Principal Archaeological Consultant
Application Deadline: 13 July 2026
Department: Consultancy
Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time
Location: Hereford
Compensation: £49,280 - £55,956 / year
Description
Locations: Hereford, Manchester, Helsby, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Silsoe, Cleckheaton.
Contract Type: Permanent, subject to 6-month probation period
Closing Date: 5pm Monday 13th July
Headland Archaeology is offering an opportunity for an experienced and motivated consultant to join our Team.
We are a privately owned archaeological business, part of the RSK Group, a leader in integrated environmental, engineering, and technical services. We provide heritage services to the development and construction sectors in UK and across the world.
The Headland Archaeology Consultancy Team prides itself on offering independent excellent technical advice to clients and colleagues rooted in years of experience in the sector. We tell clients what they need to know, rather than what they want to hear.
With offices in England and Scotland, we offer our employees:
- Unique knowledge and expertise. For the past 30 years, Headland has provided not only business‑focused archaeology but also people‑focused business. We are highly respected within our industry for our achievements in innovation, tailor‑made development coaching and training, and our expertise in commercial archaeology.
- Strong pioneering spirit. Our corporate culture is characterised by a healthy appetite for originality and development.
- Stable company with excellent growth. Over the years, we have demonstrated steady, positive economic development and formed successful partnerships.
- Good work environment. You will be surrounded by colleagues who are pleasant, professional, and enthusiastic about their work.
- Opportunity to influence. You get to work in an open climate, close to decision makers and with the possibility of making a difference.
- Part of RSK group. You will have further opportunities to become involved in nationally and internationally prominent projects with exciting prospects for career development. The group has c.17000 employees and c.230 environmentally lead companies.
The Role
We are looking to appoint a Principal archaeological and/or built heritage consultant with expertise in the preparation of technical documents supporting clients in addressing heritage constraints.
The appointee will have a thorough understanding of the legislative and planning policy framework within which commercial archaeology is undertaken in the UK. Applicants should have significant and demonstrable experience of preparing archaeological desk‑based assessments and/or built heritage statements, environmental impact assessments and written schemes of investigation. The candidate should be experienced in managing the historic environment constraints associated with major infrastructure projects, such as those associated with solar and wind energy.
We are looking for candidates who can work autonomously, with experience of liaising with clients, negotiating with statutory consultees, assessing impacts on the historic environment, directly managing cultural heritage projects or archaeological sub‑contractors and offering technical advice.
You will work on projects and with colleagues from across the RSK Group. Key responsibilities will include:
- Lead on sales and service delivery to a major sector: solar energy
- Manage heritage matters on major projects
- Develop client relationships
- Supervise or mentor junior colleagues and be responsible for projects they are running
- Undertake technical reviews of consultancy team outputs
- Brief or manage other staff to assist in delivering your duties
- Identify and exploit commercial opportunities, supporting sales efforts
- Prepare fee proposals for technical review
- Liaise with clients, consultees and manage contractors
- Complete work for technical review
- Baseline data collection (from archives, site walk‑over survey, setting assessments etc) or manage others undertaking same
- Oversee delivery of technical documents (risk appraisals, DBA, WSI, EIA chapters)
- Attend meetings
- Manage project finances – setting up tenders, projects, managing WiP and issuing invoices.
- Manage work across multiple projects
In Headland we are proud of our people. We will support you to your meet your goals and train you in specific cultural heritage and other skills to feel confident and succeed in your role.
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
You must have the following essential criteria:
- Have experience of preparing EIA s
- Have a sound understanding of the policy and legislative context for UK cultural heritage
- Experience in cultural heritage consultancy or commercial field archaeology in the UK
- Be able to relate research themes in British cultural heritage to projects
- A degree in archaeology or related subject
- Experience in archaeological consultancy or a senior role on commercial archaeological projects in the UK
- Experience of preparing DBAs and/or built heritage statements
- Experience of preparing EIAs
- Full driving licence and able and willing to drive company vehicles in UK
- Ability to carry out site visits and walk‑over surveys in an outdoor environment in all weathers
- Willingness to travel to work on projects across the UK
- CIfA membership at MCIfA level and/or IHBC membership.
- Up to date CSCS card (Academically Qualified Person or Professionally Qualified Person), or willingness to acquire one
- A thorough understanding of the health and safety requirements relevant to the role
- Good organisational & communication skills
- Ability to work under pressure and use your own initiative
- Embrace inclusion and diversity
- Willingness to develop your people skills and attend mental health awareness course
- Substantial knowledge of MS Office & English language
- Be passionate, motivated and excited about what you do!
You may have the following desirable criteria:
- Have experience of preparing EIA for solar or wind energy schemes
- Substantial knowledge of a GIS package
- An understanding of assessing development impacts on the settings of heritage assets
Benefits
- Competitive paid subsistence when applicable
- Employee assistance and health support scheme
- Paid accommodation when working away
- Use of cutting edge technology on site, e.g. paperless systems, iPads etc.
- Ongoing regular training in various areas e.g. Health & Safety, Technical areas and transferable skills
- Annual profit discretionary bonus & performance‑related bonus schemes, T&Cs apply
- Annual pay review
- 35 days annual leave, rising based on service length
- Extra annual leave purchase scheme
- 5%-6% employer contribution to pension scheme
- Income Protection Policy, after a year with Headland
- Life Assurance Policy, insuring you 4 times your annual salary, after a year with Headland
- Regular performance, wellbeing & professional development check‑ins
- Referral scheme with generous fee
- A support group of 30+ Mental Health First Aiders
- Regular offers through RSK Group (e.g. Tastecard, Gym membership discount, Holidays and Entertainment)
- Employee Assistance Programme (advice on finance, mental health etc)
- Paid CIfA membership
- Cycle to work scheme
How to Apply
To apply for this role, please click the Web/Apply button above and submit your application through the Headland Archaeology Applicant Tracking System.
As part of our commitment to fair and inclusive recruitment, our Applicant Tracking System removes certain identifying information from applications during the initial screening stage. This allows hiring managers to focus on candidates’ skills, experience and suitability for the role, helping to reduce the potential for unconscious bias and ensuring a more objective recruitment process.
