6 Week Placement - Marine Data Assistant

Historic England; Cambridge; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Part time

Job summary

An organisation focused on heritage is offering a 6-week paid placement as a Marine Data Assistant based in Cambridge. The role involves assisting with the management and analysis of marine archaeological data. Candidates should have an interest in history and the sea and a willingness to learn new skills. This position provides on-the-job training, supports personal skills development, and offers a hybrid working arrangement combining in-office and remote work. The provisional interview date is set for the week of 12th January 2026.

Qualifications

• Interest in history, heritage, and the sea.
• Willingness to learn practical new skills like working with spreadsheets and databases.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the audit and handling of marine development-led archaeology data.
• Support the upload and deposition of data into the MDE and Marine HER.
• Explore the data to engage different audiences.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues and the MDE team.
• Contribute to project reports and public engagement content.

Job description

Summary

We are the public body that looks after England’s historic environment. We champion historic places, helping people understand, value and care for them.

Historic England have a fantastic opportunity for you to join us as a Marine Data Assistant (6 week placement).

This is a 6 week paid placement funded by Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority. We offer hybrid working where you are based in the Cambridge office and from home.

As part of the funding agreement with Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority to be eligible for this placement you must be aged 22 years or over and live in Cambridgeshire. You will be required to start at the end of January 2026 due to funding restrictions this date cannot be moved.

About this role

The Marine Data Exchange (MDE) Heritage Accelerator project is a significant, innovative project on heritage information generated by marine development, funded through the Crown Estate’s Offshore Wind Evidence & Change (OWEC) programme.

The project team, based within Historic England’s Policy & Evidence Department, is making information about heritage on the seabed more accessible. When offshore wind farms and other forms of marine development are being planned and constructed, the results of geophysical and geotechnical surveys are used to provide information about heritage. Although very detailed, this information is not easy to reuse. This project will recapture heritage information from seabed surveys over the past 20 years and transfer it into archives and records within the Crown Estate’s Marine Data Exchange (MDE) and Historic England’s Marine Historic Environment Record (Marine HER) where it can be more easily discovered and explored.

This work-based placement will give you the opportunity to gain the experience and skills it takes to become a key member of any project team, including computer literacy, data analysis, communication and team working. It will also enable you to learn more about offshore industries, seabed surveys and marine heritage.

What will you be doing?

You will be helping to deliver project objectives by assisting in the audit and handling of data created by marine development-led archaeology and the progress of its incorporation into the MDE and the Marine HER.

An interest in history, heritage and the sea, along with a willingness to learn practical new skills, such as working with spreadsheets and databases, will help you in this role.

Main duties and responsibilities will include:

• Supporting the upload and deposition of data into the MDE and Marine HER.
• Exploring the data to draw out stories to engage different audiences.
• Working collaboratively with HE colleagues and the Crown Estate’s MDE team to ensure the smooth flow of data.
• Participating in project-related meetings and events as required, including contributing to discussions about project issues.
• Contributing to project reports, publications and content for public engagement to help deliver the project Stakeholder Engagement Plan.

This is an outline description of the duties and responsibilities involved in the job. It is not exhaustive and may be revised from time-to-time.

Skills development

You will receive on the job training from an experienced team member, and you will be supported by your host team and by the Early Careers Team.

Behaviours we are looking for

We do not require a specific set of skills or experience to undertake this placement role, however you will be expected to be able to demonstrate the following key behaviours:

• Adaptable - You can find the best fit for your needs and can change your workflow to meet demands
• Communication - You enjoy actively listening and questioning where necessary
• Detail - You focus on the small details to ensure accuracy & can work to defined boundaries
• Problem Solving - You enjoy analysing situations and investigating practical solutions

Historic England is committed to providing equality of opportunity. If you have a disability, we would be happy to discuss reasonable adjustments to the job with you.

Provisional interview date

w/c 12th January 2026