Vacancies

Full-time (35 hours), permanent, based in Edinburgh
Salary: £27,366 to £29,125 plus civil service pension, generous holiday entitlement and other benefits

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) is one of the world’s leading scientific botanic gardens, holding knowledge gained over centuries that the world needs today. All known life depends on plants and fungi, and it is our mission to explore, conserve, and explain the world of plants for a better future. Our four Scottish gardens – Benmore, Dawyck, Logan, and ‘The Botanics’ in Edinburgh – attract over a million visitors every year. Together, these gardens comprise one of the richest plant collections on earth.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Horticulturist to join our Alpine, Rock and Woodland team on a permanent basis. Based primarily in the Rock and Woodland gardens, you will be responsible for general horticultural activities including weeding, watering, planting, propagation, grass cutting, and helping to develop garden areas. You will also maintain plant records and work on projects within the alpine, rock, and woodland areas. You will develop your knowledge of RBGE to benefit visitors, staff, and students and will actively support our volunteers.

You should be an experienced Horticulturist with a practical horticultural qualification at SVQ Level 2 or equivalent or have relevant practical work experience. You will have an interest in alpine, rock, and woodland plants, have experience in garden maintenance and propagation techniques, be a positive team player with the ability to work independently, have good attention to detail and comfortable with taking instruction and working to deadlines.

RBGE is unable to sponsor applicants without the right to work in the United Kingdom for this role. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure eligibility to work in the United Kingdom for the duration of the appointment.

To apply, please email recruitment@rbge.org.uk with the following:

•    Your CV
•    A covering letter outlining the skills, knowledge and experience you would bring to the post

Please also electronically complete and submit an equal opportunities questionnaire using the following link: EOQ form. This form should not be included with your email application.

Closing date:                           Friday, 08 May 2026 (12 noon)
Interview date:                       Tuesday, 26 May 2026    
Recruitment Information:    Job description and person specification

Full-time (35 hours), fixed term (to 31 March 2027), based in Edinburgh
Salary £40,112 to £43,542 plus generous holiday entitlement, Civil Service pension and other benefits

Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) is a world leading centre for plant science, conservation and public engagement. We care for remarkable living collections and heritage spaces, using them to inspire curiosity, support wellbeing and deepen understanding of plants and their importance to people and the planet. We are committed to creating welcoming experiences and diverse teams where everyone feels valued and included.

We are looking for a Victorian Palm House Engagement Manager to lead an ambitious programme of events and community engagement within one of RBGE’s most iconic spaces. This role will shape creative, inclusive activity that brings complex stories to life and connects a wide range of audiences with plants, heritage and culture.

You will provide confident leadership to the Palm Houses Engagement Team, overseeing project delivery, budgets, evaluation and funded outcomes. Working collaboratively across RBGE and with external partners, you will ensure all activity aligns with the Interpretation Plan, meets high standards of safety and safeguarding, and removes barriers to participation.

This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced engagement professional who is passionate about access, inclusion and collaboration. 

To apply, please email recruitment@rbge.org.uk with the following:

•    Your CV
•    A covering letter outlining the skills, knowledge and experience you would bring to the post

Please also electronically complete and submit an equal opportunities questionnaire using the following link: EOQ form. This form should not be included with your email application.

Closing date:                            Midday (BST) Thursday, 7 May 2026
Interview date:                         Wednesday, 20 May 2026
Recruitment information:      Job description and person specification

Full time (35 hours), permanent, based in Edinburgh
Salary £40,112 plus generous holiday entitlement, Civil Service pension and other benefits.

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) is a world-renowned institution dedicated to plant science, horticulture, and biodiversity conservation. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment where innovation thrives and diverse perspectives are valued.

We are seeking a Nursery Supervisor to lead the conservation focused nursery delivering both high quality horticultural management of the plant nursery service, and the Collections Management System (plant records and GIS data). 

The Nursery Supervisor works closely with colleagues and partners to support conservation, research, education and public engagement within the Garden, and will work closely with the estates team on the maintenance and development of the 10-acre nursery.

As a member of the curatorial team, you’ll manage the nursery team and day-to-day operations, delivering high standards of cultivation and propagation as well as leading on plant health and biosecurity. You will contribute to strategy, manage projects and budgets, and will ensure compliant procurement practices. 

You’ll bring substantial nursery/horticultural experience (ideally with temperate hardy plants) with a wide range of practical experience. You will have proven people management skills, strong knowledge of safe systems of work and risk assessment, and confidence in the management of plant records and data. We are looking for someone who is organised, collaborative and comfortable working across teams and with external stakeholders.

This role comes at a time of exciting development at RBGE – the successful candidate will be flexible and adaptable, enjoy the possibilities that come with change and be a positive ambassador for the Garden.

To apply, please email recruitment@rbge.org.uk with the following:

•    Your CV
•    A covering letter outlining the skills, knowledge and experience you would bring to the post

Please also electronically complete and submit an equal opportunities questionnaire using the following link: EOQ form. This form should not be included with your email application.

Closing date:                9am Monday 18 May 2026
Interview date:            Monday 1 June 2026
Recruitment information:         Job description and person specification    

If you have not heard from us within 2 weeks of the closing date, please assume that your application has not been shortlisted. No recruitment agencies please.

Full-time (35 hours), fixed term (18 months), based in Edinburgh (hybrid)
Salary £33,454 to £37,235 plus generous holiday entitlement, Civil Service pension and other benefits

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) is seeking a proactive and organised Project Coordinator to play a key role within our Estates & Sustainability function. This role supports the smooth coordination and delivery of strategic programmes and projects, including major capital works and infrastructure upgrades that help shape RBGE’s future.

You will provide high quality administrative, financial and governance support across a diverse portfolio of work, working closely with colleagues and stakeholders to keep projects well governed, well documented and on track. From coordinating meetings and maintaining project trackers to supporting financial processes and internal communications, you’ll help ensure information flows clearly and efficiently.

We’re looking for someone who enjoys working collaboratively in a fast paced, evolving environment, can balance multiple priorities, and brings strong organisational and communication skills. You’ll be confident using digital tools, comfortable handling sensitive information, and motivated to find smarter, more efficient ways of working.

RBGE is unable to sponsor applicants without the right to work in the United Kingdom for this role. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure eligibility to work in the United Kingdom for the duration of the appointment.

To apply, please email recruitment@rbge.org.uk with the following:

•    Your CV
•    A covering letter outlining the skills, knowledge and experience you would bring to the post

Please also electronically complete and submit an equal opportunities questionnaire using the following link: EOQ form. This form should not be included with your email application.

Closing date:                            Midday (BST) Thursday, 14 May 2026
Interview date:                         Wednesday, 28 May 2026
Recruitment information:       Job description and person specification

Full time (35 hours), permanent, based in Edinburgh 
Salary £49,204 to £54,875 depending on experience, plus generous holiday entitlement, Civil Service pension and other benefits.

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) is a world-renowned institution dedicated to plant science, horticulture, and biodiversity conservation. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment where innovation thrives, and diverse perspectives are valued. We are seeking an exceptional Head of Library & Archives to help shape the future of our unique National Collections.

Our Library and Archives support the breadth of research, education and public engagement at RBGE. Our vibrant user community includes RBGE staff, students, associates, and visiting readers, with a wide range of scholarly interests. The library holds over 1 million items including books on open shelves, journals, illustrations, maps and theses, and a significant special collection of rare and notable items dating to the 15th century. The Archives contain historic records, correspondence, photographs and notebooks of RBGE since the mid-19th century.

We are looking for a suitably qualified individual, ideally with experience in an academic or research setting, to lead the next chapter for our Library and Archives collections. Reporting to the Deputy Director of Science (Collections), you will lead a small team to guide the development, care and accessibility of the Library and Archives at RBGE. You will implement best practices in collections management and curation of physical and digital collections, oversee compliance with copyright regulations, and introduce new innovations to improve accessibility in our collections. 

This is a rare opportunity to work with a unique research collection at the intersection of science and cultural heritage. We are looking for strengths in collaboration, detail, organisation, and innovation. We welcome applicants who can demonstrate relevant experience and transferable skills, and who are motivated to make a difference in an organisation dedicated to nature.

To apply, please email recruitment@rbge.org.uk with the following:

•    Your CV
•    A covering letter outlining the skills, knowledge and experience you would bring to the post

Please also electronically complete and submit an equal opportunities questionnaire using the following link: EOQ form. This form should not be included with your email application.

Closing date:                          Midday (BST) Monday 25 May 2026
Interview date:                       To be confirmed
Recruitment information:    Job description and person specification    

If you have not heard from us within 2 weeks of the closing date, please assume that your application has not been shortlisted. No recruitment agencies please.