Principal Archaeological Consultant; Built Heritage

Principal Archaeological Consultant (Built Heritage)

Final date to receive applications: 2 October 2026

Department: Consultancy

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Manchester

Compensation: £49,280 - £55,956 / year

Locations
:
Hereford, Manchester, Helsby, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Silsoe, Cleckheaton.

Contract Type
:
Permanent, subject to 6-month probation period

Closing Date
: 5pm 2nd of October 2026.

Headland Archaeology is offering an opportunity for an experienced and motivated consultant to join our Team.

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.

The Headland Archaeology Consultancy Team prides itself on offering independent excellent technical advice to clients and colleagues rooted in years of experience in the sector. We tell clients what they need to know, rather than what they want to hear.

With offices in England and Scotland, we offer our employees:

• Unique knowledge and expertise. For the past 30 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.17000 employees and c.230 environmentally lead companies.

We are looking to appoint an experienced Built Heritage specialist at Principal level to lead and develop Headland Archaeology’s Historic Building Recording and buildings archaeology capability.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced buildings archaeologist, architectural historian or built heritage professional to take technical leadership of a growing area of our consultancy work and contribute to some of the UK’s most significant heritage and infrastructure projects.

The successful candidate will lead the investigation, recording, analysis and interpretation of historic buildings and places, working from initial research and project design through field investigation, assessment, analysis, reporting and publication.

You will work closely with colleagues across Headland’s Consultancy team and the wider RSK Group, alongside archaeologists, built heritage specialists, landscape specialists and other environmental disciplines. You will also engage directly with clients, Conservation Officers, statutory consultees, academics and other specialist contributors.

As a Principal-level appointment, you will provide technical leadership and quality assurance, manage complex projects and programmes of work, mentor and develop junior colleagues and help shape the future development of Headland’s Historic Building Recording service.

An important part of the role will be supporting the development of our graduate and early-career Built Heritage staff, sharing your expertise and helping build a strong and sustainable buildings archaeology specialism within the wider team.

You will lead and contribute to a varied portfolio of Historic Building Recording and Built Heritage projects. Responsibilities will include:

• Leading historic Building Recording and buildings archaeology projects from initial scoping and project design through investigation, analysis, reporting, publication and archive.
• Investigating and…