Head of Engagement Development- Surrey/Manchester

Location:          Bridgewater / Wisley / flexible. (Hybrid/flexible working)

Hours:             37.5 pw

Contract:          Permanent

Are you passionate about the horticultural industry and sustainable growing? Do you believe in the potential of gardens and learning to inspire curiosity and generate positive change? Are you organised and strategic?

Overview of the Role: 

We are looking for a Head of Engagement Development to join our dynamic and friendly team. This new role sits within our new Learning and Public Engagement division, and will work within our gardens and collections to coordinate messaging, theming, development, funding and monitoring across our range of technical engagement and learning teams. This team will be the powerhouse behind our Learning and Public Engagement work, ensuring our learning content is current and sustainable, that our activity is joined up and that we communicate our messages widely.

The Head of Engagement Development is one of five new senior management roles within the division, revised to create a step change in RHS Learning and Public Engagement and to meet the RHS strategy goals. This is an exciting time to be joining the UK’s leading gardening charity, to inspire and empower more people to grow.

As Head of Engagement Development you will be responsible for:

• Leading the planning, direction and development of activities core to all RHS Learning and Engagement programmes including insight development, the development of learning content and messaging, sustainability, fundraising links, the operation of digital engagement platforms, technical content, and day to day monitoring, evaluation and reporting


• Coordinating an annual cycle of horticulturally-related theming to encompass all learning and engagement work, including communities, public engagement, schools, adult learning and professional programmes


• Acting as the subject lead for digital and capital projects


• Building and maintaining productive external relationships in the horticultural sphere


• Monitoring and improving programmes

To work for the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) is to join a thriving charity, whose mission is to be there for everyone on their lifelong adventure with gardening. Everything we do is built on the transformational power of gardening – and the benefits it brings to people, places and our planet.

And we couldn’t do this without our people. We’re proud of the knowledge, enthusiasm and ideas that each one of our team members brings. From working across our social media channels, to volunteering in the RHS Gardens, from serving customers in our garden centres to running national marketing campaigns, we believe that every member of the RHS team should have the opportunity to make a difference.

Details of our great benefits can be found here.

Safeguarding and Inclusion

The RHS is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk and expects all personnel to share in this commitment. We are an inclusive employer and welcome applicants from all backgrounds.

Please note:  We may review applications as soon as we receive then so if you see a vacancy that you are interested in, please apply straight away as the vacancy will be closed as soon as we hire the right candidate. Should you require any additional support with making your application please contact People Services on peopleservices@rhs.org.uk or 01483 226 530.