Head of Science, Biodiversity and Conservation

Job content

The NBGW has a purpose-built Science Centre with three dedicated molecular labs, a teaching lab, library, herbarium and the National Seed Bank of Wales. This combined with over 200 ha, containing the formal botanic garden with specialist plant collections, three apiaries, and Waun Las National Nature Reserve managed as organic farmland, provides Wales with an unrivalled facility for conservation and research.

The NBGW is described as a national asset in the Science Strategy for Wales and it aligns with both national and international strategies for biodiversity, sustainability and wellbeing. Of particular priority internationally are the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, whilst at the national level the Wellbeing of Future Generations and Environment Act provides a strategic framework for NBGW’s activities.

The NBGW is the first botanic garden in the United Kingdom to be recognised by Botanic Gardens Conservation International achieving all three levels of conservation accreditation, including Advanced Conservation Practitioner.

The NBGW emerges from the pandemic as a multi award winning site, including the Institute of Chartered Engineers (ICE) People’s Choice Award for its restored historic landscape, and with an enhanced reputation as an international centre for horticulture, science, conservation and sustainability.

The institution’s collections and research are part of a global community of botanic gardens. We have a vital role in making discoveries and providing training and knowledge transfer for the benefit of people, wildlife and the environment. Together with universities, the Welsh Government and nongovernment partners, various disciplines are being brought together to make new discoveries that combat the loss of biodiversity. Key areas of work:

• Conserving Wales’ iconic plants and habitats. Biodiversity occurs at the level of the gene, species and ecosystem and we use DNA based techniques to support conservation at all three levels.
• Using DNA metabarcoding to investigate the foraging preferences of pollinators, providing recommendations for the plants and habitat management needed to support ecosystems.
• Training the next-generation of plant scientists and land managers by providing opportunities for students to learn and develop research skills.

With around 100 staff, 200 volunteers and around10,265 members the National Botanic Garden of Wales is a vibrant passionate community of people dedicated to make an impact with everything we do.

Head of Science and Biodiversity Conservation

Reporting Line

Reporting to Director, National Botanic Garden of Wales

Level

Sits on the Senior Leadership Team and will be networked in to represent NBGW on national and international organisations. This position will be supported to create an appropriate university affiliation.

Team

4 Direct reports and managing an overall team of 9 people; in addition there is a dedicated volunteer team.

Key Relationships

Director: Senior Leadership Team; NBGW

Board; Wales’ university sector; national and international partners; media; scientific,

conservation and relevant industry sectors.

Travel

Travel and fieldwork as required. Must be willing to travel as senior representative of the

institution.

THE ROLE

Knowledge:

Essential

• Educated to postgraduate level with relevant professional qualification(s) and/or experience

in a related area.

• Extensive knowledge and understanding of the collections, science, museum and/or heritage

sector(s).

• Knowledge of development, implementation and dissemination of a relevant programme of

research for a science institution.

• Knowledge of how access can be provided to collections to a diverse range of audiences e.g.

loans, exhibitions, digitally.

• Knowledge of best practice for integrated collections care and storage, documentation,

development and conservation activities in a medium sized collections institution.

• Successful history of securing and managing research and applied science grants.

Skills:

Essential

Strategic Leadership

• Able to provide proactive strategic leadership to the NBGW in science and biodiversity

conservation, inspiring others to partner, research and contribute towards the vision and

to be part of it.

• Able to represent the NBGW throughout Wales, the UK and internationally in a range of

different settings.

• Able to manage resources, including the control of budgets and grant funding, and performance

management of staff.

• Able to communicate confidently and persuasively with diverse audiences.

• Able to give clear and consistent advice to the Board of Trustees, Director, Senior Management

Team and others on science, conservation and regenerative agriculture related matters.

• Able to build and maintain relationships and work in partnership with a variety of stakeholders nationally and internationally.

Desirable

Knowledge of partnership working at national and international levels.

Desirable

Welsh language skills. Non-Welsh speaking staff will be encouraged and supported to learn Welsh

conversational skills.

#Experience:

Essential

• Experience of managing, motivating and providing leadership for a multidisciplinary

team.

• Experience of efficient and effective management of resources, including the

planning and co-ordination of staffing and budgetary resources in science and research

organisation(s).

• Experience of developing, managing and disseminating a focused science and biodiversity conservation research programme.

• Success in identifying and securing grants or other funding for science related activities.

• Experience of delivering academic teaching and research projects, including a track record of publishing research findings.

• Track record of successful doctoral and postdoctoral research activities.

Desirable

• Significant relevant experience of contributing to strategic level decision making in a science, museum and/or heritage organisation or academic institution.

• Experience of successful delivery of significant projects.

• Experience in developing and implementing science professional services to generate

income.

Most Challenging Parts of the Job:

• Inspirational leadership across a lean and complex third sector organisation and ensuring it’s the relevance of its science to Welsh Government and support to the Well- Being of Future Generations Act(Wales) 2015.

• Delivering inspirational research and education.

• Generating income to enable the delivery of science and biodiversity conservation outcomes.

• Delivery of strategies which meet national and organisational objectives delivered from the third and research sectors.

• Increased physical and digital access to the collections and their stories for diverse audience groups.

• Balancing conflicting priorities within and across the organisation.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Salary: £44,414.00-£63,059.00 per year

Benefits:

• Company pension
• Cycle to work scheme
• Discounted or free food
• Employee discount
• Health & wellbeing programme
• Life insurance
• On-site parking
• Sick pay

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday
• Weekend availability

Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 18/09/2023