In a move that British media has called “revolutionary,” Prince William and Kate Middleton are looking to hire a CEO with a “low ego” to run their household. The royals have put out a job application for the senior position, which will be in charge of running Kensington Palace. According to the official job posting, the new person will play a pivotal role in shaping the “professional and collaborative culture” in the long term. The position will also have a direct reporting line to the royal couple.
The new person in the role, which does not include a title or salary, will have a “core value of discretion, humility, integrity, and diplomacy at the heart of this distinctive working environment,” the official job description reads, per Hello. The person will collaborate with, but not report to, the couple’s private secretaries, which significantly differs from how things have been done in royal households.
The statement says that the CEO will oversee the strategy and implementation planning for TRH’s work across Household functions, overseas engagements and visits, and the couple’s charitable commitments, including their Foundation and Earthshot Prize. They will be expected to lead a team of 60 people, including the senior leadership team and the more comprehensive Household staff. The CEO will also regularly contact the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall, ensuring that their priorities are aligned.
The job description states that anyone interested in the role must be able to “operate as a servant leader, empowering the senior team” and have experience in “strategic and cultural leadership” in a complex and fast-paced setting. According to the listing, they must also be emotionally intelligent and have a “low ego” with solid self-awareness.
Stuff looked into what it would take to be a CEO in the Royal Family and discovered that if you land the gig, you’ll have a 37.5-hour work week, which doesn’t include any travel time or maternity leave. The position will also require you to have a lot of one-on-ones with your bosses, which makes the whole thing sound quite stressful.
Odgers Berndtson, the largest executive recruitment firm in the UK, offers the role. It is “the leading provider of senior-level appointments to major organizations and private companies worldwide.” And while it’s unclear whether the Prince and Princess will choose this candidate, one thing is for sure: This new position could radically change how the royal family runs their household. It will be interesting to see how the new strategy plays out over the next few years. It’s also a sign of how William and Kate are laying the groundwork for their style of monarchy when they eventually assume the throne.