Heritage and Senior Heritage Consultants

Role Overview

We are seeking experienced Heritage and Senior Heritage Consultants to join our team and contribute to understanding, conserving and managing our historic environment.

The role is an exciting opportunity to work on a diverse portfolio of Conservation Management Plans and monument protection ranging from individual scheduled prehistoric barrows and hillforts to industrial and modern military sites.

Interpretating and recording landscapes is also a key part of the role, particularly working on landscape rewilding projects.

You will work at the cutting edge of new thinking in archaeology, heritage and conservation practice, directly contributing to improved management, access and presentation of our historic environment.

You will regularly work as a part of teams of landscape architects, ecologists and arboriculturists to ensure the successful implementation of plans to dovetail and safeguard the historic and natural environments.

You will need excellent project management skills with proven experience of stakeholder engagement with statutory bodies, clients, sub-contractors and the public to ensure the successful delivery of our plans.

Fundamental to the role is an understanding of heritage assets through interpretation and recording of landscapes, earthworks and built heritage.

This includes the research and writing for desk-based assessments, telling the story and significance of a place.

You will be experienced in the use of Lidar and GIS Pro to identify and quantify known and newly discovered heritage sites.

Site survey work is a key element of the role including the use of Fieldmaps to ground‑truth the results of the desk-based analysis.

The role is an exciting opportunity to provide a meaningful contribution to conserving and understanding the historic environment, working with key bodies including Historic England, Natural England, Forestry England, the Forestry Commission and the National Trust as well as private clients.

You will be supporting the agendas for rewilding parts of our landscape, improving biodiversity and developing more sustainable land‑management programmes.

You will be part of an experienced and engaged team with a wide range of specialisms who will be able to provide support and training.

The role is hybrid and please note that it can be based at any of our four offices (Kemble, Milton Keynes, Andover or Suffolk).

Home working would also be considered.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure the successful completion of conservation and landscape projects, including large complex projects involving regular client liaison and the production of reports, to a very high standard.
• Desk‑based collation and interpretation of Lidar data to enable the identification and interpretation of historic assets in landscape survey (ground‑truthing).
• Understand, interpret and record historic landscapes using GIS (Fieldmaps), and undertake assessments of visible monuments and buildings during site visits, as appropriate.
• Produce Conservation Management Plans, including assessment of the condition of historic assets, management plans and options for their conservation and repair.
• Personally undertake archaeological research, desk studies and similar consultancy work, and report on them, including the collection of data from depositaries such as HERs and Record Offices.
• Monitor project progress with regard to budgetary, technical, logistical, staff and health and safety issues, providing regular reports to Senior and Principal Heritage Consultants and maintaining appropriate liaison with clients, Local Authority Advisors and contractors.
• Prepare Written Schemes of Investigation and contribute to tenders by providing estimates of time and costs, and drafting letters.
• liaise with specialist sub‑contractors to ensure the safe and successful completion of sub‑contracted elements of works, and review specialist reports in conjunction with a Senior or Principal Heritage Consultant.
• Ensure illustrations are prepared or requisitioned, as relevant, within project timescales and to corporate standards.
• Maintain accurate administrative records, including project digital filing, invoices, expenses and digital timesheet entries.
• Manage personal workload effectively, ensuring all project administration, such as the completion of data searches and booking of visits to repositories and sites, is timely.
• Prepare risk assessments and other relevant documentation in accordance with the CA Health and Safety policy.
• Where appropriate, deputise for the Senior Heritage Consultant.
• Supervise and develop staff, ensuring their continuous improvement in performance through performance reviews, constructive feedback, initiating training, coaching and improved practices.
• Ensure effective deployment, maintenance and care of vehicles, plant and equipment, and maintain accurate records, reporting accidents, damage and malfunctions promptly.
• Contribute to departmental processes and working practices via Learning Reports, feedback to Committee Representatives and/or project leaders, and discussion at performance reviews.
• Carry out any other duties commensurate with responsibilities as CA may determine from time to time.
• Required Experience and Skills
• Good all‑round knowledge and interest in British archaeology and heritage.
• Proven experience in producing archaeological and heritage assessments.
• Proven experience in drafting and/or commissioning conservation management plans and providing advice.
• Good communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Line‑management and mentoring junior colleagues.
• Experience in leading heritage projects.
• GIS proficiency, and use of Fieldmaps or equivalent.
• The ability to manage a demanding personal work schedule.
• Good ICT skills.
• Willingness and ability to commit to travel within the UK and stay away for the projects.
• A strong commitment to professional development.
• A full manual driving licence.
• CIf A membership (minimum ACIf A level) or equivalent, or willingness to join at the required level upon appointment.
• At least five years post‑graduate experience.
• Sound knowledge of relevant legislation concerning the historic environment and the operation of the planning process.
• Ability to work under pressure to deliver complex projects to a high standard, often within a very short timescale.
• Good administrative ability in keeping records and accounts and the submission of reports.
• Good working knowledge of MS Office suite, particularly Word, Excel and Outlook.
• Membership of the Chartered Institute of Archaeologists at least ACIf A, and preferably MCIf A level.
• Willingness to join the Institute immediately upon appointment if not already a member.
• Competent in the use of Microsoft Office and ICT.
• Preferred Qualifications and Areas of Expertise
• Substantial knowledge and expertise in commercial cultural heritage consultancy, including project management and client liaison.
• Expert knowledge of relevant legislation concerning the historic environment and the operation of the planning process.
• Good client and stakeholder negotiation skills.
• Ability to deal efficiently, diplomatically and courteously with sponsors and clients of CA, officers of other bodies, and members of the public.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Good administrative and record‑keeping skills.
• Desirable: a high level of competence using ICT, including GIS systems.
• Desirable: a specific area of expertise within the cultural heritage sector.

Benefits

• A flexible approach to working both from home and office.
• Assistance with relocation if applicable.
• Company sick pay.
• Group life assurance.
• Up to 30 days annual leave (dependent on level), rising with the length of service plus Bank Holidays and Toil (where applicable).
• Internal and external training opportunities.
• Accommodation and subsistence for away projects.
• A generous contributory pension.
• Employee Assistance Programme and Smart Health (access to GPs).
• 100% of CIf A membership fees paid.

Cotswold Archaeology is one of the leading providers of professional archaeological and heritage services in the UK.

We offer a complete archaeological service including fieldwork, post‑excavation, heritage consultancy and outreach, and are committed to the maintenance and development of the highest professional standards.

We believe engagement with heritage benefits individual wellbeing and are committed to increasing public awareness, appreciation and enjoyment of the past.

If you share these values and believe you have something to contribute, we would like to hear from you.

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