Director of Horticulture

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is a world-leading centre for plant science, horticulture, conservation, education, and public engagement. Founded in 1670 as a physic garden for the study of medicinal plants, it attracts around one million visitors each year and holds one of the world’s most diverse botanical collections.​

We have four gardens in Scotland; Benmore, Dawyck, Edinburgh and Logan.​

Through a wide network of national and international partnerships, we pursue our mission to Explore, Conserve and Explain the World of Plants, addressing global biodiversity loss and climate change.​

​RBGE is funded by Scottish Government Grant-in-Aid and self-generated income, reflecting our dual role as a public institution, charity and an enterprising organisation. The continued growth of commercial activity, philanthropic support, and consultancy work is a key strategic priority for ensuring long-term sustainability and impact.​

RBGE is seeking to appoint an inspiring and forward-thinking Director of Horticulture to join its Executive Team at an exciting point in the organisation’s development. Reporting to the Regius Keeper, this pivotal leadership role will shape the future of horticulture across RBGE’s four gardens, champion the stewardship and development of its globally significant Living Collection and strengthen connections with partners in Scotland and internationally.

Combining strategic leadership with operational oversight, you will lead talented horticultural teams across the organisation, act as Custodian of the National Living Collection and play a leading role in ensuring RBGE remains at the forefront of conservation horticulture, biodiversity recovery and climate resilience. You will also contribute to the wider leadership of the organisation, helping to shape the next phase of RBGE’s strategic direction and its ongoing work to deliver real impact in response to the biodiversity and climate emergencies.

• Lead the strategic direction of horticulture across RBGE, develop long-term plans for the organisation’s four gardens and ensure they continue to evolve in response to climate change and conservation priorities. 

• Provide leadership for the care, development and curation of RBGE’s internationally important Living Collection, maintaining the highest standards of horticultural excellence. 

• Lead and develop horticultural teams across RBGE, fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement while ensuring the expertise, leadership and capacity required to sustain and enhance the Living Collections and garden landscapes for the future. 

• Drive innovation in conservation horticulture, working closely with scientific colleagues to support biodiversity conservation, species recovery, plant health and climate adaptation initiatives. 

• Lead and contribute to organisational strategic projects, including Edinburgh Biomes and wider capital development programmes. 

• Act as a visible advocate for horticulture, representing RBGE across professional networks, government, conservation organisations, media and public forums both nationally and internationally. 

• Promote horticulture as an exciting and inclusive career, supporting skills development, training and engagement with future generations of horticultural professionals. 

• Lead the development of horticultural consultancy activity and identify mission-aligned opportunities that support both impact and long-term financial sustainability. 

• Contribute as a member of the Executive Team to organisational strategy, governance, performance and culture. 

• Proven senior leadership experience within horticulture, ideally gained within a botanic garden, conservation, heritage landscape or similarly complex environment. 

• Exceptional leadership and people management capability, with experience of leading and developing large, multidisciplinary teams. 

• A recognised qualification in horticulture, plant science or a related discipline. 

• Extensive expertise in living collections management and conservation horticulture. 

• Outstanding communication, influencing and advocacy skills, with the ability to act as an effective ambassador at senior stakeholder, policy and media level. 

• Strong strategic and commercial awareness, including experience of budget management, organisational planning, risk management and leading change. 

• A collaborative and inclusive leadership style, with a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. 

• A passion for the future of horticulture and a commitment to widening access to horticultural careers and skills. 

• Experience of master planning for gardens or conservation sites, consultancy development, biodiversity policy or multi-partner conservation projects would be advantageous.