Director - The Cartoon Museum

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Job Title:		Director
Organisation:		The Cartoon Museum
Salary:		£46,000 p.a.
Type:		Full-Time Position
Location:		London, England
Closing Date:		Thursday, 4th September 2025
Job Ref No:		CAR001



Job Description

The Cartoon Museum is recruiting a new Director. You will bring charismatic leadership, strong business management, clear strategic planning and a passion for taking cartoons, comics and caricature to the widest possible audience. You will share our vision, champion our mission, and be committed to supporting the Museum as a place of cultural excellence and witty social commentary. The Cartoon Museum has a nationally important collection of original British cartoon art, comics and caricatures including historical and contemporary work and a library of 14,000 books, comics and graphic novels. With an in-house curator and a small team of staff and volunteers the Museum has established itself as the pre-eminent organisation in the UK for collecting, conserving and celebrating Britain’s heritage in cartoon art. We create a diverse range of vibrant exhibitions, run a well-established learning programme engaging up to 3,000 pupils a year, and have an award-winning autism programme. Along with the British Cartoonists Association, the Museum hosts the annual Young Cartoonists Awards and the Young Comics Maestro Award with the active support of contemporary cartoonists. The Museum generates revenue from admission charges, the Museum shop and via fundraising from charitable trusts, individual and corporate donors. We have previously received very welcome grants from the John Lyon’s Charity and the National Lottery Heritage Fund, and the new Director will have a key role in maintaining financial sustainability through income generation and fundraising. We are looking for an exceptional, enthusiastic and energetic Director, with strong, relevant experience of working in the museum or cultural sector. You will have the skills needed to lead the organisation, manage the budget, develop commercial opportunities and cultivate relationships with a wide range of stakeholders. You must have a proven track record of successful team management, and a genuine interest in the collections and objectives of the Cartoon Museum.

Required Skills / Qualifications

• Genuine interest in and commitment to the Cartoon Museum’s goals and values, including appreciation of its collection and the art/heritage sector. • Experience of working in customer/visitor-focused organisations and of assessing and responding to the needs of the audience. • Strong leadership and management skills, preferably with experience of managing teams including volunteers. • Experience of strategic planning processes and operational delivery; able to develop visitor-focused strategies that enhance engagement, education and inclusion. • Able to manage, monitor and report on significant and complex budgets. • Strong commercial awareness and ability to develop profitable businesses/income streams. • Proven track record of successful fundraising and developing beneficial partnerships. • Strong networking and stakeholder relationship management skills. • High level problem solving and innovation. • Excellent project management skills and experience. • Excellent written and oral communication skills; ability to write clearly and concisely including text for publications, exhibitions and funding applications. • Educated to degree or equivalent qualification. • Able to deliver strong governance, risk management, safeguarding, and health and safety compliance, with experience collaborating effectively with Trustees, senior leaders, and external stakeholders.

Application Instructions

For a full role description please visit https://www.cartoonmuseum.org/staff To apply please send a CV and a short covering letter to chair@cartoonmuseum.org Closing date 4 September Interviews 12 September


Contact Name:		Ms Nicola Jennings
Contact Tel:		02075808155
Contact Fax:
Contact Email:		chair@cartoonmuseum.org
Website:
Address:		The Cartoon Museum, 63 Wells Street, London.