Project Manager & Remote Sensing Digital Data Co-ordinator South Asia [Temporary Cover]

University of Cambridge; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

The McDonald Institute at the University of Cambridge is advertising a full-time, fixed-term Project Manager & Remote Sensing Digital Data Co-ordinator for the MAHSA project. You will cover for the Project Manager during a secondment, coordinating activity, teams, and deliverables across Pakistan and northwest India.

The role requires a PhD in Archaeology/GIS/Remote Sensing, strong project management experience, and willingness to travel internationally.

Qualifications

• PhD/DPhil in Archaeology, Archaeological GIS or Remote Sensing is required.
• Experience leading international research projects and coordinating multi-partner teams.
• Experience with remote sensing/GIS and heritage projects; knowledge of South Asia is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate day-to-day project activities for an international, multi-partner MAHSA project.
• Prepare detailed project, financial and progress reports on time and to budget.
• Organise and run project events, trainings, and documentation; support publications and protocols.

Skills

Project management

International collaboration

Travel readiness

Education

PhD/DPhil in Archaeology or GIS or Remote Sensing

Tools

Arches

GIS technologies

Job description

The McDonald Institute invites applications for a full-time, fixed term Project Manager & Remote Sensing Digital Data Co-ordinator, generously supported by Arcadia https://www.arcadiafund.org.uk/. This is a fixed term post until 31 December 2027. The post holder will be employed on the Mapping Archaeological Heritage in South Asia (MAHSA) project to provide secondment cover for the Project Manager.

MAHSA is identifying and documenting endangered archaeological heritage sites across the Indus and Ganges River Basins and surrounding regions of Pakistan and northwest India using a combination of remote sensing, machine learning, historical map analysis, records-based research and selective archaeological surveys. Records of these sites are being made available in an open source Arches https://www.archesproject.org geospatial relational database tailored for different interest groups and stakeholders.

Under the direction of the Principal Investigator, the role holder will provide cover for the Project Manager while she is on secondment. The role holder will be supported by the Project Manager as part of her secondment role, and there will be a handover period. Key tasks will include: managing the implementation of an international, multi-partner project aimed at using remote sensing and machine learning technologies and archive digitisation to map archaeological and other heritage sites across Pakistan and northwest India, to produce an Open Access database of this information. The role will also involve: providing the day-to-day coordination of the project and project team, maintaining appropriate administration systems and procedures to help ensure the project continues to be delivered on time, to budget, and to the required quality standards; producing detailed project reports including financial reports; organising and facilitating contributions from project partners and other stakeholders, and managing the development of protocols, training materials, documentation, and publications in line with best practice and project objectives.

Additional duties include undertaking and coordinating the documentation of archaeological sites and monuments through the use of remote sensing and map analyses and desk-based research on existing sites, and ground-based verification fieldwork; and organising and overseeing project events such as conferences, workshops and training sessions.

The post is likely to involve international travel to different parts of Pakistan and India if appropriate.

Applicants must have a PhD/DPhil level qualification in Archaeology, Archaeological GIS or Remote Sensing with extensive post-degree work experience in heritage management and/or remote sensing analysis. Applicants should also have a proven record of international research project management and accomplishment in research using remote sensing and GIS technologies within an archaeological or heritage setting. Experience in the archaeology (or a closely related and relevant subject) of South Asia or neighbouring regions is desirable.

Ability and willingness to travel (nationally and internationally) and to work flexibly to support the activities of the project is essential, and experience of using Arches is desirable.

Starting date: 1 October 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter

Informal inquiries may be addressed to Prof. Cameron Petrie [e-mail].

The closing date for applications is: Midnight on 24th September 2026

Interviews are expected to take place on 29th September 2026

If you have any queries regarding the application process, please contact: [e-mail]

Please quote reference JC50930 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

£47,389 to £59,966 per annum