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Director of Corporate Services - Royal Botanical Gardens Edinburgh
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About Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
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 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.
The Opportunity
With a new Regius Keeper in post, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is seeking an exceptional Director of Finance & Corporate Services to play a pivotal role in strengthening how the organisational leadership can provide impact in the ongoing development and execution of the Botanic’s strategy.
This is a strategically critical Leadership Team role, responsible for ensuring that ambition is matched by affordability, capability and delivery discipline. You will provide authoritative financial stewardship while integrating Finance, Digital, People and Culture into a coherent, high-performing Corporate Services services function.
The remit is broad, influential and evolving. As a trusted adviser to the rest of the Executive and Board, you will bring clarity to complex choices, give confidence over risk and performance, and enable evidence-led decision-making that delivers value for money and measurable impact.
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Key Responsibilities
Leadership and Representation
- A member of our Executive and Senior Leadership teams, supporting effective, collaborative leadership and delivery of RBGE’s strategy and operations.
- Lead and develop skilled, motivated Finance, Digital, People and Culture teams and promote efficient, equitable working practices.
- Serve as a Non-executive Director for RBGE legal entities such as the Botanics Trading Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of RBGE acting as our commercial trading arm.
Strategy, Finance, and Corporate Planning
- Lead all financial operations, strategic and operational planning, including business and financial planning and performance reporting.
- Support income diversification and work with the Executive Team to identify new revenue opportunities to support our charitable aims.
- Contribute to procurement, planning and delivery of major capital programmes aligned to budget and priorities.
Governance, Risk, and Policy
- Act as Company Secretary, supporting Board and Committee governance and meeting preparation.
- Serve as Senior Information Risk Owner, ensuring compliance with information governance requirements.
- Oversee governance, legal and risk matters, including new ventures.
- Support corporate policy development and maintain awareness of the wider policy.
People and Culture
- Lead an effective people function, continuing to position RBGE as an employer of choice whilst also continuing to deliver our People Strategy through driving workforce planning, skills development, and continuous improvement.
- Oversee our work in health and well-being, diversity, culture, and resourcing and retaining talent.
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Digital & Technology Services
- Provide strategic leadership for technology, data systems, and cybersecurity.
- Oversee digital strategy, CRM, ticketing, e-commerce, and data governance to enhance the visitor experience.
About You
- Strong financial acumen and ideally a qualified accountant. Or with equivalent knowledge/experience.
- Strong proven senior leadership in multi-disciplinary corporate services, particularly a blend of Finance, Digital, and People & Culture.
- Relevant previous experience e.g. of ensuring effective delivery and outcomes in a large public body/charity such as a heritage body or a visitor attraction, or a university, or similar.
- Strong people skills - excellent leader, including high level people management, and excellent stakeholder communications with an ability to build high performing teams.
- Experience as part of a multi-disciplinary Executive team, with Board-level engagement skills.
- Experienced in the development and monitoring of budgets and business plans.
- A strong background in strategic and operational planning and performance, and knowledge of management information systems.
- Proficient in external statutory reporting and audit.
- Familiarity with current Human Resource practices.
- Familiarity with current procurement practices.
- Knowledge and experience of leading/advising effective and transparent governance.
How to Apply
Applications should be submitted via CV and Covering note to applications@fwbltd.com
For further information or a confidential discussion, contact Walker Wares at the same email address or call the Edinburgh office on +44 131 539 7087.
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