The RoleReporting to a Principal Officer and through them, to the Assistant Secretary General for HeritageServices and Capital Works Delivery, the Director will have a key leadership role in the OPW's heritagemanagement structure.They will lead and manage staff (including scientists, gardeners, interpretative guides andadministrative staff) across all locations under the Director's responsibility. They will ensure that thegardens are presented to the highest international standards and undertake and supervise research,produce publications and deliver high quality interpretation and education programmes.Principal Duties and Responsibilities of the RoleThe duties of the post may include any or all of those listed:• Managing and implementing Health and Safety including carrying out risk assessments,producing method statements and other related health and safety documents and makingrecommendations when required.• Motivating staff to ensure the team perform at the highest level and supporting them indeveloping their skills in different areas, with a strong focus on nurturing talent.7Director of the National Botanic Gardens of Ireland, Office of Public Works• Setting the standards and best practices for Botanical Gardens in Ireland, in reference tointernational best practice.• Collaborating with the whole of Heritage Services and the OPW by sharing knowledge with aninclusive, plain English approach.• Engaging with external colleagues across the OPW and government and representing theOPW on external working groups on topics such as biodiversity, botany, climate change,horticulture and general interest topics in relation to Flood Relief and Arterial Drainage, climateadaptation and mitigation, historic landscapes or heritage properties.• Collaborating with other national and international organisations such as academic institutions,private gardens and collections.• Ensuring the best use of the NBG assets and resources to carry out a world class programmeof scientific research centred around the disciplines of taxonomy, systematics and biodiversityresearch and in disseminating the results.• Leading on Ireland's National Herbarium programme of research and specific EU fundedprogrammes of work, setting a high standard for scientific studies and providing a supportiveenvironment for staff to contribute to the wider scientific community.• Contributing to the Conservation of threatened plants through hands on projects andfundamental research.• Leading the NBG to undertake work on the biodiversity and sustainable utilisation of plantresources both independently and in collaboration with others.• Driving change and innovation including reviewing challenges, finding new solutions andleveraging new digital tools.• Collaborating on strategic developments of buildings such as the Turner Glasshouses, therestoration of the Aquatic House in NBG Glasnevin, and Kilmacurragh House and theprovision of high quality staff accommodation.• Overseeing the provision of public education and engagement.• Taking the lead on welcoming visitors and encouraging their engagement with the NBG atevery level through the tour guiding service, school visits, general lecture series, scientificlecture series and proactive public communications.• Directing a team of tour guides and encouraging their positive interaction with visitors andproviding leadership on high quality engagement with the scientific work of the NBG with awide range of ages, level of education and interest.• Assisting with the implementation of the Management Plan for the Botanic Gardens includingthe programme of restoration and renewal of buildings and plant collections.• Managing public funds including complying with corporate governance best practice in themanagement of public procurement processes.• Complying with rules on public expenditure and the appropriate management of assets.• Appropriately allocating both financial and team resources to ensure that the NBG delivers itsconservation, scientific, public education and engagement goals.• Working with different funding streams and grant arrangements from national and internationalpartners.Please note: The above is a general guide to the key duties and responsibilities of the role and is notan exhaustive description. Other duties and responsibilities appropriate to the role may be assignedfrom time to time.