Assistant Heritage Consultant - North in Manchester

For over 65 years, Donald Insall Associates has been working with the past to unlock opportunities within the historic environment. We set the standard for what heritage can be. With sustained success and a growing portfolio of prestigious conservation and heritage projects, our Northern Region Heritage Consultancy team continues to expand.

We are strengthening our team across the region from our Manchester or York studios, offering the opportunity to an early-career stage assistant heritage consultant to contribute to a broad range of heritage projects including our growing offer in digital heritage delivery. We are keen to hear from talented, motivated individuals who share our passion for conservation, heritage and the sensitive adaptation of significant buildings.

The Assistant Heritage Consultant role supports heritage consultancy teams under direct supervision. Whilst the role is primarily based in the Northern Region, you will on occasion be required to support and collaborate with colleagues across the Practice’s geographic areas. You'll focus on diligently learning core heritage consultancy and digital delivery skills (primarily research and analysis, site surveys, using online tools to create heritage reports for various purposes and geospatial mapping), practice procedures (including IMS systems), and our conservation philosophy, within a supportive, high‑performing team environment.

We offer competitive industry-benchmarked salaries, an annual profit-share payment, private healthcare, pension, holiday starting at 25 days (plus bank holidays) which increases with tenure, paid professional accreditation / membership fees, time to undertake relevant accreditation, payment of a further journal subscription, annual training days, an individual CPD allowance, an internal CPD programme, and other benefits.

What you’ll be doing:

• An Assistant Heritage Consultant will carry out research and support digital delivery whilst developing skills in site surveys, assessing significance and providing advice.
• You will carry out research into the provenance and development of historic sites and/or buildings, their occupants, and their architects, as well as identifying relevant planning policy.
• You will support the digital delivery of heritage projects, developing skills in tools such as ArcGIS, web‑apps or AI agents.
• You will develop existing skills in undertaking visual site surveys and compiling descriptions of historic sites and buildings and their significance.
• You will develop the ability to write site descriptions and, where possible, assessments of significance and policy justification sections.
• You will work to improve understanding and experience of record collation, hone writing skills and have the ability to confidently draw together information from a variety of sources and distil into succinct, accurate and engaging text.

What we think you will need:

• A solid understanding of British architectural history and knowledge gained via an appropriate qualification (e.g. BA Architectural History, Art History, History, Town Planning and a Post Graduate certificate/diploma in Building Conservation, Architectural History or equivalent relevant subjects).
• An understanding of the collation of historic records and proficiency in reading and interpreting architectural plans, historic maps, photographs and written documents.
• An understanding of the policy framework for decision making for heritage projects.
• An appreciation of how digital tools can support heritage consultancy. Experience of GIS software, web‑apps or AI agents is desirable.
• The ability to confidently communicate information to client teams and contribute towards client team meetings and presentations when requested.

Donald Insall Associates is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity.