Join an innovative and committed team, who are creating a culture of exceptional service delivery focused on enhancing the visitor experience.
RBG Kew is a world-famous scientific organisation, leading visitor attraction and UNESCO World Heritage Site, internationally respected for its outstanding living collection of plants and its world-class herbarium. Set in 330 acres, the Kew Gardens site is a beautiful place to work, and employs committed staff who are working to achieve Kew’s mission to understand and protect plants and fungi for the well-being of people and the future of all life on Earth. RBG Kew has a second UK site at Wakehurst, West Sussex. The estates consist of over 380 buildings and structures, 40 plus listed buildings, which are used for visitors, scientific research, storage of national collections and administration.
To deliver RBG Kew’s mission, the Chief Engineer is responsible for providing technical guidance and management, to enable the development and implementation of the overall management strategy for RBG Kew. Working closely with the Head of Estates Operations and Maintenance, you will ensure the standards and service levels being commensurate with a World Heritage Site of major significance and a centre of excellence for botanical science are upheld. The Chief Engineer is responsible for all aspects of the delivery of building maintenance, services maintenance and facilities hard services management for Kew. These services are delivered through both direct technical labour and contracted services.
The successful candidate will ideally have spent considerable time in a comparable client-side leadership role with extensive experience in the management of external partners and building effective frameworks. It will suit building services leaders who have a strong track record in forward planning, lifecycle works and strategic maintenance delivered across a similarly complex and diverse estate.
Our fantastic benefits package includes opportunities for continuous learning, a generous annual leave entitlement, flexible working to help you maintain a healthy work-life balance, an Employee Assistance Programme and other wellbeing support such as cycle to work scheme and discounted gym membership. We also offer a competitive pension, an employee discount scheme and free entry into a wide range of national museums and galleries, as well access to our own beautiful gardens at Kew and Wakehurst.
To arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our retained advisors Michael Hewlett or Connor Humpage of The Management Recruitment Group (MRG). Applications, consisting of a CV and supporting cover statement outlining a rationale for applying for the post, should be emailed to
The candidate pack can be viewed at Chief Engineer
Closing date for applications is midnight on Sunday 20th September 2026.
Contact Details:
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Recruitment Team
