Advertised from 16 May 2025

Role

Established by Royal Charter in 1681, The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh’s mission is to promote and improve the quality of health and patient care worldwide, through medical examinations, education and training. We provide resources to support and facilitate professional development for doctors throughout their careers and have a strong UK and international presence with 15,000 Fellows and Members in over 100 countries. Alongside our commitment to lifelong learning, we are motivated by influencing and shaping health policy at the highest level. 

Over the course of 2023/24 we undertook a comprehensive strategic governance review in order to align the College’s governance framework and decision-making structures with best practice in modern charity governance. As a result of this review, and for the first time in our 343-year history we are introducing a Board of Trustees. Whilst the majority of these Trustees will be clinicians appointed from the College’s Council, three will be lay members appointed for their skills and expertise. 

We are specifically looking to identify new Board Trustees who bring relevant knowledge or experience within: 

• Accountancy or strategic financial management – Experience in overseeing financial and governance frameworks, with a strong grasp of financial strategy 
• IT / Digital Transformation – Proven expertise in leading business technology and process transformations, or in championing a "digital first" approach to modernise and streamline operations
• Marketing & Communications – Experience in building and enhancing an organisation’s brand, both domestically and internationally, to enrich its reputation
• Fundraising – including relevant experience in maximising the income generation potential of an organisation’s brand and securing income from a variety of sources, including philanthropy 
• Member Value Proposition –Experience ensuring an organisation effectively meets the current and future needs of its members whilst delivering clear value for money

This is an especially exciting time to join the College as we look to appoint new trustees from a wide range of backgrounds, able to bring a diverse range of skills and expertise to the new Board. We are also seeking people who will embrace and understand the challenges of guiding a complex organisation through a period of significant change. 

These are voluntary roles without remuneration. Reasonable travel expenses will be reimbursed.

Application notes

For further information, please refer to the role profile below or contact Douglas Adam via douglasadam@livingstonjames.com 

Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status or pregnancy and maternity.

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