At a Glance
- Tasks: Advise on archaeological sites and manage proposals for change in the historic environment.
- Company: Join Historic England, the public body dedicated to preserving England's rich heritage.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive pension, 28 days holiday, corporate discounts, and free entry to English Heritage sites.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on preserving history while working in a supportive and inclusive team.
- Qualifications: Knowledge of archaeology, planning, and strong problem-solving skills are essential.
- Other info: Flexible working options available, including hybrid work and job sharing.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Job Description
Summary
Historic England have a fantastic opportunity for you to join us as an Inspector of Ancient Monuments in our East of England Region.
With a remit to advise on the most important and diverse collection of archaeological sites in the region including prehistoric sites, extensive monastic ruins, garden archaeology, coastal and 20th century military sites. You’ll be working within our knowledgeable and enthusiastic multidisciplinary Development Advice team alongside two other Inspectors of Ancient Monuments.
This is a great chance to develop your career in the historic environment in an exciting role with Historic England. The public body that looks after England’s historic environment. We champion historic places, helping people understand, value and care for them.
There are 2 Full Time, Permanent positions based in Cambridge with hybrid working.
We offer a wide benefits package including a competitive pension scheme starting at 28.97% employer contributions, a generous 28 days holiday, corporate discounts, free entry into English Heritage sites across the country and development opportunities to ensure you achieve your goals.
To view our full range of benefits please follow the link here.
What you will be doing
The East of England Development Advice Team provide Historic England’s statutory and non-statutory advice engaging where we add most value to decision-making through our distinctive contribution as national experts.
As part of East of England Development Advice Team, you will take delegated responsibility for the delivery of Historic England’s advice on proposals for change to scheduled monuments, archaeology and in relation to historic environment planning. Your core duties will be advising on scheduled monument consent, planning applications and National Strategic Infrastructure Projects. You will be giving advice to owners, local authorities, applicants and their teams and others proactively working towards the sustainable management of archaeology and the historic environment.
The Development Advice Teams also work closely with other teams to support communities in looking after historic places in line with Historic England’s objectives and contribute to specific projects where their expertise would add value, for example as part of Historic England's grant programme.
Who we are looking for
- A thorough knowledge of archaeology and archaeological landscapes in England, scheduled monuments and their management and the techniques of their study
- A good working knowledge of planning archaeology
- A good understanding of Government policy, guidance and statutory procedures for the historic environment in the planning system, including Scheduled Monument Consent and Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project planning
- Good negotiating and influencing skills
- The ability to think creatively with good problem solving skills
- Ability to deal with pressure and challenge
- A methodical and analytical approach to understanding proposals for change and assessing their impact
Please note that:
- The role requires regular travel to sites not serviced by public transport
- The role requires visiting/inspecting sites which is likely to require climbing scaffolding and negotiating confined spaces
- The role may require occasional attendance at community or planning meetings which can be held at evenings or weekends
Please note your application will be scored and assessed against the above criteria.
We are an equal opportunity employer which values diversity and inclusion. If you have a disability or neurodiversity, we would be happy to discuss reasonable adjustments to the job with you. Having just won the Gold Award from MIND, we also recognise the importance of a healthy work-life balance.
We are an inclusive employer and believe that flexible working options are for everyone. We want to make sure our working arrangements don’t prevent anyone from joining us because of their personal circumstances. We also want to provide you with the best balance in your home and work life that we can.
We are open to considering options including job sharing, part-time working, compressed hours working and different working locations, including hybrid working. Please visit our jobs pages or contact us to find out more.
Why work for Historic England
We are committed to promoting equality of opportunity for everyone. Diversity helps us to perform better and attract more people to support our work. We welcome and encourage job applications from people of all backgrounds.
We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates and candidates with disabilities as they are underrepresented within Historic England at this level.
Historic England want all of our candidates to shine in the recruitment process. Please tell us what we can do to make sure you can show us your very best self. You can contact us by email at RecruitmentTeam@HistoricEngland.org.uk if you have any recruitment queries.
At Historic England we use a hiring system called Applied. Applied is a behavioural science-backed recruitment platform that reduces bias, improves quality of hire and increases diversity. We do not use CV application for the majority of our hiring processes. You will answer a selection of questions that allow our hiring teams to test your skills and suitability for the role.
To ensure a fair and inclusive recruitment process for everyone the use of AI or automated tools is not permitted.
Provisional interview dates: 2nd & 3rd Sept 2025
Please follow the link for a full copy of the Job Description –
https://cms.historicengland.org.uk/media/5oghitcn/inspector-of-ancient-monuments-east-jd-mar-2025.odt
Inspector of Ancient Monuments employer: HISTORIC ENGLAND
Contact Detail:
HISTORIC ENGLAND Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Inspector of Ancient Monuments
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the key archaeological sites in the East of England. Understanding the local context and specific challenges faced by these sites will help you demonstrate your knowledge during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the field of archaeology and historic preservation. Attend relevant conferences or workshops to meet people who can provide insights into the role and potentially refer you to opportunities.
✨Tip Number 3
Stay updated on current government policies and guidance related to the historic environment. Being well-versed in these topics will show your commitment and understanding of the regulatory landscape during discussions.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare for potential site visits by familiarising yourself with safety protocols and inspection techniques. This will not only boost your confidence but also demonstrate your readiness for the practical aspects of the job.
We think you need these skills to ace Inspector of Ancient Monuments
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Before applying, make sure you thoroughly understand the responsibilities and requirements of the Inspector of Ancient Monuments position. Familiarise yourself with the key duties such as advising on scheduled monument consent and planning applications.
Tailor Your Application: Customise your application to highlight your knowledge of archaeology and archaeological landscapes in England. Emphasise your understanding of Government policy and statutory procedures relevant to the historic environment.
Showcase Relevant Skills: Demonstrate your negotiating and influencing skills in your application. Provide examples of how you've creatively solved problems in past roles, especially in high-pressure situations.
Follow Application Instructions: Pay close attention to the application process outlined by Historic England. Since they use a behavioural science-backed recruitment platform, ensure you answer all questions thoughtfully to showcase your skills and suitability for the role.
How to prepare for a job interview at HISTORIC ENGLAND
✨Show Your Passion for Archaeology
Make sure to express your enthusiasm for archaeology and the historic environment during the interview. Share any personal experiences or projects that highlight your dedication to preserving ancient monuments and understanding their significance.
✨Demonstrate Your Knowledge of Policies
Familiarise yourself with government policies and guidance related to scheduled monuments and planning archaeology. Be prepared to discuss how these policies influence decision-making and how you would apply them in your role.
✨Highlight Your Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare examples of past situations where you successfully navigated challenges or conflicts, particularly in a heritage or archaeological context. This will showcase your ability to think creatively and manage pressure effectively.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
At the end of the interview, ask thoughtful questions about the team dynamics, ongoing projects, or the future direction of Historic England. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you assess if it's the right fit for you.