Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is a world-leading botanic institution with a rich history of conserving, researching, and celebrating plant diversity. Kew’s mission is to understand and protect plants and fungi, for the wellbeing of people and the future of all life on Earth. Kew’s Wakehurst site in West Sussex is an integral part of Kew, serving as a wild botanic garden with a unique focus on conservation, horticulture, and scientific research. Wakehurst is home to the Millennium Seed Bank, the largest wild plant seed bank in the world, over 500 acres of diverse landscapes and plants from across the globe and is a visitor attraction with a diverse programme including specially curated exhibitions, family-friendly tours and trails, a range of seasonal activities, workshops and short courses.

The Wakehurst team is in the midst of a transformative journey aimed at establishing itself as a nationally recognised visitor destination and a pioneering scientific centre, as part of delivering Kew’s Living Collections Strategy. Amidst this exciting context, RBG Kew seeks candidates for the role of Director of Wakehurst.

As a member of Kew’s Executive Board, the Director of Wakehurst will guide and oversee innovation, coherence and creative quality in Wakehurst’s designed and natural landscapes, whilst strengthening collaboration with key peers across Kew, supporting delivery of Kew’s Living Collections Strategy for the Wakehurst site. Responsible for the whole Wakehurst visitor experience, including publicly accessible areas of the Millennium Seed Bank, they will lead the continuing development of outstanding onsite events and visitor programmes. The ideal candidate will bring a strong track record of senior leadership in a relevant context, experience of delivering strategy and large-scale projects, and experience and well-developed understanding of the management of public activities within a cultural attraction or similar place. They will have a collegiate and inclusive leadership style, be strong at developing and maintaining partnerships, and have excellent communication, advocacy and stakeholder management skills. Candidates may also bring a knowledge of horticulture and garden and landscape history, though this is not essential.

Saxton Bampfylde Ltd is acting as an employment agency advisor to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew on this appointment. For further information about the role, including details about how to apply, please visit www.saxbam.com/appointments using reference JASPE. Alternatively telephone +44 (0)20 7227 0880 (during office hours). Applications should be received by noon on Friday 1^st December 2023.