Do you have experience and enthusiasm for developing and preserving built heritage and collections? The Heritage Committee of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh is seeking three dedicated and skilled Expert Lay Members to contribute their expertise to the enhancement of its historic estate and collections.
We are specifically seeking candidates with expertise in heritage listed building care and development, estate master planning in a heritage context, as well as collections development (museum, library, archive).
If you have a strong background in one of more of these areas, we encourage you to apply and help support the future of this historic institution.
About the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd)
The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd) was founded in 1505 by Royal Charter granted by King James IV. From the discoveries of Simpson and Lister to modern-day pioneers of medicine and dentistry who are developing simulation, VR, and robotics, we have been driving innovation in medicine for five centuries – making it better for patients across the globe. As a charitable membership organisation, with just under 32,000 members worldwide, we pride ourselves in providing high-quality education, training, and professional standards assessment to for our family of members. We are headquartered in Edinburgh in our home at Surgeons’ Hall, the world-famous category A listed building designed by William Henry Playfair in 1832. Our main Campus hosts a dedicated skills laboratory, the Surgeons' Hall Museums, the College Library and Archives, as well as function and meeting facilities.
About the Heritage Committee
The Heritage Committee provides strategic oversight of the RCSEd’s heritage collections and built heritage. This comprises the library and archive collections, as well as Surgeons’ Hall Museums, and the A-Listed Playfair building.
Aims and functions of the Heritage Committee
The Committee oversees the delivery of a heritage forward plan informed by the following strategic priorities:
- Built Heritage: caring for and developing the unique potential of the built heritage at RCSEd ensuring it is an inspiring place for members, staff, and audiences to thrive.
- Heritage Engagement: engaging diverse audiences on a local and global scale connecting more people with the rich heritage of RCSEd onsite and online.
- Collections Development: enhancing the exceptional museum, library and archive collections through a dedicated Collections Development Plan to proactively identify, celebrate, and fosters our collection strengths.
- Impact: proactively positioning the distinctive collections at RCSEd as a research asset to inform contemporary thinking through a dedicated heritage research programme.
Selection Criteria
We are specifically looking to appoint up to three members with expertise in one or more of the following areas:
- Listed building care and development
- Estate master planning in a heritage context
- Collections development (museum, library, and archives)
We ask that Committee members:
- Analyse papers and make decisions based on sound reasoning and precedent.
- Offer a professional opinion and adopt a short, medium and long-term perspective to ensure the ongoing growth and long-term sustainability.
- Collaborate with and respect the talents, views, and opinions of their fellow committee members as experienced people with broad career portfolios
- Exercise sound judgement and provide reasons to support it.
- Show a willingness to participate actively in discussion with highly developed interpersonal and communication skills.
Committee members are expected to abide by our values of Inclusivity, Integrity, Innovation, Respect and Professionalism.
Time Commitment and Expenses
The Heritage Committee reports to RCSEd Council and meets four times a year during working hours. Meetings may be held in person, hybrid, or through virtual means.
Successful candidates will need to dedicate time to reading papers and information in preparation for the meetings and responding to emails regarding committee work.
These positions are voluntary, although reasonable expenses may be claimed in line with the RCSEd Travel Policy.
Length of Term
The appointments are for three years. Further re-appointment for a 1-year term may be possible, following re-application, in line with the terms of the committee’s remit.
What will I receive in return?
We are looking for people from a wide variety of backgrounds and life experience who share a passion for heritage preservation and development, as well as becoming well-informed about surgery, dental surgery, and the wider healthcare context.
We actively welcome candidates that can bring varied lived and professional experiences to broaden the interests and character of our committees and represent the diversity of our RCSEd community. Being an active part of our committee network is a very rewarding role. While the roles are voluntary, the benefits include opportunities to:
- Gain or expand your committee experience – you don’t need to have committee experience, but it would be an advantage.
- Make an active contribution to the work of RCSEd as a charity and to the strategic development of the Library, Archives and Surgeons’ Hall Museum, an accredited, award winning collection of national significance.
- Work alongside people from a wide range of experience and backgrounds and to enhance teamwork and communication skills.
- Enhance your understanding of, and access to, the history of medicine, engaging with a globally significant medical history collection.
Appointment Process
Candidates are asked to provide a cover letter and a CV (no more than 2 pages) outlining their experience and knowledge, their individual interest in the role and where they believe they can add value to the work of the Heritage Committee. A panel will consider all applications and may shortlisted candidates to a short interview over Microsoft Teams.
Applications should be sent to Moira Britton m.britton@rcsed.ac.uk by Monday 18 November 2024.
To understand more about the role and for an informal chat, please contact Chanté St Clair Inglis, Director of Heritage and Estates at C.StClairInglis@rcsed.ac.uk.