Museums and Heritage Highland (MHH) is seeking an experienced consultant to deliver board development and charity governance workshops for eight small, rural museums across the Highlands. The opportunity forms part of our Museums Galleries Scotland funded Pathways to the Future project, a two-year pilot supporting the sustainability and resilience of small rural museums through practical support with administration, income generation, organisational development, leadership, governance and wellbeing.
The successful consultant will deliver eight half-day workshops, one for each participating museum: Strathnaver Museum, Waterlines Heritage Centre, Historylinks Museum, Tarbat Discovery Centre, Tain & District Museum, Highland Museum of Childhood, Grantown Museum and Mallaig Heritage Centre.
Each workshop will combine a board governance refresher with a bespoke session responding to the individual museum’s priorities. Topics may include trustee roles and responsibilities, governance and operational management, strategic thinking, decision-making, risk, succession planning and trustee recruitment, board/staff relationships, effective board meetings, constructive challenge, delegation and accountability. We are particularly interested in a practical, participative approach that enables boards to work through real issues and leave with clear, achievable next steps.
We are looking for someone with significant experience in charity governance, trustee development and board facilitation, ideally with experience of museums, heritage organisations or small, rural and volunteer-led organisations. An engaging and adaptable approach is important; this is not intended to be a highly formal or compliance-led training programme.
Workshops will take place between November 2026 and March 2027, with a preference for in-person delivery where practical. The total budget is £4,800 including VAT, covering preparation, development of the bespoke sessions and delivery of all eight workshops.
Deadline for applications: 5pm, 15 September 2026.
Please see the full tender brief for details of the required submission and assessment criteria. For further information, contact Nicola Henderson at nicola.henderson@museumsandheritagehighland.org.uk.