Historic Environment Scotland plays a lead role in securing the delivery of the Strategy for Scotland’s Historic Environment – “Our Past Our Future”. We are responsible for protecting and promoting some of the nation’s fabulous heritage assets, like Edinburgh Castle. We also look after some of Scotland’s outstanding collections and archives. But at Historic Environment Scotland, we do so much more – as a regulator, as a grant provider, as a research organisation and as an expert heritage adviser across a wide range of subjects.
We are looking for a Chair with the proven experience and authority to lead the Board through a period of significant change. The successful candidate will have driven internal culture change, may have faced turnaround challenges, should have an instinct for opportunities in the heritage sector and will have the warmth and energy to engage both the Board and the wider heritage andculture community.
The Board is responsible for determining the overall vision, strategic aims and objec tives of Historic Environment Scotland, in accordance with the statutory du ties and within the policy and resource framework agreed with Sco ttish Ministers.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Chair of the Board has par ticular responsibility for:
Leadership and Strategy
Providing strategic leadership, considering long-term vision and setting appropriate goals for HES, leading through a period of transforma tional change.
Chairing the HES Board mee tings in a manner that facilitates construc tive discussion, managing conflict and nego ti ating compromise when required.
Championing HES’s overall mission and strategic direc tion in a changing and poli tically sensi tive environment.
Leading the HES Board while remaining resilient to the challenges ahead, par ticularly in the context of financial challenges.
Ensuring that the Board, in reaching decisions, takes proper account of its statutory du ties, and the policy and resource framework agreed with Scot tish Ministers.
Ensuring effec tive corporate governance, and that the principles of public life and public accountability are followed.
Maintaining progress in delivering on HES’s priori ties.
Advising Scottish Ministers of the needs of HES when Board member vacancies arise, with a view to ensuring a proper balance of relevant skills, knowledge and diversity.
Collaboration
Performance Framework
Being responsible for ensuring that HES operates in accordance with its scheme of administra tion including chairing Board mee tings and ensuring that all HES Board
Committees func tion in line with expecta tions for effec tive governance processes.
Ensuring that all new members of the HES Board are fully briefed on the terms of their appointment and on their du ties, rights and responsibili ties, and that they receive appropriate induc tion training.
Conduc ting and assessing appraisals of the performance of individual Board members on an annual basis.
Ac ting as line manager of the Chief Execu tive including se tting objec tives and conduc ting appraisals of the performance of the Chief Execu tive.
For further information regarding this appointment, please contact Holly Gadd, Board and Executive Support Coordinator, Historic Environment Scotland at holly.gadd@hes.scot
and/or
Download information pack about the role and the board, and How to Apply found in the Applicant Information Pack
Before you start your application please download the Application Information Pack
Skills/Experience Required
You must demonstrate evidence of all the following:
Priority criterion
Essential criteria
REMUNERATION AND TIME COMMITMENT
Remuneration for this appointment is £408 per day. Reasonable travel and subsistence, childcare and carer receipted expenses incurred will be reimbursed. This role is non-pensionable.
The average time commitment is approximately four days per month, however, we expect that the time commitment will be greater for the first six to twelve months of this appointment and will be six to eight days per month.
How to Apply
Please note that you will not be able to update your answers or suppor ting documents once the online applica tion is submitted. Late applica tions will not be accepted by the selec tion panel.
Public appointments are made by Scottish Ministers. The appointments process is regulated by the Ethical Standards Commissioner you can find out more about the Commissioner here: Public appointments | Ethical Standards Commissioner
EQUALITY STATEMENT
Scottish Ministers value highly the benefits of diverse Public Body Boards. People from all walks of life are encouraged to apply for public appointments.
Find out more about our commitment to diversity and how we offer and support recruitment adjustments for anyone who needs them.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Find out more about public appointments here: Public appointments - gov.scot (www.gov.scot).
If you require a reasonable adjustment at any stage of the appointments process or further support with your application, please contact the Public Appointments Team by email at public.appointments@gov.scot
Successful candidates must complete the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), before they can be appointed. BPSS is comprised of four main pre-employment checks – Identity, Right to work, Employment History and a Criminal Record check (unspent convictions).
The closing date for applications is 17.00 on Wednesday 23 July 2026.
The devolved government for Scotland is responsible for matters that are devolved from Westminster. Areas of responsibility include the economy, health, education, justice, rural affairs, environment, and transport.
