Principal Archaeologist
Permanent, Full Time
up to £55,706 per annum + benefits
Location: Essex*
Closing Date: 13th December 2026
*Whilst contractually based at our Chelmsford office, with attendance expected on one day per week, there is flexibility for home-working alongside site visits across our operational area as required.
Place Services is a unique multi-disciplinary practice within Essex County Council, with expertise in archaeology, built heritage, ecology, arboriculture, landscape, countryside management, urban design, and planning. Our purpose is to support the public sector to deliver sustainable development, enhancing and conserving the historic, natural, and built environment, and achieving well-designed places. Our archaeologists advise local planning authorities throughout Essex, Sussex, the South Downs National Park, and historic city of St Albans.
We are looking to appoint a Principal Historic Environment Consultant to lead the effective development and delivery of our archaeological services. You will support our Historic Environment Manager to ensure those services are efficient, high quality and financially sustainable, balancing income generation with a strong commitment to sustainable development, environmental protection and the long-term success of the team.
About the role
- By applying your comprehensive knowledge of British archaeology, field techniques, and the development management process, you will provide authoritative archaeological advice across the full planning lifecycle, supporting planning authorities to meet their statutory duties in relation to heritage assets and the wider historic environment.
- By managing complex projects and contracts, including high-quality heritage assessments, archaeological surveys, and overseeing the management of historic environment data, you will ensure delivery against agreed budgets, specifications and performance measures.
- Through effective line management, building individual capabilities and embedding a strong commercial mindset within your team, you will boost performance and ensure everyone achieves their potential.
- By identifying opportunities, securing new clients and leading bids and tenders, you will drive new business activity for your team.
- By sharing your knowledge through training and professional learning, you will contribute to skills development across the sector.
- As our lead archaeologist, you will build strong client and partner relationships, and provide your expert advice to Council members, senior officers, and internal teams.
- The role requires you to be mobile throughout an operational area. Therefore, the post holder will need to have a driving licence and access to a vehicle, or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means.
Please note the internal job title of this role is Principal Historic Environment Consultant. For a copy of the full role profile please email faye.robertson@essex.gov.uk. For an informal discussion around this opportunity, please contact Tim Murphy, Historic Environment Manager, via tim.murphy@essex.gov.uk or 0333 032 0847.
Comprehensive CPD is available within the role, including access to our annual programme of Traditional Building Skills, Conservation courses and lectures: https://www.placeservices.co.uk/conservation-courses/conservation-courses/
Your benefits package includes;
- Holiday entitlement of 27 days per annum (plus bank holidays), with the opportunity to buy additional annual leave
- Local Government Pension Scheme: essexpensionfund.co.uk
- Employee Wellbeing and counselling provision
- Volunteering leave
- Eye care vouchers
- Travel discounts and season ticket loans
- Retail and restaurant discounts and cashback on purchases
Place Services is a unique business and a great place to work. To find out more about us please visit: www.placeservices.co.uk/who-we-are/about-us
Greater Essex has been accepted on to the devolution priority programme, where we will work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority. You can read more about these changes, and what this may mean for this role, on our careers site.
Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.
Once you’ve secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.
At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.
Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.
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