Location: Edinburgh, Silsoe, Leeds or Hereford
Closing Date: 3rd February 2020
Salary £27,500 to £30,000 (Senior Archaeobotanist)/£30,500 to £35,000 (Environmental Manager) based upon a 37.5 hour week (depending on experience and position)
Contract Type Permanent
Application Ref. AB-Jan20
Headland Archaeology are looking to recruit either a Senior Archaeobotanist or an Environmental Manager to join our environmental team within the expanding post-excavation department. Headland is one of the largest archaeological contractors in the UK, and has recently joined forces with RSK, a leading environmental and engineering services consultancy. We work on a wide range of exciting archaeological projects of all scales throughout the UK. Headland has a strong tradition of environmental archaeology and the environmental team provides a range of specialist services including archaeobotany, zooarchaeology and osteology, contributing to consultancy, fieldwork and post-excavation from assessment to publication.
Either position would be based in your choice of one of our regional offices, but the appointee would be working on projects and with colleagues from across the organisation. While much of the role is office/lab-based, undertaking specialist work, the post-holder is also expected to undertake site-based work, including implementation of environmental training, curator/science advisor liaison, development of site sampling strategies and undertaking specialist sampling.
The applicant should have extensive archaeobotanical experience, preferably within a commercial environment, though also with a firm grasp of current academic research applications within environmental archaeology. We are looking for someone who can take ownership of either role and push it forward with enthusiasm and energy.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Senior Archaeobotanist:
- To identify, record, assess, analyse, interpret and report on botanical assemblages (including seeds and fruit from waterlogged, charred and mineralised contexts) within defined project objectives
- To complete all work on time and within budget and contribute to the successful commercial operation of Headland Archaeology
- To co-ordinate environmental teams within specific projects, including freelance specialists and those from other commercial organisations
- To work to established standards, procedures and guidelines as set out by the Headland manuals, CIFA, HE, and other professional bodies
- To check, proof-read and edit work, including the work of others, to established standards, procedures and guidelines
- To liaise with colleagues during excavation and post-excavation on appropriate techniques and procedures for sampling, recovery, processing and subsequent stages of work
- To prepare estimates and project designs for archaeobotanical work
- To be aware of regional, national and international research agendas and undertake academic research as part of major projects
- To maintain and develop reference materials and databases
- To line-manage and assist in the training and development of junior staff
Environmental Manager (as above, with additional)
- To manage the environmental team across all offices including work programmes (specialist and processing)
- To liaise with the Head of Post-excavation to set and implement strategic goals for the team
- To set and manage environmental team financial budgets and training
- To contribute to, and liaise with, the environmental consultancy of the wider RSK Group
- To promote the environmental team within Headland and externally
ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Senior Archaeobotanist:
- A degree in archaeology or a related subject and post-graduate qualification in archaeobotany / environmental work or a related subject
- Considerable and demonstrable experience of identifying seeds and other plant remains in waterlogged, charred and mineralised states, assessing and analysing archaeobotanical assemblages and reporting on the results
- Understanding and awareness of current academic research within the specialism and preferably archaeobotanical publications
- Knowledge of current legislation and guidelines
- Sound general knowledge of British Archaeology
- Ability to write reports, publications etc clearly and concisely
- Solid IT skills, including MS Office, especially Excel
- Experience of editing reports
- Good communication and mentoring skills
- Ability to work unsupervised and strong decision-making skills
- Adherence to briefs and budgets while displaying good time management skills
- Diving license (or commitment to obtain one)
- Be passionate, motivated and excited about what you do!
Environmental Manager (as above, with additional)
- Demonstrable experience of managing people and finances
- Sound publication record in archaeobotany
- Ability to produce budgets for projects
- Capability to explore integrating our work with research projects in academic institutions
- Innovative and forward-looking style
DESIREABLE REQUIREMENTS (Both roles):
- Specialism in any other area of environmental archaeology (charcoal, faunal remains, pollen, geoarchaeology etc.)
- Excavation experience
- Experience of working in a commercial environment
- Membership of the CIfA.
This is a great opportunity to join a progressive and growing company engaged with a constant stream of exciting archaeological projects. The company is passionate about archaeology and very focussed on training, so not only can you expect to receive training, but you will be expected to help develop other staff, particularly to improve their environmental specialist skills.
A relocation package can be considered if applicable. Interviews are planned for the week beginning 10th February, if you are unable to attend during any part of that week, please make this clear in your covering letter – it may be possible to arrange an alternative. There are many benefits to working with Headland
Informal inquiries concerning the role can be made to Alex Smith, Head of Post-excavation – tel: 0131 467 7748. Send CV and covering letter to Alex Smith at jobs@headlandarchaeology.com
Your application must state clearly which position you are applying for and contain the names and contact details of at least two referees. The referees will not be contacted prior to offering you the post, and we will inform you when we will do so.
