Salary £28,200 to £30,845 based upon a 37.5 hour week (depending on experience)
Hours: Full time, 37.5h/week – we are open to discussion on flexible working including part-time hours
Location: One of our regional offices in Edinburgh, Cleckheaton (Leeds), Silsoe or Hereford of the appointees choosing (with some opportunity for homeworking)
Contract Type: Permanent, subject to 6 month probation period
Closing Date: 5pm on 11th December 2023
Headland Archaeology is offering an excellent opportunity for a conscientious and enthusiastic person to join our Post-excavation team.
Why should you apply?
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. With four offices in England and one in Scotland, we offer our employees:
- Unique knowledge and expertise. For more than 20 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.12,000 employees and c.200 environmentally led companies.
Our most recent works; which include well preserved Iron Age, Roman and Saxon landscapes, medieval and post-medieval industrial sites in eastern England, prehistoric landscapes on the southern chalklands, industrial archaeology in Birmingham; illustrate the wide range of projects we have been commissioned to deliver.
The role
We are looking to appoint a post-excavation project officer to join our post-excavation team. The position would be based in your choice of one of our regional offices, but the appointee would be working on a variety of exciting projects from across the UK, including major infrastructure projects. The role will be mainly office/home based, undertaking post-excavation work on a variety of new and backlog projects at all scales (and training and mentoring fieldwork staff to do the same), pulling together specialist and fieldwork reports to produce high quality outputs (grey literature, journal and monograph publications, and other outputs).
The applicant should have experience of post-excavation reporting, preferably with relevant publications of high academic standards. The ability to undertake editing tasks and high-level research is crucial, and any UK period specialism would also be particularly advantageous. We are looking for someone who can take ownership of the role and push it forward with enthusiasm and energy.
Key responsibilities will include:
- Day-to-day co-ordination of post-excavation phases of projects, including preparation for archiving
- Undertaking stratigraphic analysis, GIS-based spatial analysis and report compilation, leading to production of interim reports, post-excavation assessments and publications, including journal reports and monographs
- Conducting research on a site and landscape scale
- Liaison with line manager, project managers, graphics staff, specialists and external bodies
- Editing reports
- Training and mentoring other staff in post-excavation processes
- Supervising junior members of staff
- Undertake relevant specialist, consultancy and/or field work as required (if appropriate)
Essential skills
- Prior experience of post-excavation work, including stratigraphic analysis and report compilation and a relevant publication record
- Having a clear and concise writing style that can be applied across a range of reports
- Strong IT skills, including databases, MS Office and GIS
- Strong academic knowledge of British Archaeology (period specialism is very welcome)
- Experience of editing reports
- At least two months fieldwork experience
- Good communication and mentoring skills
- Ability to work unsupervised and strong decision-making skills
- Ability to mentor/train others in post-excavation techniques and procedures
- Adherence to briefs and budgets while displaying good time management skills
- Be passionate, motivated and excited about what you do!
- Membership of the CIfA at ACIfA level
In addition, a postgraduate qualification and driving license are highly desirable.
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 post-excavation and report writing skills.
Benefits we offer you:
- Competitive paid subsistence when applicable
- 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
- Time off in lieu for time worked above standard hours or overtime paid
- Annual profit discretionary bonus & performance-related bonus schemes
- Monthly clothing allowance
- 28 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)
- Health support scheme
- Employee Assistance Programme (advice on finance, mental health etc)
- Paid CIfA membership
- Cycle to work scheme
- Being part of RSK Group
How to apply
You must have the right to work in the UK without restrictions. Proof of eligibility will be required prior to your commencement.
Send CV and a covering letter to Alex Smith at jobs@headlandarchaeology.com quoting reference PXO23. Postal applications will not be accepted..
Informal inquiries concerning the role can be made to Alex Smith, Head of Post-excavation alex.smith@headlandarchaeology.com
Headland is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
BAJR Grade 5
Your application must contain the names and contact details of at least two referees. Details of references should include their name, relationship to the applicant, postal address, email address and phone number. Unless by prior agreement, we will only contact referees after a provisional offer has been made and accepted.