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 and culture community.
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
Please note, your supporting statement should be saved as one PDF of no more than 1,000 words, and uploaded to the section of the system called "Resume". Your tailored career history should be answered as a question in the application, with up to 400 words.
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.
The closing date for applications is 17.00 on Thursday 23 July 2026.
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
For further information regarding this appointment, please contact Holly Gadd, Board and Executive Support Coordinator, Historic Environment Scotland at holly.gadd@hes.scot
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
About us
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
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.
