Full Time

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) is a world class centre for plant science, conservation and learning, with four unique Gardens across Scotland. Our work supports global biodiversity, sustainability and research, while providing welcoming, safe and inspiring spaces for colleagues, communities and visitors. We are committed to creating inclusive environments where people, plants and places can thrive.

We are seeking an Estates Maintenance Manager to play a key role in maintaining and protecting RBGE’s diverse estate. This role provides leadership across planned and reactive maintenance activities, helping to ensure our buildings, infrastructure and assets are safe, compliant, resilient and fit for the future.

You will lead the delivery of maintenance programmes across the four Gardens, overseeing electrical, mechanical and building fabric assets, contractor performance and service delivery. Working collaboratively with internal teams and external partners, you will ensure high standards of safety, quality and value for money, supported by robust planning, performance monitoring and budget management.

With a strong focus on safety and sustainability, you will promote a proactive health and safety culture, contribute to carbon reduction initiatives and support effective asset and lifecycle management. You will also act as a key point of contact for maintenance services across sites, building positive relationships and helping to create well maintained environments that support RBGE’s long term mission.

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

Interview date:         5 / 6 May

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) is a world leading centre for plant science, conservation and education. We are committed to creating inclusive, sustainable and welcoming environments across our four Gardens, supporting colleagues, communities and visitors alike.

We are seeking a Facilities and Workplace Manager to lead the delivery of high quality facilities and workplace services across RBGE. This role plays a key part in shaping effective, inclusive and future focused workspaces, working closely with teams and stakeholders throughout the organisation.

You will oversee Soft FM services, workplace operations and performance management, ensuring services are delivered safely, efficiently and within budget. You will also manage contracts, facilities data and reporting, supporting sustainability commitments and continuous improvement.

Working collaboratively across RBGE, you will help ensure our workspaces support hybrid working, wellbeing and operational needs, while contributing to capital planning and space forecasting. Leading and supporting the facilities team, and deputising for the Health, Safety and Sustainability Manager when required, you will help foster a positive, inclusive culture and effective service delivery.

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

Interview date:         5 / 6 May 2026

About Us

Scottish Canals are the custodians of the nation’s canal network and surrounding estates. Our vision is to invest in the canal network to generate lasting benefit for people and communities; celebrating their industrial heritage, ensuring they offer quality green and blue spaces for people and communities and contribute to Scotland’s resilience in tackling climate change.

Our success is rooted in valuing the contributions of our entire team – we care, we create, and we collaborate to continue to deliver a whole range of activities and services, from boating, and mooring, paddling, walking and wheeling, to living and playing and improving what the canals have to offer to our visitors and communities. We also work collaboratively with our partners and stakeholders to contribute to a wealthier, fairer, greener and more resilient Scotland.

As an employer we offer a truly unique opportunity to be part of our team, help us realise our vision and contribute to safeguarding our heritage and ensuring our canals flourish now and in the future.

​​​​About the Role

We currently have an exciting opportunity for an Operations Manager to join our Destinations team at The Falkirk Wheel. You will be responsible for the operational leadership of the Falkirk Wheel site. You will manage teams, oversee daily visitor operations and ensure the smooth delivery of services across the attraction.

Working closely with internal teams and external partners, you will ensure the site continues to be a vibrant and welcoming destination for visitors from across Scotland and around the world.

The role is offered on a permanent basis, working an average of 5 days out of 7, averaging 35 hours per week (flexibility required).

Primary responsibilities of the role:

Leading and managing the operational teams across the Falkirk Wheel site.
Ensuring safe, efficient daily operations of visitor services and activities.
Drive the delivery of an outstanding visitor experience.
Manage resources, operational processes and site performance.
Support events, commercial activities and visitor programmes.
Work collaboratively with internal departments and external partners.
Ensure compliance with health and safety and organisational policies.
Monitor performance and identify opportunities for improvement.

About the Reward

This role offers a progressive starting salary of £49,588 (Band F), plus an additional 11.25% Variable Hours allowance.

Scottish Canals offer a generous annual leave entitlement of 32 days, plus 6 public holidays, along with enhanced sick pay, discounted shopping vouchers, health cash plan and a contributory pension scheme with up to 10% employer contribution.

About You

Qualifications and knowledge required:

Degree or equivalent qualification in business management, tourism, hospitality, leisure management or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience.
Management or leadership qualification (desirable).
Knowledge of health and safety legislation and safe operational practices.
Strong organisational and planning skills.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, both written and verbal.
Good IT and digital skills, including experience using Microsoft Office systems and operational reporting tools.
Financial awareness with the ability to manage budgets and resources effectively.

Skills and experience required:

Proven experience in an operations management or supervisory role, ideally within a visitor attraction, tourism, leisure, hospitality or public-facing environment.
Experience and understanding of the cycle of Performance Management.
Demonstrated experience leading and motivating teams to deliver high performance.
Experience managing day-to-day operational activities within a busy environment.
Experience delivering excellent customer or visitor experiences.
Experience working with multiple stakeholders, partners and contractors.
Ability to manage competing priorities and respond effectively to operational challenges.
Experience implementing and maintaining health and safety procedures and compliance.
Experience analysing performance and identifying areas for operational and financial improvement.

Qualities & abilities required:

Strong leadership presence, with the ability to inspire and support teams.
Proactive and solution-focussed, with strong problem-solving abilities.
Highly organised with excellent attention to detail.
Ability to work under pressure and remain calm in busy operational environments.
A strong visitor focus, with a passion for delivering memorable experiences.
Flexible and adaptable, with the ability to respond to changing operational needs.
Collaborative mindset with the ability to build strong relationships across teams and partners.
High level of professionalism, integrity and accountability.

Scottish Canals reserve the right to close this vacancy before the closing date if a sufficient number of applications are received.

JOB PURPOSE

To ensure that the moorland landscape of Culloden Battlefield and the maintenance of the Visitor Centre and the landscape around it are managed to a high standard. This will be in accordance with the aims of the Culloden Battlefield Conservation Management Plan, improving the conservation of the battlefield and contributing to the visitor experience at Culloden.

CONTEXT
The Trust’s Culloden Battlefield policies are comprised of approx. 67 hectares, mostly upland moorland, with pockets of woodland, grazed pasture and amenity landscape. There is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and Listed Building on site and the whole area is covered by the Highland Council Culloden Muir Conservation Area. The site has regional, national and international heritage significance.
The Culloden entry in Historic Environment Scotland’s Battlefield Inventory states:
‘Culloden is one of the most important battles in the history of the British Isles and has international significance. It is the final battle fought on the British mainland and brings to an end more than half a century of Jacobite conflict, itself played out against a background of wider international wars. Its aftermath transforms the Highlands, ending the traditional way of life of the area and contributing to the subsequent Clearances. The battle also holds a prominent place within the Scottish cultural legacy, frequently depicted and commemorated in art, music, literature and film.’
Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre is an award-winning building, opened in 2007, which hosts 350, 000+ visitors per year. It contains an exhibition and accredited museum, kitchen/café, gift shop, education room/training room, welcome area and back offices. Leanach Cottage and Kings Stables are small historic cottages in the specification of the role.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

The key responsibilities and accountabilities of the job are:

• Deliver to management regimes for each battlefield zone, evaluating successes and failures which will inform future management plans. Management regimes will include, but not be limited to: conservation grazing, property team resources, volunteers and contractors. Working with Operations Manager on annual budgets, and working with the Welcome Manager on maximizing car par income.

• Deliver robust conservation action plan, with constant reviews
• Deal with visitors in a professional, welcoming way. Work closely with and assist the Engagement Manager and supervisors to help create battlefield landscape conservation interpretation and content for tours, which increase visitor enjoyment;
• Work closely with expert advisers to ensure animal livestock management and welfare standards are kept at a high standard

• Maintain all footpaths and signage on site

• Manage and deliver an annual maintenance programme for the Visitor Centre, Leanach Cottage and Kings Stables. Maintain the Visitor Centre facilities all year round, appointing and managing subcontractors where appropriate to fix building problems, e.g. plumbing, heating, ventilation, roof leaks and any other areas.
• Recruit and lead conservation volunteers, providing full training and orientation. Develop and deliver meaningful projects and activities for them to complete. This will involve engaging with children and vulnerable adults.

• Deliver a Health and Safety culture across the estate, ensuring that colleagues, volunteers and external contractors work within the property’s H+S guidelines, to reduce the risk of incidents and accidents to volunteers, employees and visitors.
• Be proactive in cold weather planning, eg. gritting of roads and car park, and respond to emergencies across the estate, eg. escaped livestock, by providing a timely response in line with Trust policies and responsibilities.

• Undertake duty management cover as part of a rota including regular weekend working, as well as implementing emergency procedures when needed. DM cover is for the entire site, so a working knowledge of procedures inside the building is required

• To work closely with the entire cluster, giving support when needed to Hugh Millers Birthplace Cottage and Abertarff House.

This role is one for which the duties, responsibilities or accountabilities of the role require you to become a member of the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme, administered by Disclosure Scotland.
This role involves regulated work with children and vulnerable adults.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE

Qualifications and Skills

Essential
 Diploma or equivalent in a relevant discipline (e.g. estate management, animal husbandry, rural skills) or equivalent knowledge/ understanding in countryside management, including livestock management.
 Driving Licence, valid for driving within the UK including Category E entitlement to tow trailers
 Competency and self-sufficiency in use of IT (email, internet, word-processing, spreadsheets, databases)
 Substantial equivalent experience which demonstrates landscape management skills, including conservation grazing, animal husbandry, grass cutting, brush-cutting and woodland management.
 Experience of facilities management and working on an estate open to the public, or experience of working with the public directly.
 Knowledge of basic tool and machinery use and maintenance; footpath management; boundary repair.
 Sound practical knowledge of Health and Safety processes and procedures and the ability to work effectively within these processes.
 Demonstrable experience of managing staff and volunteers, including rota setting and performance management.
 Ability to think and act quickly when confronted with emergencies.

Desirable

 Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; confident in interacting and dealing with a wide range of people; and able to represent the Trust
 Good organisational and time-management skills – including the ability to prioritise work where necessary
 Tractor driving and brush cutting
 Nature conservation experience, knowledge and interest.
 An appreciation of the work and mission of the National Trust for Scotland in a general context.
 Ability to plan, design and execute projects.

Job Purpose
The Facilities VSM reports directly to the Operations Manager having a hands-on, practically focused role which supports the Operations Manager with close collaboration between the Castle and central teams, as well as interdepartmentally on site. The Facilities VSM has first-line responsibility for the supervision of all services and maintenance that support the core business at Brodick Castle. They will ensure that all managed departments are safe, secure, clean and comfortable environments in which the Team, students, and volunteers can effectively work, and visitors and tenants can enjoy. Achieving this by using best practices to improve efficiency, reduce operating costs and improve visitor enjoyment.

This includes supporting the Operations Manager to ensure the highest standard of service and experience is offered to our visitors. The Facilities VSM will lead a high standard of operational safety, security and presentation at Brodick Castle, additionally overseeing the maintenance of tenanted properties as well as other areas such as, but not limited to, the café and Isle and be Wild play park. They will also support the Operations Manager in monitoring, maintaining and using the maintenance equipment and utility budgets in the most efficient manner.
Some weekend work is required, including supporting events throughout the year and out-of-hours calls. The Facilities VSM will be expected to work flexibly, taking time off in lieu if required, in accordance with Trust policy. As a key member of the wider management team at Brodick Castle the Facilities VSM will work with the Management Team to deliver the visitor experience strategy, promoting good communication across the property and a joined-up service provision. This role will be part of the property leadership team and will act as Duty Manager for the property on a rota basis.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities
• Effective management of planned and preventative maintenance, ensure property and team compliance is met and adhered to as well as utilising NTS tools to control costs.
o Areas included but are not limited to: water treatment plants, PAT testing, gutter clearance, roof checks, drainage clearance, heating systems etc.
• Ensure services are maintained and monitored appropriately with regular meter readings and preventative maintenance.
• Support the development of business plans for the maintenance and renovation of buildings and services across the estate, including new and innovative ways of implementing green energy and environmental management.
• Lead H&S audits, insurance inspections, insurance compliance tracking and record keeping for properties within our estate.
• Be focused on the security of both the buildings, collections and Team by ensuring security systems are checked, updated and maintained regularly.
• Ensure all areas are safe and any incidents/accidents are reported, and health and safety concerns are reported to the Operations Manager.
• Ensure risk assessments/activity procedures are reviewed regularly, in place and adhered too including the management and issue of correct PPE.
• Be responsible for the procurement and supervision of contractors and surveyors to site including investigating the addition of new trades suppliers to our portfolio where necessary.
• Monitor energy data regularly and take necessary action to maintain budgets, working with central teams when required.
• Provide emergency support for the Duty Manager developing their understanding of the properties key systems including heating/lighting, fire and security, water and sewage systems.
• Have access to shared vehicles and be responsible for carrying out vehicle checks and maintenance.
• You will work under your own initiative to plan and priorities maintenance using effective strategies to ensure consistent standards of quality.