Conifer Safe Sites Manager

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 have an exciting opportunity to join our Science division as Conifer Safe Sites Manager. In this role you will oversee the 325 Safe Sites in the UK for growing globally threatened conifers, a critical conservation resource that forms the basis of the success of the International Conifer Conservation Programme (ICCP).

Conifers are of significant economic importance, and yet they are one of the world’s most threatened groups of plants - with over one third of species threatened with extinction. RBGE is widely recognised for its global leadership in conifer conservation - not least because our Safe Sites harbour more than half of the world’s threatened conifer species.

You will join a small, committed and motivated team that will help ensure that RBGE can fully harness the potential of the ICCP to generate impact, profile and income.

The purpose of this role is to continue to improve operations and sustainability of one of our flagship conservation programmes, maintain RBGE’s global leadership in conifer conservation, and ensure that the Safe Sites are utilised to maximum impact – for safeguarding threatened conifers, furthering horticultural knowledge, and for conservation and climate change research.

We are looking for someone with horticultural skills and a vision for the integration of science and horticulture in conservation projects. You will ideally have experience of managing tree collections and maintaining plant records and be comfortable engaging with a wide range of stakeholders. This role will require frequent travel throughout the British Isles and occasionally overseas as well as to our Edinburgh and regional gardens.

With a passion for sharing your knowledge and skills and building capacity, this is an exciting opportunity where you’ll use your excellent communication skills to liaise with ICCP safe site managers and owners, support RBGE students with their fieldwork, and deliver training and workshops to diverse audiences.

Further information about the International Conifer Conservation Programme can be found here.

We welcome applications from candidates interested in flexible working arrangements, including part-time hours or job-sharing.

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.

Closing date: 10am Monday 12 January 2026
Interview date: Week commencing 26 January 2026

For more information including the job description, person specification and to apply, please go to our website.