Edinburgh World Heritage job with salary of up to £50,000 a year becomes available

The current director said the role has been a “privilege” to work in.

Edinburgh World Heritage has announced a vacancy for its director position.

The job plays a central role in the management and protection of the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh, a UNESCO designated World Heritage Site.

It presents an opportunity to take on one of the most important leadership positions in the heritage sector in Scotland, if not the UK, according to the organisation’s website.

'Edinburgh has been the Scottish capital since the 15th century. It has two distinct areas: the Old Town, dominated by a medieval fortress; and the neoclassical New Town, whose development from the 18th century onwards had a far-reaching influence on European urban planning. The harmonious juxtaposition of these two contrasting historic areas, each with many important buildings, is what gives the city its unique character,' according to the UNESCO website

The successful candidate will play a key role in partnership with the charity’s Board working on challenges facing the World Heritage Site.

The organisation’s job prospectus says: “We are seeking a strategic and inspirational leader who can work with the Board and partners to develop our future direction, influence key stakeholders and represent and promote the interests of the charity to a wide range of communities.

“Key attributes will include the ability to work collaboratively and across organisational and sector boundaries, lead the team, think strategically and follow through to delivery.”

Status: Full-time, permanentSalary: £45,000 – £50,000Location: EdinburghClosing date: Monday 15th June 2020 at 5pmInterview date: Friday 3rd July 2020

Current director Adam Wilkinson who has been working in the role for 12 years will be moving to a new job in June.

He said the role has been both a “challenge” and a “privilege” to work in and has seen the organisation’s team become more “outward-looking” since starting back in 2008.

Mr Wilkinson said: “Leading this organisation has been a privilege: challenging and at times difficult, but a privilege none the less.

“Edinburgh World Heritage is in a fundamentally different place to where it was in 2008.

“We’re now an outward-looking team with a rich range of activities backed up by deep experience in managing a complex urban World Heritage Site. We’ve experimented and learned about different ways of engaging with the public, we’ve raised significant public and private funding towards the conservation of the city’s monuments and spaces.

“We’ve also provided leadership on thorny issues such as sustainable tourism, we’ve opened the Tron as a World Heritage interpretation centre, and we’ve engaged with partners internationally to bring best practice back to Edinburgh.“Though we sometimes forget, Edinburgh is seen internationally as an example of what can be done with World Heritage status other than wearing it as a badge of honour. Thank you for your support."

Applications should be sent by email to Kay Marwick, Operations Manager at [email protected].