensuring the Castle is in good shape for the benefit of future generations. As Heritage & Engagement Director, you’ll play a crucial role in shaping the future of this extraordinary estate and bringing in external funding to achieve our goals. 

If you’re a creative, strategic thinker with a passion for history and a commitment to making heritage accessible to all, we’d love to hear from you. 

For further information and details on how to apply, please visit http://www.berwickpartners.co.uk/91795

For an informal and confidential discussion, please speak with our advisors at Berwick Partners

William Pringle

Managing Partner – Charity, Arts, Culture & Heritage 

William.Pringle@berwickpartners.co.uk/ 44 (0) 7515 919 648 

Closing date for applications: Friday 11^th October 2024