We champion historic places, helping people understand, value, and care for them. We have a fantastic opportunity for you to join us as our Heritage at Risk Project Officer as part of our Partnerships Team.
Our Partnerships Teams work with internal and external partners on projects and programs to enhance the historic environment and to increase knowledge and appreciation of our heritage.
In the delivery of our corporate objectives within the regions, we will use our expertise in advocacy and engagement, research, grant-giving, and project management in flexible, creative ways to build partner capacity and conservation skills, address heritage at risk, improve historic places, and widen public engagement.
We will ensure maximum public value in our work and strive for transformational and sustainable regeneration that builds inclusively on the historic identities and strengths of places and their communities.
Heritage at Risk
Our Heritage at Risk program helps us to understand the overall state of England's historic sites. The program identifies those sites that are most at risk of being lost as a result of neglect, decay, or inappropriate development.
Heritage at Risk sites can come in many forms, from buildings and structures to visible earthworks and less visible buried archaeological remains. Our Regional teams have a specific focus on reducing local heritage at risk and use the outcomes of research and the annual Heritage at Risk Register to help prioritize where we focus our time and funding.
As a Heritage at Risk Project Officer, you will be required to engage with and support heritage at risk site owners, to identify and understand what repair or conservation works are needed and advise as to potential grant funding opportunities.
You will also be required to work closely with your regional team and partners such as the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Natural England, to find solutions that work for both owners and the historic environment.
To support the delivery of the Corporate Plan and other national and local priority objectives, such as those outlined in Group and Regional plans, places strategies, Heritage at Risk strategies, as agreed with line management.
To be an effective advocate for the conservation of heritage assets and heritage-led regeneration, and its benefits to place-shaping, economic vitality, and well-being.
To be a proactive and collaborative member of the East Region’s Partnerships team and to assist with the development and management of projects that require cross‑team and inter-department working.
To work proactively, constructively, and creatively with owners, local authorities, statutory bodies, civic and building preservation trusts, voluntary groups, developers, and funding bodies, etc., to promote sustainable and viable futures for historic buildings and sites which are at risk; and advise and implement strategic and project-based solutions.
To work closely with funding bodies such as the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Architectural Heritage Fund, Natural England, etc., to identify sources of grant aid for HAR assets and encourage and facilitate applications for support.
To use our local and national resources such as grants, specialist advice, and project management experience to achieve a long-term reduction in the threat to designated heritage assets. To work with owners, Local Authorities, and voluntary groups to monitor the condition of HAR assets and encourage their consolidation, repair, and reuse.
To support the maintenance of the local HAR database (Heritage Asset Management Database) and HAR Register using information obtained either directly by us or by suitably informed partners and volunteers, or through remote methods such as aerial photography.
To support colleagues and help sector partners to develop and build capacity to tackle Heritage at Risk.
To assist local authorities and Development Advice colleagues with respect to enforcement (Urgent Works Notices, Repairs Notices, Scheduled Monument legislation, etc.) as agreed with the Team Leader and in liaison with HE legal advisers and police.
To give specialist advice on project planning, recording, archaeological evaluation/assessment, and/or building analysis and other investigations leading to repair and better management of heritage assets.
To undertake any other reasonable duties commensurate with the grade and competencies required of the post requested by line management.
requires regular travel to sites including those not serviced by public transport
may require visiting and inspecting sites in poor condition and under repair, which is likely to require climbing scaffolding and negotiating heights and confined spaces (for example, church roofs)
will require occasional attendance at community meetings which are usually held at evenings or weekends.
A working knowledge of the historic environment and its assets.
Experience of working constructively with owners and other partners as a practitioner in the repair and management of heritage assets.
Research and report writing experience.
We are an equal opportunity employer which values diversity and inclusion. If you have a disability or neurodiversity, we would be happy to discuss reasonable adjustments to the job with you. Having just won the Gold Award from MIND, we also recognize the importance of a healthy work-life balance.
We are an inclusive employer and believe that flexible working options are for everyone. We also want to provide you with the best balance in your home and work life that we can.
We are open to considering options including job sharing, part-time working, compressed hours working, and different working locations, including hybrid working.