RA Appointment of Secretary. Appointment of Secretary and Chief Executive

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1 Appointment of Secretary and Chief Executive November 2018

2 CONTENTS Introduction The role Duties and Responsibilities The person Terms of appointment How to apply For 250 years, the RA has existed to champion art and artists.

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4 INTRODUCTION The Royal Academy of Arts is one of the UK s foremost arts institutions, famous for its world class exhibitions including Painting the Modern Garden: Monet to Matisse, Ai Weiwei, and the recent blockbusters Abstract Expressionism and America after the Fall: Painting in the 1930s, together with its annual Summer Exhibition and the RA Schools. Dedicated to promoting the creation, study and enjoyment of art to all audiences, we are a UK charity led by eminent artists and architects. The RA was founded in 1768 by a group of 40 artists and architects who became the first Royal Academicians. The first president was Sir Joshua Reynolds, whose statue now stands outside Burlington House. We have a lot in common with museums and other galleries, but as an Academy, we have a broader role to promote not just the appreciation and understanding of art, but also its practice. Just as our founders intended, we are still led by many of the greatest artists and architects of the day. Each Royal Academician must be a practising artist, elected by their peers in recognition of their work. Our Academicians represent many different perspectives, but we all share a deep commitment to art and a strong belief in the contribution that artists make to the world. Unlike most of our peers, we don t receive revenue funding from the government and so we are reliant upon the support of visitors, donors, sponsors, and the loyal Friends of the Royal Academy to continue our work. From ancient sculpture to modern-day masterpieces, we are the original home of the blockbuster exhibition. We stage an annual Summer Exhibition, the world s largest open-submission exhibition. Our events programme opens up the worlds of our exhibitions and helps introduce new audiences to our art and artists. We are also home to Britain s longest established art school, the RA Schools. Our three-year postgraduate course is one of the most competitive in the country, and we re proud to offer free tuition to all who study here. All Royal Academicians donate one of their artworks to our Collection when elected, creating a treasure trove of British art. You can explore our Collection online, or visit our galleries to see some of it on display. This is an exciting time to join the Royal Academy as we celebrate our 250th anniversary and the completion of a major redevelopment that has united our two sites, opening up our institution with new spaces for exhibitions, learning and debate. Led by the internationally acclaimed architect, David Chipperfield RA, the project has linked Burlington House on Piccadilly and Burlington Gardens for the first time. In doing so, we have created a 2.5 acre campus in the heart of Mayfair. This ambitious scheme provides a new suite of temporary exhibition galleries, a double height auditorium, a dedicated learning centre and an RA Collections Gallery. This is just the start of the next 250 years of the Royal Academy of Arts. For more information about the RA please visit our website or visit one of the links below:

5 THE ROLE The governing body of the RA is its Council, the members of which are predominantly taken from the General Assembly, which is the term used to describe the body of membership of the RA or Royal Academicians. There are four Officers of the RA: the President, who is the chair of Council and the public figurehead of the RA, the Keeper (who is responsible for the RA Schools), the Treasurer, and the Secretary & Chief Executive. The Secretary is the only non-academician Officer. The RA Council is now seeking a well-respected and experienced executive with a deep interest in the arts, to take on the role of Secretary of the RA and to make a major contribution to its future success and sustainability. This appointment is made by Council and the General Assembly. Reporting to the President, the Secretary is responsible for the governance of, and successful day-to-day running of, the RA and for creating an environment in which artistic excellence can flourish. The Secretary will oversee and deliver the organisation s business plan and ensure sound financial management, take responsibility for managing and progressing fruitful relationships with the RAs, the Friends of the Royal Academy and the RA Development Trust, together with a wide range of stakeholders locally, nationally and internationally. The role will involve the healthy stewardship of donors, funders and collaborators as well as seeking out opportunities for new partnerships and revenue streams. The Secretary will also be responsible for leading the RA s staff to deliver world class exhibitions and artistic education, engaging and impacting a growing audience, delivering a welcoming visitor experience ultimately securing the RA s place now and in the future as a world-class independent artistic institution, led by practising artists and architects. The Secretary is responsible for the Executive Team of the RA, all of whom report directly to the Secretary, including the Artistic Director. The Secretary is the bridge between the executive and non-executive parts of the RA.

6 DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES Strategy and Business Planning The Secretary & Chief Executive has responsibility for delivering the RA s business plan and the targets within it, ensuring the organisational vision and business plan are regularly reviewed and evolved and effectively reported on to the President and Council. This will include: Developing a sustainable business and financial model; Artistic direction and cultural direction in conjunction with the Artistic Director; Growing audience reach; Improving audience monetisation; Delivering an excellent visitor experience; Fundraising and endowment building; Estates and technology strategy to support the organisation;

7 Leadership of the development and implementation of new areas of business and significant new projects, including capital projects; Reporting to the President and Council on operational, financial, artistic and strategic matters; Providing leadership, management and motivation for the Executive, providing guidance, managing their performance and supporting them in achieving their objectives; Developing and maintaining an effective strategy for internal communications and overseeing the RA s external communications strategy in close collaboration with and taking direction from the President; Leading on the RA s capital projects; and Taking overall responsibility for ensuring key policies and processes are in place. Fundraising and relationship and stakeholder management, both internal and external Fundraising and relationship management are a central and key part of the Secretary s role. In collaboration with, and taking a lead from, the President, the Secretary will: Act as a spokesperson for the RA as required; Represent the RA to all its external stakeholders, including the government and the Crown together with media, museums, the arts and the private sector both in the UK and internationally; Proactively fundraise from organisations and individual donors to support the RA s activities and to build its endowment; Act as a guardian of the RA s reputation and sit on the RA s Ethics Advisory Group; and Enhance the international reputation of the RA. Leadership, finance and business development The Secretary is responsible to Council for the financial performance of the RA and attends both the Finance and Audit sub-committees of Council. The Secretary is responsible for ensuring: A culture of cross organisational financial discipline; Developing and maintaining an overview of progress towards income targets and the control of all expenditure; Developing and overseeing the annual organisational budget and five-year budgeting cycle; Line managing the Chief Operations Officer who in turn is responsible for the Director of Finance;

8 Line managing the Director of Development and overseeing the RA s fundraising strategy to ensure targets are hit; and Investigating and delivering new initiatives and the delivery of new income streams. Governance The Secretary is responsible for the RA s overall legal compliance including its compliance with the Laws of the Royal Academy, the administration of General Assembly, Council and its sub-committees and will: Work in close co-operation with the President, informing and advising him or her on the effective running of General Assembly, Council and its sub-committees; Attend meetings of Council and various sub-committees of Council; Sit ex officio on the boards of the Friends of the Royal Academy and the RA Development Trust and ensure that these boards are provided with the relevant information from the RA to enable them to carry out their own charitable objectives; Support the President in developing the skills and diversity of Council membership and for planning Council recruitment and succession planning; and Lead the management of cross organisational risk management. Artistic programme The Secretary will line manage the Artistic Director and in so doing provide support and oversight to the Artistic Director so that the Exhibitions Department can develop a distinctive and ambitious programme of exhibitions and learning, that delivers against the RA s creative, charitable and financial aims.

9 PERSON SPECIFICATION Candidates will ideally possess all or most of the following skills and experience: A demonstrable enthusiasm and knowledge of the arts; A commitment to the values and legacy of the RA; Ability to lead, motivate and manage in complex organisations; Ability to work in partnership; An open, inclusive and respectful management style; Ability to listen and process different points of view in making sound, value-based judgements; Ability to reach out to and engage a diverse range of stakeholders; Ability to foster respectful and rigorous relationships with challenging, creative professionals; Evidence-led decision-making skills; Clear analytical and strategic thinking; Excellent written and oral communication skills; An entrepreneurial appetite and the ability to adapt to new opportunities; Proven ability to shape and evolve organisational vision; High level financial management; Experience of, and commitment to donor stewardship and cultivation; A good commercial and charity understanding; Strong negotiation skills; An understanding of and commitment to inclusivity; Demonstrable ability to manage teams and conflict; and The ability to manage creative talent. The following skills and experience are desirable in candidates: Previous experience of involvement with artistic organisations; and Strategic marketing experience including the impact of digital technology.

10 TERMS OF APPOINTMENT Appropriate remuneration will be negotiated with the preferred candidate. HOW TO APPLY Saxton Bampfylde Ltd is acting as an employment agency advisor to the Royal Academy of Arts on this appointment. Candidates should apply for this role through our website at using code EARAAA. Click on the apply button and follow the instructions to upload a CV and cover letter, and complete the application. The closing date for applications is noon on Monday 3 rd December 2018.

11 RA Appointment of Secretary Saxton Bampfylde LONDON 9 Savoy Street London WC2E 7EG EDINBURGH 46 Melville Street Edinburgh EH3 7HF saxbam.com Partners in Panorama - Search around the world panoramasearch.com