Role of a Syndic
The Syndicate bears key responsibilities in both its governance and advisory capacities. It is expected to approve core elements of the Museum’s direction, including the development of its collections and the management of incoming and outgoing loans. It has authority over the use of the Museum’s financial reserves, which support both daily operations and long-term goals.
In addition to these decision-making functions, the Syndicate provides direction and advice on a range of matters essential to the Museum’s success. These include the management of institutional risk, strategies and policies including financial stability, income generation and business planning. The Syndicate may be called upon to offer advice or advocacy on any issue the executive team identifies as strategically significant.
Syndics champion public engagement and inclusivity, support fundraising and other advocacy efforts and offer professional insight across a range of areas key to the development success of the Museum. They work closely with the Museum’s Director and Senior Leadership Team:
- Luke Syson, Director
- Lucy Perman, Chief Operating Officer
- Karen Livingstone, Deputy Director, Masterplan, Exhibitions and Design
- Neal Spencer, Director of Research, Deputy Director, Collections
- Erma Hermens, Director, Hamilton Kerr Institute, Deputy Director, Conservation and Heritage Science
- Jen Grindley, Deputy Director, Audiences and Brand
- Michael Corley, Interim Deputy Director, Learning and Public Programmes
- Claire Alfrey, Senior Associate Director, Development
Skills and Experience Sought
We are seeking candidates with the vision, experience and commitment to help steer the Museum through a period of renewal. Board or trustee experience is helpful but not essential. We particularly welcome applications from individuals with expertise in one or more of the following areas:
- Strategic Planning & Masterplanning
The Museum is embarking on a major transformation through its Masterplan, a long-term project to create a “Fitz for the Future” that is inclusive, financially sustainable, and academically ambitious. The Masterplan reimagines the use of the Museum’s spaces, proposes how to use space better, identifies and unlocks opportunities which can be delivered with an appropriately modest level of scale and investment, and which support its mission, vision and future financial and environmental sustainability, with a strong emphasis on access and belonging. Our Masterplan is more than a renovation project: it is a strategic framework that secures the Fitzwilliam’s future as a world-leading cultural institution, fully embedded in the University’s mission to deliver public value through excellence in education and research. To support this work, the Syndicate would benefit from experience in masterplanning, or cultural capital and infrastructure projects, and experienced oversight of building programmes from concept through delivery. Insight into aligning space, mission, cost, and long-term institutional goals will be vital as the Museum moves into this next phase.
- Public Engagement & Local Government Relations
The Museum is committed to developing its civic role and how it collaborates with people and communities to deliver our new vision. Cambridge is identified as the least equal city in the UK, and parts of the wider region are less served by institutions like ours. In response, and driven by the commitment to equity, belonging and representation, the Museum has built a strong track record through its Learning and Public Programmes Department of working with people and communities. Our work spans early years and families, education from reception to HE, bespoke community partnerships, health & wellbeing offers and events co-designed with targeted communities. We intend to continue to research and draw on evidence as we develop our practice. We are seeking a Syndic who can enhance the connections with diverse audiences, bring insight into national, regional or local government, offer experience in implementing participatory practice in institutions or contribute excellent local knowledge and networks from the third or education sectors. Syndic oversight and support in this area will be vital to ensuring that the Museum continues to grow the relevance and social impact of our collection and programmes.
- Philanthropy & Development
We welcome candidates with experience in philanthropic giving and fundraising leadership who can help advance the Museum’s ambitions for sustainable growth. Ideal candidates will be willing to act as ambassadors for the Fitzwilliam and bring strong personal or professional networks, that can connect the Museum to philanthropists, senior corporate leaders, or trusts and foundations. Syndics in this area play a key role in fostering a culture of philanthropy, offering insight and confidence to the Board on fundraising strategy, and supporting the Museum’s fundraisers to secure significant income and partnerships.
- Finances and Enterprise
We are looking for Finance sector expertise to enhance knowledge, support and advice in our Finances and General Purposes Committee in a challenging financial landscape in the University of Cambridge. We are moving to a new business model where we will diversify and enhance income generation creatively and increase the Museum’s financial sustainability through our new Business Plan. We now seek a Syndic to join the Committee and play a key role in oversight and scrutiny of business plan delivery. We expect the candidates to have enterprise expertise to support commercial strategy, Audience Development, financial management while ensuring that commercial activities support the Museum’s core educational and cultural goals. Finance expertise within a cultural-sector context would be an advantage but not essential.
- Museum Good Practice, Collection Development
We are looking for expertise in delivering innovative museum programmes and shaping museum collections, working with collectors and others, with an emphasis on contemporary art practice and curation, contributing to future acquisitions and ensuring the collection remains relevant and dynamic, while balancing collections development carefully and distinctively between historic and contemporary.
- Conservation Science & Heritage Science
We are seeking expertise to provide strategic direction as the Hamilton Kerr Institute transforms its operations and its ambition to increase its commercial income while maintaining leadership in research and teaching. We seek a Syndic with strong professional networks, change management and institutional development experience that will contribute to positioning the Institute at the forefront of innovation while balancing commercial sustainability with our academic mission.
Equity, Belonging and Representation
The Fitzwilliam Museum is committed to reflecting the full diversity of the communities it serves, within Cambridge, across the UK, and globally. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences.
The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society. We particularly encourage applications from people who are currently underrepresented on our Syndicate, including people from the global majority, women, disabled and neurodiverse people, LGBTQIA+ people, and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds, state and non-traditional education backgrounds.
We value the unique perspectives that come from a wide range of lived experiences. We are dedicated to building a Syndicate that reflects the richness and diversity of our audiences and society at large.