Herbarium Registrar, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

Full time (35 hours), permanent post, based in Edinburgh

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is a world‑leading centre for plant science and conservation, with a strong commitment to inclusion, sustainability, and collaboration. We are seeking a Herbarium Registrar to help steward our unique National Collections. 

The Herbarium supports the breadth of research, education and public engagement at RBGE. Our vibrant user community includes RBGE staff, students, associates, and visiting researchers. The collection is internationally renowned, with over 3 million specimens of plants and fungi spanning four centuries. We hold exceptional collections for Scotland, Asia and the Arabian Peninsula, and systematic foci including cryptogams, fungi, Pteridophytes, and flowering plant families Zingiberaceae, Sapotaceae, Gesneriaceae, Begoniaceae and Solanaceae. You will join a team dedicated to preserving the collection while ensuring our collections remain accessible, relevant, and rigorously documented. 

Reporting to the Plant Records Officer and working closely with the Deputy Director of Science (Collections), the Herbarium Registrar plays an essential role in the day-to-day running of the Herbarium. You will be responsible for the documentation and movement of our botanical specimens, ensuring RBGE policies are implemented, and maintaining the accuracy and integrity of our digital and physical records using the collections management system. You will manage specimen accessions, loans, and sampling requests, working with the curation team and external colleagues to process specimens through incoming and outgoing collections management workflows. Your role will include facilitating visitor access, ensuring Herbarium users have the information they need; coordinating tours; and handling other requests for access to the Herbarium. You will assist with research projects in the collections, helping to gather and analyse data, and write written reports which may contribute to peer-reviewed publications. 

This is a rare opportunity to work with a busy National Collection used by a wide range of scientists and other researchers. We are looking for a highly motivated individual with knowledge of natural science or museum collections and the ability to translate technical information into practical advice. You are meticulous and well organised, with the management skills to prioritise your workload and deliver at pace, excellent communication skills and experience of working collaboratively. We welcome applicants who can demonstrate relevant experience and transferable skills, and who are motivated to make a difference in an organisation dedicated to nature.

Closing date: 12pm midday (BST) on Tuesday 30 June 2026

Interview date: w/b 20 July 2026

Full details including a comprehensive job description and person specification can be found on the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh website via the 'Apply' button above.

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