With a career that has spanned the USA, Germany and his native Scotland, Runnicles has served as Music Director of the San Francisco Opera, Principal Guest Conductor of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Principal Conductor of the Orchestra of St. Luke's, Music Director of the Grand Teton Music Festival, Generalmusikdirektor of Deutsche Oper Berlin and as Chief Conductor of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.

[5] On 24 August 2024, the day after his Bruckner-Mahler concert at the Usher Hall during the Edinburgh International Festival conducting the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, with baritone Thomas Lehman,[6][7] Runnicles and Lehman presented a live performance and interview for the Society at the Runnicles family's parish, Greenbank Parish Church.

[1] In October 2007, the BBC SSO announced the appointment of Runnicles as their next Chief Conductor in September 2009, for an initial contract of three years.

In October 2007, the Deutsche Oper Berlin announced the appointment of Runnicles as their next Generalmusikdirektor, effective August 2009, for an initial contract of five years.

[31] From 11 May to 2 June 2024, Runnicles conducted the full season of the Richard Wagner Tetralogy, Der Ring des Nibelungen at Deutsche Oper.

In December 2023, the Dresden Philharmonic announced the appointment of Runnicles as its next chief conductor, effective with the 2025-2026 season.

[36] Runnicles holds honorary doctorates from the University of Edinburgh and the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (conferred in February 2011).