Assistant Heritage Officer (Fixed-term contract)

South Oxfordshire and Vale District Council; Abingdon; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Southandvale Council is seeking a Conservation Planning Advisor to support the historic environment team in Abingdon. You will provide expert guidance on listed buildings and conservation issues, ensuring high quality planning outcomes.

We value flexible hours and a strong customer focus, with opportunities to engage with local communities and contribute to conservation area appraisals and policy development. Applicants must have relevant degree or equivalent experience.

Qualifications

• A degree or diploma in Historic Building Conservation or a relevant discipline.
• Or studying for a degree and/or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

• Respond to telephone and email enquiries about the historic environment and listed building issues.
• Lead on conservation area character appraisals and management plans, including fieldwork, research, and drafting texts and maps.
• Support and monitor local groups with their character appraisal work.
• Assist with specialist advice on listed building consent applications.
• Keep up to date with new legislation and guidance on conservation and built environment design, including appeals and case law.

Skills

Communication

Research

Education

Historic Building Conservation degree

Job description

About The Role

Why join us

We believe in putting our people first – we work hard every day to make sure everyone can achieve a healthy and enjoyable work‑life‑balance. That is why we have a very flexible hours system.

We are seen as being customer focused, approachable and business‑like. We are honest and open and are renowned for providing high quality cost‑effective service.

About the role

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Specialist Team within a busy Planning Service dealing with a range of aspects related to the conservation of the historic environment and listed buildings and provide effective professional advice on listed buildings and conservation issues for the councils.

Essential criteria for the role

• A degree or diploma in Historic Building Conservation or a relevant discipline, or studying for a degree level qualification and/or equivalent level of experience

Key responsibilities for the role

• Respond to telephone and email enquiries related to the historic environment and listed building issues
• Lead on the preparation of conservation area character appraisals and management plans, involving fieldwork, documentary research and the compilation of draft texts and maps
• Support and monitor local interest groups with their character appraisal work
• Assist with specialist advice on applications for listed building consent
• To keep abreast of new legislation and guidance relevant to conservation and design of the built environment as well as the interpretation of it in appeals and case law

A full list of the duties this role provides, as well as the benefits we offer, can be found within the job description.

Please note that we do not hold a sponsor licence and are unable to support visa applications. To be considered for this role, you must already have the legal right to work in the UK. If you are unsure about your eligibility, please refer to the UK Government’s guidance before applying.

Thank you for taking the time to read our advert, we look forward to receiving your application.