St Bride Foundation (SBF) is an independent cultural charity renowned for curating an internationally significant library collection encompassing print, design, and typography. SBF’s vision is to flourish as an educational and cultural institution, establishing its significance within the broader creative industries in the UK and the contemporary realms of type, design, and print.

Since its establishment in 1891, the Foundation has served as a creative and community hub. Often described as a ‘hidden gem’ off Fleet Street, it is housed in a Grade II listed Victorian building and home to Bridewell Theatre, a dynamic 130-seat fringe theatre, and a functional print studio. At its core lies the extraordinary St Bride Library, one of the world’s most remarkable and irreplaceable collections encapsulating the history of print, typography and design. Its primary mission is to narrate the story of print, offering creative inspiration and research access to a vibrant community of designers, printers, researchers, students, and the general public. Additionally, SBF actively pursues commercial activities, including venue rentals, partnerships with community groups, and a diverse educational program that includes creative workshops, seminars, and events. The diverse spaces offered such as the comfortable meeting rooms, the opulent Salisbury Room, and the elegant Bridewell Hall, cater to a wide range of events, from lectures and board meetings to conferences and wedding ceremonies. SBF welcomes approximately 65,000 visitors annually, including theatre-goers and participants in public talks, tours, workshops, exhibitions, and library-related projects.

St Bride Foundation is currently seeking a dynamic leader to serve as Chair, a role of utmost importance during a transformative phase. Although often considered a hidden gem, the challenge is to increase its visibility and embrace the potential of its unique building. The new Chair will play a key role in boosting the Foundation's visibility, balancing the financial books, and expanding its commercial activities. This growth is essential to continue supporting the Foundation’s charitable endeavours and strengthen its ties with the community.

The Chair will provide inclusive leadership to the Board and Trustees, ensuring that they fulfil and stay true to SBF’s vision, mission and longer-term strategy and carry out their duties and responsibilities for the effective governance of the charity. The Chair will work closely with the CEO (Executive Director or General Manager), the Board and staff, working collaboratively to achieve agreed objectives.

Principal responsibilities include:

• Carrying out the role Chair in accordance with latest governance, best practice procedures and guidance
• Guiding the Board in carrying out its responsibilities and build unity, solidarity and trust
• Ensuring orderly deliberation and concise decision-making, using correct procedures to fulfil the Board’s purpose
• Facilitating clear channels of communication between the Board and staff
• Determine, review and ensure the completeness of board agendas, minutes and pre-read information in conjunction with the CEO, ensuring that management provides the Board with sufficient and appropriate information, so that the Board can fulfil its responsibilities
• Ensuring that the directors are properly informed on matters of substance
• Coaching directors, collectively and individually, to ensure full utilisation of individual capabilities and optimum performance of the Board

St Bride Foundation seeks a dynamic and dedicated Chair who will lead the Board and play a key role in achieving both short-term and long-term goals. SBF has been without a Chair for eight months now, so this new Chair will play a key role in boosting the Foundation's visibility, balancing the financial books, and expanding its commercial activities.

Candidates from diverse professional backgrounds are welcome, provided they possess senior, strategic-level leadership experience in either commercial or non-profit organisations. Candidates should be comfortable making challenging decisions and possess the capacity to align and focus the board on critical matters. Ideally, candidates should have a track record of leading diverse teams, fostering inclusive meetings, and welcoming fresh perspectives. Familiarity with areas such as fundraising, printing, graphic arts, theatre, museums, and charities would be beneficial, but not essential.

The ideal candidate will have experience in one of the following areas:

• Finance: Candidates will have strong expertise in financial management, gained from any type of organisation. A comprehensive understanding of charity finance would be highly advantageous, but not essential. 
• Strategy: The Board is open-minded as to the professional background of this individual, but regardless of sector or functional background, they will be a strong strategic professional, comfortable in a leadership role and able to act as a critical friend to the Board and staff.
• Fundraising: Candidates will bring a successful track record as a fundraiser, with a strong understanding of the challenges facing UK charities in maximising income streams and donor cultivation. Ideally, they will bring experience in a range of fundraising practices such as corporate, high net worth, individual giving, or licensing & royalties. They will be able to offer oversight, constructive challenge and expertise on these issues, acting as a ‘critical friend’ with respect to all matters within the Foundation’s remit.

St Bride Foundation is open to receiving applications from those seeking their first non-executive role, as long as they exhibit an understanding of board dynamics, differentiating between executive and non-executive roles. Above all, candidates will be aligned with SBF's ethos and mission, and will be passionate in preserving and promoting knowledge related to printing, graphic arts, and cultural heritage.

This role is unremunerated, and reasonable, pre-agreed travel expenses will be reimbursed. The Board typically holds seven to eight full meetings annually, with plans to reduce this to six by 2025. In addition, there is a Financial Sub-Committee that convenes four times a year, with the possibility of up to six meetings if necessary. While the Chair usually attends the Sub-Committee sessions, these meetings are chaired by the Chair of the Finance Sub-Committee, so the role primarily involves participation and providing comments. The appointment is for an initial three-year term, which can be renewed twice at the discretion of the Board.

Both Board and Sub-committee meetings are mainly held in person on Fleet Street, London. Candidates should therefore ideally be London-based, or willing to travel to London often.

St Bride Foundation welcomes applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, belief or disability. All appointments will be made on merit, following a fair and transparent process. In line with the Equality Act 2010, however, the organisation may employ positive action where candidates from underrepresented groups can demonstrate their ability to perform the role equally well.