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Job description

Summary

Historic England are excited to be seeking a Trainee Aerial Survey Investigator (Reconnaissance) to join their Archaeological Investigation team as part of the National Specialist services. This post offers a rare opportunity to join our Aerial Survey team, a national team of aerial archaeology specialists based in York and Swindon who deliver high quality research for Historic England. The successful candidate will work alongside and build relationships with specialists in landscape survey, geophysics, archaeological excavation and archaeological archives.

What you will be doing:

The successful candidate to this post will be involved in discovering and photographing archaeological sites from a light aircraft, as well as aerial photography of rural and urban landscapes, and buildings. You will be trained in how to identify archaeological remains from the air, and take aerial photographs using handheld and fixed cameras for a variety of uses. This will include desk-based mapping and interpretation, condition monitoring and illustration. Your work will help colleagues with a better knowledge of the historic environment and inform its protection and management.

You have the opportunity to learn how to prepare aerial photographs for deposition in the nationally important Historic England Archive. All your photographs will become accessible to the general public and heritage professionals via the Aerial Photograph Explorer.

In addition to this, you will gather, analyse and interpret research material on archaeological, and more rarely architectural, sites and landscapes and disseminate the findings to engage a range of audiences. Working with other members of the Aerial Survey team, you will participate in developing methodological, technical and sector developments that deserve consideration in maintaining state-of-the-art research in aerial archaeological survey.

The post holder will be required to work in a small light aircraft with potentially long working days, in a hot or cold, cramped, fast moving environment.

What our Emerging Talent Programme offers:

The successful candidate will enter our Emerging Talent Programme, starting with a 6-month period of full-time on the job training. Subject to availability, from September 2023 you will be enrolled on a 3-year Level 7 Archaeological Specialist (degree) apprenticeship, with the possibility of a permanent opportunity. As part of this qualification, you will be given one day a week (20% of your time) to undertake an MA in Archaeological Practice delivered with our training partners University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD). The remaining 80% of your time will be continued on the job training. Alternatively, if this programme does not run, you will be placed on a 3-year internal development programme within Historic England.

As a Trainee Aerial Survey Investigator (Reconnaissance), you will be primarily be hosted by the Aerial Survey team. However, over the course of your training period you will spend dedicated times with all the teams in the Archaeological Investigation team in York, Swindon and Portsmouth and the Historic England Archive.

You will be supervised by a line manager for your day-to-day role and coached by a learning mentor. You will also receive assistance and guidance from all the teams in Archaeological Investigation; particularly when on placement with another team. If enrolled on the apprenticeship programme, you will receive help from the tutors and a workplace reviewer from UWTSD. You will be encouraged to have regular contact with other apprentices to share your experiences and encourage each other through networking events throughout your apprenticeship.

What experience will you gain:

In this role you will learn from experienced archaeologists who specialise in aerial reconnaissance, mapping and aerial photograph interpretation. You will also work closely with a team of commercial pilots who are not archaeological professionals. At work the experience you will gain on the job will include but will not be limited to:

• The knowledge and skills to identify archaeological sites and landscapes from the air.

• Planning and executing an aerial survey flight that includes taking oblique photographs with handheld cameras from the side of the aircraft and the setting up and monitoring of a fixed vertical camera.

• Taking photographs of archaeological sites, historic buildings, parks and gardens and landscapes for a variety of purposes including mapping, site condition monitoring and illustration.

• Familiarity with archaeological landscapes from the air across the north of England from Birmingham to the Scottish border.

• Training in handling the controls of the aircraft from take-off to landing from a qualified instructor. This will allow you to become familiar with key aircraft instruments, aviation charts, airspace rules, aviation terminology and health and safety.

• Preparing the photographs, you take for archiving to defined standards and deposition in the Historic England Archive and using the photographs you take, alongside archive photographs and lidar, for mapping and monument recording to Aerial Investigation and Mapping Standards in GIS.

• Using Structure from Motion software to create orthophotos, digital surface models and manipulating the results to create a variety of visualisations.

• Contributing to publications and outreach in a range of formats including research reports, articles, social media and events.

Travel

You will be expected to drive to Sherburn-in-Elmet airfield when undertaking flying duties.

As part of your training you will occasionally accompany colleagues on site visits. In the first few months of your training period you will visit other Historic England offices, especially the Swindon office which will require a couple of overnight stays. All travel and subsistence costs for work and training purposes will be paid for by Historic England. When traveling by car you will have access to either a lease vehicle or hire car and meet all the necessary requirements of the Historic England Driver Handbook.

You will be expected to live within a commutable distance of the HE York office and the airfield at Sherburn-in-Elmet, ideally less than one hour’s drive.

Who we are looking for:

• A high standard academic qualification or professional experience in archaeology or a related subject

• You will need to hold a full valid UK driver’s license (please note we can discuss reasonable adjustments if required)

• You will have a passion for and a good knowledge of British landscape archaeology

• You should be able to demonstrate a knowledge of the principal uses of aerial photographs and lidar in a range of environments

• You will have the ability to cope with the rigours of reconnaissance duties that will at times require the post holder to work long days, in a hot or cold, cramped, fast moving environment

• You will demonstrate good advocacy and verbal/written communication skills

• You will show an ability to use a stereoscope to view aerial photographs. This will be tested at first interview stage.

Strengths you will demonstrate:

• Hard working - you always seek to put in the required effort and strive for the highest quality of work

• Discovery - you love finding out new things and developing yourself

• Accuracy – you enjoy focusing on the details and working within defined boundaries

Why work for Historic England

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 recognise the importance of a healthy work-life balance.

We are an inclusive employer and believe that flexible working options are for everyone. We want to make sure our working arrangements don’t prevent anyone from joining us because of their personal circumstances. 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. Please visit our jobs pages or contact us to find out more.

We are committed to promoting equality of opportunity for everyone. Diversity helps us to perform better and attract more people to support our work. We welcome and encourage job applications from people of all backgrounds.

We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates and candidates with disabilities as they are underrepresented within Historic England at this level.

We offer a wide benefits package including a competitive pension scheme starting at 26% contributions, a generous 28 days holiday, corporate discounts, free entry into English Heritage sites across the country and development opportunities to ensure you achieve your goals.

Closing date for applications: Midday Thursday 9th February
Interviews will take place on: Thursday 23rd February and Friday 24th
Stage 2 Interview - Flight Test at Sherburn In Elmet airfield: provisionally week commencing 27th February or 6th March.

Job Types: Full-time, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 36 months

Salary: £24,650.00 per year

Benefits:

• Company pension
• Employee discount
• Free parking
• Store discount
• Work from home

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Ability to commute/relocate:

• YORK: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

Licence/Certification:

• CSCS (preferred)
• Driving Licence (preferred)

Work Location: One location