English Heritage are seeking an outstanding Chief Executive Officer to lead the charity which cares for over a million objects and hundreds of historic sites in every part of England. We care for the bridges and bronzes, gardens and gargoyles, stone circles and secret bunkers and everything in between. We are the only charity in the world which looks after a National Collection from our own earned income.

Our mission focuses on creating inspiring visitor experiences, preserving historic sites and collections for future generations and connecting people to places. We have a world class portfolio of heritage assets, diversified funding and successful operating model and are supported by our hardworking employees, the generosity of our volunteers, a loyal membership of 1.2 million people as well as donors and supporters.

The Board of Trustees, chaired by Tony Hales CBE is seeking candidates for the role of Chief Executive Officer, to join English Heritage and lead the organisation into its next chapter.

You will work with the Board and senior leadership team to ensure English Heritage delivers on its charitable objectives including conservation, public benefit and financial security.

You will bring a strong track record of leading large, complex organisations operating across multiple sites and engaging diverse stakeholders. You will be able to demonstrate how you develop incisive strategies and then translate them into successful delivery. A collaborative team player, you lead with integrity and inclusivity, balancing the sensitivity required for managing conservation sites with the drive needed to attract income. An understanding of the value volunteers bring would be advantageous.

For more information, please download the candidate information pack.

If you think you have the vision, skills and experience to take on such a fantastic opportunity, we'd love to hear from you. Please submit a CV and supporting statement by Monday 8th June 2026, neither should exceed 2 sides. Your supporting statement should respond to the four key questions in the information pack to outline your suitability for this role.

Led by Tony Hales CBE, interviews will be held in June at our offices on Wood Street, London

If you would like to talk to us about the recruitment process, please email Lisa.Brigham@english-heritage.org.uk. No agencies please.

Find out more about us and what we do: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/about/ You can also meet some of our people and hear about why they enjoy working with us: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/about/our-people/careers-with-us/

Everybody's welcome at English Heritage

Forget the stereotypes. It takes thousands of people from every background to care for England's heritage and open it up for everybody to enjoy. We're looking for every type of person with every kind of skill and experience, and we're committed to making sure that English Heritage is an equitable, diverse and inclusive place to work. You can connect with others through our EDI networks as a member or ally. These include Ethnic Diversity, Faith & Belief, Social Equity, LGBTQ+, Neurodivergence, Age, Disability and Gender Health and Wellbeing.

We take wellbeing seriously. We are committed to ensuring everyone feels safe at work and can carry out their role. To support this, we have a network of Mental Health First aiders, regular information and awareness events, unlimited access to an Employee Assistance Programme and work with our people to implement reasonable adjustments.

Please note: if we receive sufficient applications who meet the essential criteria we may close this vacancy early. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

Closing date: 08/06/2026 23:59:59

You will need to refer to the following documents when completing your application.

Job Description