Now hiring: director of Botanic Gardens

The Office of Public Works (OPW) is now recruiting a director of the National Botanic Gardens of Ireland

Your application must be submitted on the Public Jobs website not later than 3pm on the 13th November 2025

Careers

3 November 2025

The Office of Public Works (OPW) is now recruiting a director of the National Botanic Gardens of Ireland. This is an exciting opportunity for ambitious, enthusiastic, suitably qualified, experienced professional with a strong track record of leadership and management.

Main duties of the job

Reporting to a principal officer, the director will have a key leadership role in the OPW’s heritage management structure. They will lead and manage staff including scientists, gardeners, interpretative guides and administrative staff across all locations under the director’s responsibility. They will also ensure that the gardens are presented to the highest international standards, undertake and supervise research, produce publications and deliver high quality interpretation and education programmes.

Location

The successful candidate will be based in the National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin, and they will be required to live on site. Accommodation at the director’s house is provided as an emolument of the post, for the duration of the successful candidate’s service in the role. While the director will be based in Glasnevin, they will be required to travel frequently to NBG Kilmacurragh and the JFK Arboretum.

Benefits

Competitive salary, starting at €76,493, with yearly increments for satisfactory performance
rising to €107,065 after a number of years in the grade.
Accommodation is provided as an emolument of the post, on site, at the director’s house for
the duration of service in the role.
Dynamic work environment with multidisciplinary teams delivering bespoke projects to
international standards.
30 days of annual leave per year
Public Sector pension

Requirements

Candidates must have on or before 13th November 2025:

1. A qualification at minimum level 9 (Master’s degree) on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) or NARIC Ireland Foreign Qualifications equivalent in Botany or Horticulture.

2. A minimum of ten years post qualification experience working in botany, horticulture or a similar area.

Your application must be submitted on the Public Jobs website not later than 3pm on the 13th November 2025.

Interviews for these posts are likely to commence from December 2025.

Read more: Meet the judges of GLAS 2025