Heritage Consultant

Ocean to Earth Recruitment is working with an established independent planning and heritage consultancy looking to grow its heritage team in Buckinghamshire.

This is an excellent opportunity for a Heritage Consultant who enjoys the technical side of heritage but also wants to be closely involved in the wider planning process. You will work alongside experienced planners and heritage specialists, advising clients on how development can move forward while properly understanding and protecting the significance of historic places.

The team offers a smaller, collaborative consultancy environment, where you can build strong relationships with colleagues and clients and have good visibility across the projects you work on.

The role

You will manage a varied portfolio of heritage projects across residential, commercial, leisure and mixed-use development, working with private developers, landowners and public sector clients.

Your work will include:

• Preparing Heritage Statements, Archaeological Desk-Based Assessments and Heritage Impact Assessments

• Assessing the significance of listed buildings, conservation areas, historic landscapes and other heritage assets

• Advising on heritage legislation, planning policy and conservation best practice

• Working alongside planners, architects, developers and local authorities

• Providing heritage input into planning applications and development proposals

• Supporting planning appeals where required

• Developing practical solutions that balance heritage considerations with development objectives

• Building relationships with clients and stakeholders

• Supporting and mentoring more junior colleagues as your experience allows

There is plenty of variety, with the opportunity to become involved in projects from an early stage rather than providing heritage advice in isolation.

What we're looking for

You are likely to have professional experience within heritage consultancy, planning consultancy, a local authority or a related environment.

You should be comfortable researching and assessing heritage significance, preparing high-quality written reports and interpreting relevant planning policy and legislation.

Just as importantly, you will enjoy communicating your findings clearly to clients and other professionals and working collaboratively to find practical solutions.

Experience relating to listed buildings, conservation areas, archaeology, built heritage or planning applications would all be relevant.

Membership of IHBC or CIfA would be welcomed, although candidates working towards professional accreditation will also be considered.

Why consider this opportunity?

This role could particularly suit someone who wants to join a close-knit consultancy where heritage and planning work genuinely overlap.

Rather than working within a large standalone heritage department, you will collaborate closely with planning colleagues and gain a broader understanding of how heritage advice influences the development process.

There is also room to develop the position around your experience and ambitions. Whether you want to strengthen your technical expertise, gain greater project ownership, broaden your client exposure or progress within a growing heritage team, there is scope to do so.

The opportunity includes hybrid and flexible working, ongoing professional development, support towards professional memberships and a wider benefits package.

Both full-time and part-time applications will be considered.

If you are passionate about the historic environment and would value a role combining technical heritage work, planning collaboration and genuine career development, we'd be very happy to hear from you.

Interested? Apply through Environment.jobs or contact Lauren Whinton at Ocean to Earth Recruitment for a confidential conversation.

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