At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead income generation and external affairs for a world-renowned botanical garden.
- Company: Join the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, a leader in plant science and conservation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, leadership role, and the chance to make a real impact.
- Other info: Be part of a dynamic executive team driving sustainable growth and innovation.
- Why this job: Shape the future of a respected institution while addressing global biodiversity challenges.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in fundraising, marketing, and team leadership required.
The predicted salary is between 42750 - 52250 £ per year.
Director of Income Generation and External Affairs
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
RBGE is now seeking to appoint a Director of Income Generation & External Affairs to join its Executive Team at a pivotal moment in the organisation’s development.
As RBGE prepares to launch its next Corporate Strategy, this key leadership role will bring together commercial income generation, philanthropy, marketing, communications, public affairs and wider stakeholder engagement to strengthen profile, influence and long-term financial sustainability.
Reporting to the Regius Keeper, you will provide strategic leadership across a diverse portfolio of talented teams across the spectrum of external engagement, including engagement with the Botanics Foundation and oversight of the Botanics Trading Company.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the development and delivery of strategies to drive sustainable growth across both philanthropic and commercial income streams.
- Oversee and strengthen RBGE’s fundraising capability, including major donor engagement and relationships with trusts, foundations and corporate supporters.
- Play a leading role in shaping and delivering the next phase of the Edinburgh Biomes capital campaign.
- Develop and implement integrated communications, marketing and public affairs strategies that enhance RBGE’s profile, influence and public engagement.
- Build meaningful relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders, supporters, partners and audiences to advance RBGE’s mission.
- Provide strategic leadership for the Botanics Trading Company as a Director on the Board, identifying and delivering opportunities for commercial growth.
- Develop new income-generating opportunities across retail, catering, events, venue hire, consultancy and commercial partnerships.
- Contribute as a member of the Executive Team to organisational strategy, performance, governance and stakeholder engagement.
- Lead, inspire and develop a high-performing multidisciplinary team, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation and achievement.
- Support the long-term financial sustainability of RBGE through a balanced approach to income generation, external engagement and commercial development.
Person Specification
- Significant experience of securing philanthropic and/or commercial income and delivering sustainable growth through diverse revenue streams.
- A proven track record of developing and implementing successful marketing, communications and stakeholder engagement strategies.
- Experience of building and sustaining influential partnerships across a wide range of stakeholders, including funders, supporters, commercial partners and public sector organisations.
- Success in leading, motivating and developing high-performing multidisciplinary teams.
- Strong commercial acumen, combined with strategic thinking and the ability to identify opportunities, assess priorities and deliver measurable outcomes.
- Exceptional communication and relationship management skills, with the credibility to engage effectively with senior stakeholders, boards, partners and external influencers.
- Experience of operating at senior leadership level within a complex organisation, including responsibility for budget management, strategic planning and organisational performance.
- A collaborative and inclusive leadership style, with the ability to inspire confidence, build consensus and represent an organisation externally.
- Experience of both philanthropic and commercial income generation would be advantageous.
- Experience gained within science, education, environmental, conservation or similarly mission-led organisations would be beneficial.
This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of one of Scotland’s most respected institutions and play a leading role in supporting its mission to explore, conserve and explain the world of plants for the benefit of people and planet.
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Director of Income Generation and External Affairs employer: UK Agri-Tech Centre
Forth Ports is an exceptional employer that prioritises people, safety, and performance, making it a fantastic place for the Head of HR – Scotland Region to thrive. With a strong focus on employee growth and development, you will have the autonomy to influence strategic projects and shape the workforce across Scotland's major ports. The collaborative work culture fosters strong relationships with trade unions and senior leaders, ensuring that your contributions are valued and impactful.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director of Income Generation and External Affairs
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We think you need these skills to ace Director of Income Generation and External Affairs
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for the Cause:In the nonprofit sector, it's super important to demonstrate genuine passion for the mission of UK Agri-Tech Centre. Use your cover letter to showcase any personal experiences or volunteer work that connects you to their social impact initiatives. This emotional connection can really help your application stand out.
Highlight Relevant Experience:When crafting your CV, be sure to include any relevant projects or roles that showcase your skills in social impact. Whether it's community organising, fundraising, or advocacy, highlight what you've done and the difference it's made. Don’t just list tasks; quantify your achievements and the outcomes of your efforts.
Tailor Your Documents to the Role:For a full-time role like Director of Income Generation and External Affairs, ensure your CV and cover letter specifically address the responsibilities outlined in the job description. Use their language to describe your skills and experience, making it easy for the hiring team to see how you fit into their vision.
Emphasise Teamwork and Collaboration:Nonprofits thrive on teamwork, so make sure to emphasise your collaborative experiences. Whether you've worked in a team setting, partnered with community organisations, or facilitated group projects, highlight these experiences in your application. Show them you understand the importance of working alongside diverse individuals to achieve shared goals.
How to prepare for a job interview at UK Agri-Tech Centre
✨Show Your Passion for Social Change
When we’re prepping for interviews in the nonprofit space, it's vital to demonstrate our genuine passion for social impact. Be ready to discuss not just your skills and experiences but also why you care about the mission of UK Agri-Tech Centre. Sharing personal stories or insights can really make us stand out.
✨Highlight Project Experience
We should focus on specific projects we've worked on that align with the goals of social impact. Whether that’s a community initiative, volunteering, or a class project, having solid examples that showcase our role and the outcomes will resonate well with the interviewers.
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Let’s brush up on tools and methodologies commonly used in the nonprofit sector, like project management software or outcome measurement frameworks. Being able to speak fluently about these will show that we’re not just passionate but also knowledgeable and ready to hit the ground running.
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