GEOARCHAEOLOGISTS
Assistant Supervisor £30,013 – £30,892
Permanent appointment
Oxford Archaeology is one of the largest independent archaeological practices in Europe. Our size and reputation ensure that we work on a diverse range of projects and can offer real opportunities for long‑term employment and career development. We have offices in Oxford, Lancaster and Cambridge and are a registered charity. We are interested in hearing from applicants at varying stages in their career and will make appointments at the upper end of the salary range for those with the right skills and experience.
We welcome applications for the Assistant Supervisor grade from motivated and talented field or palaeoenvironmental archaeologists in the early stages of their career who have some geoarchaeological experience and want to diversify their skillset or specialise. We are also looking to appoint experienced geoarchaeologists at Supervisor and Project Officer grade, to take on a leading role on our medium‑sized and larger infrastructure projects.
Position Requirements
Assistant Supervisor
Essential
* Practical experience of archaeological fieldwork within the UK (minimum of 2 years)
* Awareness of the application of various geoarchaeological strategies to site prospection and evaluation along with relevant industry guidance
* Awareness of commercial archaeology within the planning process
* Awareness of Quaternary geology, chronostratigraphy, environments of deposition and site formulation processes
* Some practical experience of geoarchaeological fieldwork (e.g. borehole or auger surveys, sampling, recording and interpretation of natural sediment sequences)
* Demonstrable IT aptitude and data processing and/or report writing skills
* Excellent time management and problem‑solving skills
* Enthusiasm for community engagement
* A full driving licence and the ability to drive OA company vehicles
Desirable
* A degree in archaeology, geoarchaeology or a related earth science discipline
* Experience supervising other staff in the field, working according to WSIs and Health and Safety documentation, under a Supervisor or Project Officer
* Experience working in estuarine, alluvial and other wetland environments
* Archaeological experience beyond geoarchaeology and fieldwork, such as palaeoenvironmental sample processing or artefact studies
Supervisor
Essential
* Substantial experience of archaeological fieldwork within the UK
* Developing knowledge of geoarchaeological strategies for site prospection and evaluation with industry guidance
* Developing knowledge of commercial archaeology within the planning process
* Broad knowledge of Quaternary geology, chronostratigraphy, environments of deposition and site formation processes
* Substantial experience of borehole and auger surveys and supervising GI works
* Substantial practical experience of geoarchaeological field and lab methods including sampling, detailed sediment recording and interpretation
* Experience supervising teams in the field, working according to WSIs and Health and Safety documentation under a Project Officer, Senior Geoarchaeologist or Project Manager
* Demonstrable IT aptitude and report writing skills
* Excellent time management and problem‑solving skills
* Enthusiasm for community engagement
* A full driving licence and the ability to drive OA company vehicles
Desirable
* A postgraduate qualification in geoarchaeology or a related earth science discipline
* Practical experience of deposit modelling and use of software such as Rockworks and GIS
* Experience working in estuarine, alluvial and other wetland environments
* Archaeological experience beyond geoarchaeology and fieldwork, such as palaeoenvironmental sample processing or artefact studies
Project Officer
Essential
* Extensive practical experience of archaeological fieldwork within the UK
* In‑depth knowledge of geoarchaeological strategies for site prospection and evaluation with industry guidance
* In‑depth knowledge of commercial archaeology within the planning process
* Thorough knowledge of Quaternary geology, chronostratigraphy, environments of deposition and site formation processes
* Experience working in estuarine, alluvial and other wetland environments
* Experience supervising medium‑ to large‑scale borehole and auger surveys and GI works, including assessment, analysis and reporting
* Extensive experience of geoarchaeological field and lab methods including detailed sediment recording, interpretation, integration of palaeoenvironmental proxy data and scientific dating techniques
* A postgraduate qualification in geoarchaeology or a related earth science discipline
* Specialisation in one or more sub‑disciplines (e.g. geomorphology, deposit modelling, remote sensing, palaeohydrology or micromorphology)
* Considerable experience supervising teams in the field and working according to WSIs and Health and Safety documentation under senior leadership
* Demonstrable IT aptitude and strong report writing skills
* Effective communication skills, ability to contribute to team meetings and liaise with colleagues, external specialists, contractors and stakeholders
* Excellent time management and problem‑solving skills; ability to meet project deadlines and budgets
* Experience training and mentoring less‑experienced staff
* Enthusiasm for community engagement
* A full driving licence and the ability to drive OA company vehicles
Desirable
* Competence in deposit modelling and use of Rockworks and GIS
* Experience on large infrastructure projects and data sets
* Experience of working on Pleistocene sequences and Palaeolithic archaeology
* Specialist skills or experience beyond geoarchaeology, including contributions to DBAs, fieldwork, PX reports, palaeoenvironmental or finds specialisms
* A publication record and active involvement in the research community
Employee Benefits
* Competitive salary range; appointments based on demonstrated ability, experience and CIfA membership where appropriate
* A company pension scheme with 6% employer contributions; 10 years of employment or managerial roles gain access to the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
* Opportunities for career progression including placements and specialist training across the business (finds, environmental, archives, post‑excavation, burials, community engagement, heritage management, historic buildings, geomatics, geoarchaeology and contracts)
* Generous annual leave from 21 days plus 3 concessionary days between Christmas and New Year (public holidays excluded)
* Subsistence payment of £23.50 per night (tax‑free) and free accommodation for away‑based projects
* Paid travel time for journeys longer than one hour from the office and free transport from regional offices to sites
* Driving time supplement of £2.50 per hour for operational drivers travelling between depot and field sites
* 100% coverage of CIfA subscription fees
* Free high‑quality personal protective equipment (including breathable waterproofs and fleece)
* Comprehensive employee welfare policies (AXA Health Employee Assistance Programme, paid sick leave, mental health first aiders, personal accident insurance)
* Cycle to work scheme
* Free DSE eye test with voucher toward VDU‑only glasses via Specsavers where required
Please contact in complete confidence liz.stafford@oxfordarchaeology.com
Closing Date: Sunday 14th June 2026
Applications will be considered upon receipt; interviews will take place either on Teams or at Janus House, Oxford, OX20ES from the week commencing 22nd June 2026.
Equal Opportunity Statement
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, as set out by UK Visa and Immigration – https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-visas-and-immigration
Registered Charity No. 285627; Company Registration No. 1618597
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