Senior Archaeologist (NSW)

Jacobs; Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 100,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Diverse project experiences

Cross-discipline exposure

End-to-end involvement

Flexible work options

Parental leave

Job summary

Jacobs Heritage ANZ is seeking a Senior Archaeologist to lead Aboriginal heritage projects across New South Wales from our Sydney office. You will guide fieldwork, produce expert assessments, and mentor junior staff within a multidisciplinary team.

You'll collaborate with clients, Traditional Owners, and regulatory bodies, delivering high-quality heritage reports and impactful advice throughout project lifecycles, while advancing your career within a globally connected, inclusive workplace.

Qualifications

• Honours or postgraduate degree in archaeology, heritage management, or related discipline.
• 5+ years’ consulting experience focusing on Aboriginal heritage in NSW (additional experience outside NSW or in historical heritage is advantageous).
• Demonstrated knowledge of State and Commonwealth heritage legislation, regulations and guidelines.
• Extensive experience leading medium and large Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Archaeological Reports.
• Strong research, fieldwork, and site analysis capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of heritage reports and assessments including NSW Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Archaeological Reports and related inputs.
• Provide technical leadership and mentoring to junior staff; continue to learn from senior team members.
• Contribute to project portfolios and proposal development for key clients.
• Foster a positive team environment and support knowledge sharing and continuous improvement.

Skills

Technical writing

Lithic artefact identification

Verbal communication

Collaborative approach

Project management

Education

Honours or postgraduate degree in archaeology/heritage management

Job description

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Your impact

We are looking for an experienced Senior Archaeologist with a passion for finding heritage-positive solutions. With a strong pipeline of work across Australia, and particularly in New South Wales, we are seeking a Senior Archaeologist to join our team in Sydney/regional NSW in a permanent role.

Our Jacobs Heritage ANZ team brings together experienced consultants working across Australia in Aboriginal archaeology, historical archaeology, maritime and underwater archaeology, interpretation, and built heritage.

With one of the largest heritage teams in Australia, you’ll be surrounded by a highly experienced cohort of senior professionals who are invested in your growth. Whether you're mentoring juniors or looking for mentorship yourself, this is a place to develop.

We work with federal, state and local government agencies, infrastructure owners, and private sector clients across key Australian markets transport, water, environment, energy, defence, and the built environment; delivering integrated solutions from strategy and design through to delivery and operations. We provide heritage advice across many different stages in a project lifecycle – from business case inputs and early design phase considerations, to undertaking assessments for heritage approvals and providing construction phase support. We love that we have the opportunity to take a phased risk identification approach to our heritage advice and can work collaboratively in a multi-disciplinary team to find solutions that take heritage values, our clients and key stakeholders into consideration.

The role will work collaboratively with a range of disciplines within Jacobs, the client and other stakeholders, including fostering relationships with Traditional Owners and Registered Aboriginal Parties.

The role will also play a key role in identifying, sourcing and winning opportunities by building strong relationships with clients and leading and/ or writing proposals.

Benefits

• Diverse and complex project experiences
• Cross-discipline exposure
• End-to-end project involvement
• Real cross-border project experience
• We support flexible ways of working and offer options to help people manage their professional and personal commitments
• Parental leave and salary continuance support
• Access to a global network

…then this is the place to broaden your expertise, deepen your impact and build a career that evolves with you.

Here's what you'll need

• Appropriate qualifications and experience to lead fieldwork in accordance with the Code of Practice.
• An Honours or postgraduate degree in archaeology, heritage management, or a related discipline
• 5+ years’ consulting experience, with a strong focus on Aboriginal heritage in New South Wales (additional experience outside New South Wales and/or in historical heritage is advantageous)
• Demonstrated knowledge of State and Commonwealth heritage legislation, associated regulations, and guidelines
• Extensive experience leading medium and large complex Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Archaeological Reports
• Strong research, fieldwork, and site analysis capabilities

Skills & Capabilities

• Excellent technical writing and reporting skills, with the ability to produce clear, high-quality heritage assessments
• Good lithic artefact identification and recording skills
• Strong verbal communication and stakeholder engagement skills
• A highly collaborative approach, with the ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams
• Proven ability to manage heritage projects to deliver on time, within budget, and to a high standard

Key Responsibilities

• Take ownership of the preparation of heritage reports and assessments including NSW Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Archaeological Reports, Aboriginal Archaeological Report, Aboriginal Heritage Impact Permit and heritage inputs into Review of Environmental Factors and Environmental Impact Statements
• Provide technical leadership and mentoring to junior staff where appropriate; while continuing to learn from senior team members.
• Contribute to, and where appropriate lead, project portfolios and proposal development for key clients
• Contribute to a positive team environment and support knowledge sharing and continuous improvement

Don't meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people from marginalised or underrepresented backgrounds are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every qualification. At Jacobs, we're dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't align with every requirement in the job description, you may be the right candidate for this or other roles.

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With safety and flexibility always top of mind, we’ve gone beyond traditional ways of working so you have the support, means and space to maximize your potential. You’ll uncover flexible working arrangements, benefits and opportunities, from well-being benefits to our global giving and volunteering program, to exploring new and inventive ways to help our clients make the world a better place. No matter what drives you, you’ll discover how you can cultivate, nurture and achieve your goals – all at a single global company. Find out more about life at Jacobs here.

We aim to embed inclusion and belonging in everything we do. We know that if we are inclusive, we’re more connected and creative. We accept people for who they are, and we champion the richness of diverse perspectives, lived experiences and backgrounds in the workplace, as a source of learning and innovation. We are committed to building vibrant communities within Jacobs, including through our Jacobs Employee Networks, Communities of Practice and our Find Your Community initiatives, allowing every employee to find connection, purpose, and belonging. Find out more about ourJacobs Employee Networks here.

Our meticulously curated employee benefits support ALL employees throughout every stage of life. From paid parental leave to a lifetime financial allowance for you and your partner to access family forming Fertility & IVF treatment, adoption and surrogacy assistance along with menopause and Low T treatment.

We are steadfast in our commitment to the wellbeing of you and your loved ones with a comprehensive suite of wellbeing resources supporting you physically, emotionally and financially. This is demonstrated in our company being recognised by WGEA for 12 consecutive years as an employer of choice for gender equality along with our industry leading GOLD employer status by the Australian Workplace Equality Index.

Cultural Support

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are strongly encouraged to apply. Jacobs aims to provide cultural safety at our interviews. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are invited to nominate a cultural representative to participate on the interview panel; please let your recruiter know in your application. No matter what drives you, you'll discover a way to cultivate, nurture and achieve your goals – all at a single global company.

We value collaboration and believe that in-person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.

Your application experience is important to us, and we’re keen to adapt to make every interaction even better. If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process (for example, you require the application form in a different format), please contact the team via Careers Support.