Principal Heritage Specialist

AECOM; Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work arrangements

Up to 6 weeks additional annual leave

Public holidays swap option

Professional development support

Job summary

AECOM in Melbourne seeks an experienced Principal Heritage Consultant to lead the establishment and growth of our Heritage Practice in Victoria. You will guide delivery of heritage projects across the state while collaborating with a national heritage team.

You will shape the Melbourne heritage capability, build client relationships, and contribute to major infrastructure and environmental projects with technical leadership on heritage assessments and approvals.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience delivering cultural heritage assessments in Aboriginal and/or historical heritage based on solid understanding of State and Commonwealth heritage legislation and approval pathways.
• High performance standards for desktop assessments and field surveys, showcasing data quality and digital innovation.
• Strong heritage report writing skills, high attention to detail and a clear commitment to producing quality, defensible outputs.
• Demonstrated ability to build effective working relationships with Traditional Owners, regulators, clients and multidisciplinary project teams.
• Business development and client management skills, with experience identifying opportunities and growing project pipelines.
• A minimum of an Honours degree in cultural heritage management. Registered Heritage Advisor (Victoria) is desirable.
• Current manual C-Class Australian driver licence, willingness to travel for field work, and Australian citizenship to meet Defence project requirements.

Responsibilities

• Manage and deliver Aboriginal and historical heritage projects throughout Victoria, including technical oversight, and client engagement.
• Collaborate with AECOM's national Heritage team, contributing specialist expertise and supporting the delivery of major projects across Australia
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, Traditional Owners, regulators, government agencies and industry stakeholders.
• Provide technical leadership for heritage assessments, management plans, due diligence studies and heritage approval processes.
• Drive business development activities including proposal preparation, client engagement, market positioning and strategic planning.
• Prepare desktop assessments including background research, data review and heritage value identification.
• Complete safe field surveys to locate, record and assess Aboriginal and historical heritage places and objects.
• Deliver accurate, fit for purpose technical reports aligned with client needs and approval pathways.
• Work closely with communities, regulators and project teams to support practical, respectful heritage outcomes.

Skills

Heritage assessments

Client engagement

Business development

Team leadership

Stakeholder management

Education

Honours degree

Job description

Company Description

Work with Us. Change the World.

At AECOM, we're delivering a better world. Whether improving your commute, keeping the lights on, providing access to clean water, or transforming skylines, our work helps people and communities thrive. We are the world's trusted infrastructure consulting firm, partnering with clients to solve the world's most complex challenges and build legacies for future generations.

There has never been a better time to be at AECOM. With accelerating infrastructure investment worldwide, our services are in great demand. We invite you to bring your bold ideas and big dreams and become part of a global team of over 50,000 planners, designers, engineers, scientists, digital innovators, program and construction managers and other professionals delivering projects that create a positive and tangible impact around the world.

We're one global team driven by our common purpose to deliver a better world. Join us.

Job Description

Come grow with us.

AECOM's environmental practice is dedicated to helping industries, clients and governments meet their environmental responsibilities while protecting the natural environment. We provide advisory and technical services to ensure compliance, manage impacts, and reduce risks, including obtaining permits and approvals, decommissioning and restoring contaminated sites, and tackling climate change challenges and resilience. We focus on preserving habitats, water quality, stakeholder engagement and cultural resources, promoting a holistic approach to environmental impact management at every project stage.

Join us in shaping and growing our Heritage Practice in Melbourne

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Principal Heritage Consultant to lead the establishment and growth of our Heritage Practice in Melbourne. This is a unique opportunity for a heritage professional with strong technical expertise, leadership capability and a passion for building client relationships to help create and grow a heritage offering within a well-established multidisciplinary environment.

Based in Melbourne, you will lead the delivery of heritage projects across Victoria while also working as an integral member of our national Heritage team. You will collaborate closely with heritage specialists across Australia, drawing on the strength of a nationally connected practice while developing a strong local presence and project pipeline within Victoria.

This role offers the opportunity to support major infrastructure, energy, Defence, transport, property and environmental projects, providing technical leadership on both Victorian and national projects. You will help shape the future of our Melbourne heritage capability while contributing to the continued success and growth of our broader Australian Heritage business.

We offer our clients expertise in Aboriginal and historical heritage management, impact assessments, due diligence, heritage approvals, consultation, excavation and salvage programs, and strategic heritage advice.

How you'll make a difference

• Manage and deliver Aboriginal and historical heritage projects throughout Victoria, including technical oversight, and client engagement.
• Collaborate with AECOM's national Heritage team, contributing specialist expertise and supporting the delivery of major projects across Australia
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, Traditional Owners, regulators, government agencies and industry stakeholders.
• Provide technical leadership for heritage assessments, management plans, due diligence studies and heritage approval processes.
• Drive business development activities including proposal preparation, client engagement, market positioning and strategic planning.
• Prepare desktop assessments including background research, data review and heritage value identification.
• Complete safe field surveys to locate, record and assess Aboriginal and historical heritage places and objects.
• Deliver accurate, fit for purpose technical reports aligned with client needs and approval pathways.
• Work closely with communities, regulators and project teams to support practical, respectful heritage outcomes.

Qualifications

The qualities that help you thrive

The following qualifications and experience are highly desired, but if you don't tick all the boxes you could still be a perfect fit for this role.

• Demonstrated experience delivering cultural heritage assessments in Aboriginal and/or historical heritage based on solid understanding of State and Commonwealth heritage legislation and approval pathways.
• High performance standards for desktop assessments and field surveys, showcasing data quality and digital innovation.
• Strong heritage report writing skills, high attention to detail and a clear commitment to producing quality, defensible outputs.
• Demonstrated ability to build effective working relationships with Traditional Owners, regulators, clients and multidisciplinary project teams.
• Business development and client management skills, with experience identifying opportunities and growing project pipelines.
• A minimum of an Honours degree in cultural heritage management, archaeology, anthropology or a related discipline. Registered Heritage Advisor (Victoria) is desirable.
• Current manual C-Class Australian driver licence, willingness to travel for field work, and Australian citizenship to meet Defence project requirements.

Additional Information

Why you'll love working with us

• Flexible work arrangements, including alternative start/finish times, job-sharing and hybrid work options
• Purchase up to 6 weeks additional annual leave per year
• Swap public holidays - swap Easter or other holidays for ones that suit you better
• Continuous learning and growth - lunch and learns, professional development courses, financial study assistance, 5 days paid study leave