Lead Craftperson

Description

Starting salary: £34,721
Contract type: Permanent
Grade: 3
Location: Burntisland Depot
Working Hours: Monday - Friday, 35 hours per week, annualised hours
Interviews: To be held in person at Argylls Lodging, Stirling on Week Commencing 7 September 2026

As Lead Craftsperson you will oversee the management of 2 Stonemasons and 1 Apprentice Stonemason based at Burntisland MCU Depot. The MCU staff are responsible for the masonry conservation and maintenance of Aberdour Castle and Gardens, Dunfermline Abbey Palace and Nave , Inchcolm Abbey , Ravenscraig Castle, Culross Abbey and St Bridgets Kirk .

For more information about the post and information about the team, please access the full job description here for this post. Please note that if you don't have Office 365 installed on your device, this can be opened using your browser.

Benefits of joining us at Historic Environment Scotland

• Enrolment onto a Civil Service Pension scheme – 28% employer contribution
• 25 days annual leave, pro-rata (increasing to 30 days after 3 years) + 11.5 public holidays
• Reimbursement for relevant professional subscriptions
• Support for further education and personal development
• Study leave for work related courses
• Flexible working hours (where appropriate)
• Free entry to all of our properties (with up to three guests)
• Free entry to English Heritage, Manx and Cadw properties

Key Responsibilities of this role

• Leading and supervising MCU craftspeople and trade staff delivering a programme of works.
• Carry out quality control checks on work output, recruitment, coordination of training requirements, staff development, attendance management, disciplinary procedures, and other staff-related HR issues.
• Purchase materials and supplies for required work activities ensuring value for money. Checking budget availability, obtaining competitive quotations, placing orders on the Fusion system and arranging for delivery /collection.
• Collation and reporting of information related to your area of responsibility in the form of progress reports, programme updates, delays and blockers.
• Ensure compliance with health & safety policies and procedures, production of job folders, carry out toolbox talks, compile COSHH assessments, risk assessments and method statements, inclusive of checking contractors risk assessments and method statements.
• Compile accident reports and near misses on the HES PRIME reporting system
• Maintain skills and qualifications required for the role, including health and safety and craft skills.
• Work with your team to ensure they understand how their activity contributes to the overall aims of the region, directorate and organisation.
• Build and maintain constructive relationships with internal and external stakeholders and partners relating to the conservation work and operations within your remit.
• Support colleagues across HES, and external stakeholders when required, with specialist advice and insight relating to the role, including to support the development of visitor and community engagement activity relating to conservation and property works.
• Ensure depot and monument activities are aligned with district, regional and directorate goals retaining line of sight from team to organisational goals.
• Work with the Property maintenance and Compliance Manager to ensure all activity is carried out in a safe and coordinated manner.
• Support the wider team in fulfilling conservation and operational asset management activities for assigned projects, ensuring consistent national technical standards are applied.
• Use experience to proactively seek opportunities for efficiencies in process and procedure within your remit.
• Effectively and efficiently manage the resources and budget within HES governance arrangements.
• Lead, and work with your team of craftspeople, labourers and apprentices complying with HES policies and procedures, and developing their skills and capability
• Support the ongoing development of skilled conservation knowledge within the team.
• Role model a proactive, collaborative, and helpful approach towards supporting the District Works Manager, Regional Technical team and your own team members.
• Partner with other Managers to ensure effective cover in the event of absence, and as part of an on-call rota covering business continuity incidents on weekends and public holidays.
• You will need to work outside in variable weather conditions and be comfortable working at height, from scaffolding or from MEWP.
• You may also be required to travel both within and outside of their region for work purposes and may involve travel and staying away from home overnight.
• You will be required to operate plant & machinery, including handheld plant.

Key requirements of the role:

In order for you to be successful in this post, we will be looking for you to submit a cover letter which addresses how you can meet each of the essential and desirable criteria (in up to 1,200 words), using examples of where you have demonstrated these criteria previously. Please ensure that you provide real life examples for each of the criteria to be considered for this post. You can use examples of how you have met this criteria from your work life, home life, education or volunteer experience. Please read our CV and Cover Letter Guidance first before completing, as you will only be eligible for selection if you use examples of how you meet the essential and desirable criteria.

Essential:

• Qualified to Advanced Craft Level SVQ level 4 or SCQF level 6
• Qualified and experienced craft/tradesperson
• Experience of leading and managing site based craftspeople in a construction site environment

• Proven knowledge of the traditional building crafts. An understanding and knowledge of current conservation practises and techniques related to historic buildings and monuments

• Experience and knowledge of health & safety practices including CDM Regulations, COSHH assessments, Production of Risk Assessment and Method Statements.

• Awareness of financial planning and budgeting

• Ability to support the organisation of multiple project programmes, including resources, budget, contractors and materials

Find out more about desirable skills and experience in our full job description here.

We are dedicated to building a workforce which is reflective of diversity within Scotland. We warmly welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, regardless of age, race, gender or gender identity, religious beliefs, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, or neurodiversity. In support of our Gaelic Language Plan, we welcome applications from Gaelic speakers.

We want every candidate to have the best chance to succeed during the recruitment process. If you require your application in an alternative format, please reach out to us via email at recruit@hes.scot or call our Head Office at 0131 668 8600 and speak to a member of our People Team.

Please note that, at this time, we are unfortunately unable to provide sponsorship as part of the recruitment process, therefore you must have current right to work in the UK to be considered for a post.

To submit your application online, please read our ‘How to Apply’ followed by ‘Apply Now’ button to begin your application.