ARCHAEOLOGISTS AND ASSISTANT SUPERVISORS in Lancaster

ARCHAEOLOGISTS AND ASSISTANT SUPERVISORS

Join to apply for the ARCHAEOLOGISTS AND ASSISTANT SUPERVISORS role at Oxford Archaeology.

About the Role

Permanent appointment

Assistant Supervisor £28,720 to £29,561

Required for Lancaster & Cambridge:

Archaeologist £27,765

Assistant Supervisor £28,720 to £29,561

We are seeking enthusiastic field archaeologists who are at Archaeologist and Assistant Supervisor grades to join our Lancaster and Cambridge offices. We would be eager for new team members to start from January 2026.

Our Cambridge office has a very busy and exciting programme of fieldwork across East Anglia and the East Midlands through 2026. Projects include large excavations targeting a Roman settlement in Bedfordshire, Iron Age and Roman farmsteads near Cambourne, and an Iron Age settlement in Northamptonshire. We also have some large scale evaluations due to commence in Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and Hertfordshire.

Our Lancaster office is currently undertaking large-scale excavations along the route of the A66 between Penrith and Brough, just outside Cumbria’s Lake District National Park. The A66 follows the line of a Roman road across the Pennines which is punctuated by Roman forts. The Roman road traversed a natural pass thought to have been used by prehistoric communities, particularly in the exchange of Neolithic stone axes produced in the central Lake District fells. The A66 project will amount to numerous open area excavations of multi‑period sites.

For any away based work, weekly accommodation will be provided in addition to OA’s usual range of employee benefits.

Criteria for the Roles

Archaeologist

Successful candidates for Archaeologist positions will join our Field Archaeologist Training Pathway which provides a clear path for career development and encourages you to record your progress through site and reading logs, as you learn new skills. The programme includes off‑site training sessions led by OA specialists and senior managers, with content including the understanding of formation processes, matrix generation, burials archaeology, environmental archaeology, Health and Safety, the exciting range of OA apps – including our digital recording system – and much more. When the required levels of competency are achieved, you will advance to Assistant Supervisor level.

Position Requirements

• Candidates will have six months experience of professional archaeological fieldwork within the UK or Irish commercial environment. Documented evidence of competence, in the form of a completed training log from our Graduate Trainee programme or the Archaeology Skills Passport scheme will be advantageous.
• A degree in archaeology or related discipline will be highly advantageous, as will membership of the CIfA at PCIfA level.
• A full clean driving licence is desirable, as is a current CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme) card.

Assistant Supervisor

Successful candidates for Assistant Supervisor positions will join our Field Assistant Supervisor Training Pathway which includes office‑based training sessions led by OA specialists and senior managers covering areas such as Health and Safety, site survey, post‑excavation, finds recognition and training and mentoring of others. You will also be given on‑site training in task delegation and supervision, watching briefs, machine watching and record checking. As you progress through the programme you will also be given the opportunity to undertake external training courses including plant supervision (NPORS), CAT and Genny, First Aid at Work and Site Supervisors Safety Training (SSSTS). When the required levels of competency are achieved you will be in a position to apply for promotion to Supervisor grade, as vacancies arise.

Position Requirements

• Candidates must demonstrate proven experience, technical proficiency and good working knowledge of professional archaeological fieldwork within the UK or Irish commercial environment.
• A degree in archaeology or related discipline will be highly advantageous, as will membership of the CIfA at PCIfA level.
• A full clean driving licence is desirable as is a current CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme) card.

Employee Benefits

• Competitive, constantly benchmarked salaries depending on grade and experience
• A company pension scheme with 6% employer contributions. Employees with ten years of employment or in project management roles gaining access to Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), which is one of the few remaining defined benefit schemes in the UK.
• In addition to the industry leading Fieldwork Training Pathway, we offer many other opportunities for career progression including placements and specialist training in all areas of the business, including finds, environmental, archives, post‑excavation, burials, community engagement, heritage management, historic buildings, geomatics, geoarchaeology and contracts.
• 21 days holiday (depending on length of service) with three additional concessionary days at Christmas plus Bank Holidays.
• Subsistence payment of £23.50 per night (tax free) and free, single room accommodation (usually B&B or self‑catering) during the week for away‑based projects.
• 5 hour (basic) week with optional paid overtime at time and a half for hours in‑excess of 37.5 hours Monday‑Friday and on Saturdays, and double time on Sundays and bank holidays.
• Paid travel time for journeys to site that take longer than one hour from the office and free transport from regional offices to sites.
• Free high quality personal protective equipment (inc. full breathable waterproofs, fleece etc).
• Comprehensive care for employee welfare through a number of policies, including: the AXA Health Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) Premier, generous paid sick leave, a network of mental health first aiders, and personal accident insurance.
• Annual driver’s allowance of £520 for approved drivers (pro‑rata) in addition to paid overtime for driving.
• We pay 100% of CIfA subscription fees.
• Cycle to work scheme.

Please apply by completing an application form available from:
https://surveys.oxfordarchaeology.com/index.php/967128

Closing date: 18th January 2025
Please enclose a CV and covering letter with your application.

Oxford Archaeology is an Equal Opportunities employer. All applications are judged on the relevant skills and experience of the candidate, and not by gender, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, belief, age, nationality (other than where work permits may be required), or ethnicity. You must meet the requirements to live and work in the UK by UK Visas and Immigration.

Registered Charity No. 285627; Company Registration No. 1618597