The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (RBG Kew) is a world-famous scientific organisation, internationally respected for its outstanding collections as well as its expertise in plant and fungal diversity, conservation and sustainable development in the UK and around the world. It has two main botanic garden sites which attract >2.5m visitors a year and which are home to the most diverse living collection of any botanical garden in the world: Kew Gardens in south-west London, a top London visitor attraction and UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Wakehurst in West Sussex, our wild botanic garden which is home to the Millennium Seed Bank. We also have a permanent research office in Madagascar, one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots.
RBG Kew’s mission is to understand and protect plants and fungi for the well-being of people and the future of all life on Earth. Our aspiration is to end the extinction crisis and to help create a world where nature is protected, valued by all and managed sustainably.
For more than 260 years, science has been at the heart of Kew’s purpose. With over 800 staff, students and honorary researchers, Kew Science has an extensive research programme that spans the study of genes through to ecosystems – from the analysis of genomes to the discovery and identification of new species and the impact of climate change on the wild relatives of crops. Our collections, our people, and our partnerships in over 100 countries enable us to make an invaluable and highly relevant contribution to some of the biggest issues facing the global population.
RBG Kew is now seeking to appoint a new Head of Biodiversity Information. The postholder will oversee the systems and procedures managing Kew’s scientific information assets, such as Kew’s authoritative taxonomic and nomenclatural resources and the data describing our collections. They will explore new technologies to improve the content and reach of Kew’s scientific products and services, and support researchers across Kew to effectively utilise biodiversity information. They will promote the use of Kew’s data and information assets nationally and internationally and help to develop and promote the use of new digital technologies across Kew Science.
The postholder will bring experience of leading, inspiring, and motivating a multidisciplinary team and working with complex scientific information. They will demonstrate a broad awareness of the technical landscape, such as artificial intelligence, and show experience in the development and long-term ownership of scientific resources/products. They will share RBG Kew's commitment to fostering an inclusive and nurturing culture in which all colleagues have the opportunity to thrive and progress their careers.
Appointment Process and How to Apply
For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Lucy Roper at: lucy.roper@perrettlaver.com
Application is by submission of a curriculum vitae and a covering letter of application, addressing the job description and person specification. Completed applications should be uploaded here quoting reference 8404 by the deadline of 23.59 BST on Monday 25th May 2026.
Interviews will be held in person on Thursday 16th and Friday 17th July 2026.
We work to ensure that our recruitment processes are as inclusive as possible to everyone. This includes making adjustments for people who have a disability or long-term condition.
If you would like us to make adjustments during the application process, please contact Esther Elbro at the following email address: Esther.Elbro@perrettlaver.com.
If you have comments that would support us to improve access to documentation, or our application process more generally, please do not hesitate to contact us via the following email address: accessibility@perrettlaver.com
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