Publications Officer / Senior Publications Officer

Cotswold Archaeology; Wolverton; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Pension and life assurance

Annual leave and sick pay

Cycle to Work scheme

Flu vaccinations

Job summary

Cotswold Archaeology invites applications for Publications Officer or Senior Publications Officer to lead post-excavation analysis and publication across projects in the UK. The role offers hybrid working and opportunities to mentor staff while delivering high-quality reports and archives.

You will coordinate with field teams, specialists and clients to ensure timely, accurate publications within budget, while developing post-excavation and archive standards across the department.

Qualifications

• Experience of post-excavation procedures and publication work.
• Knowledge of British archaeology and its periods.
• Proven leadership of project staff and ability to mentor others.
• Strong organisational and time-management skills.
• Ability to deliver to deadlines and budgets.
• ACIfA membership or willingness to join on appointment.

Responsibilities

• Lead post-excavation projects with assessments, design updates and publication texts.
• Coordinate CA staff and external subcontractors to meet project parameters.
• Ensure quality of archives, stratigraphic accounts and site records.
• Mentor field staff in report-writing and publication standards.
• Manage workloads with escalation as needed.
• Ensure compliance with CA Health and Safety policies.
• Contribute to departmental processes and learning reports.
• Promote CA public awareness through publications and media.

Skills

Fieldwork experience

Team leadership

Organisational skills

Time management

Communication skills

Problem solving

Database skills

Word processing

Education

CIfA/ACIfA membership

Tools

Graphics packages

Databases

Job description

Cotswold Archaeology continues to grow as a sustainable and successful business, working as one company across our four offices. We have ambitious plans for the future and are committed to achieving them through strengthening and developing our team.

We are currently seeking a talented and motivated individual to join our Publications team as either a Publications Officer or Senior Publications Officer, depending on experience and expertise.

This role offers an exciting opportunity to work on a wide variety of interesting and challenging post-excavation projects, contributing to the analysis, interpretation and publication of archaeological investigations from across the UK.

Working as part of our busy Publications department, you will play a key role in delivering post-excavation projects from assessment through to publication. You will analyse and interpret archaeological evidence, produce high-quality reports and publication text, and work closely with fieldwork teams, specialists, subcontractors and clients to ensure successful project delivery. You will also contribute to maintaining the quality of project records, reports and archives, while helping to develop post-excavation and report-writing skills across the company.

If a candidate appointed at Senior Publications Officer level, you will take a leading role in the delivery of more complex projects, providing technical guidance and quality assurance across a range of post-excavation and publication work. They will also support colleagues through mentoring and contribute to the continued development of post-excavation, publication and archive standards within the department.

You will have a sound knowledge of British archaeology and substantial experience of post-excavation analysis and publication work within either a commercial or research environment. You will be able to produce accurate archaeological narratives and interpretations from fieldwork results, coordinate specialist contributions, and deliver projects to agreed deadlines and budgets without compromising quality. Excellent organisational, communication and time-management skills are essential, together with the ability to work effectively, both independently and as part of a project team.

Membership of the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA) at an appropriate grade, or the ability to demonstrate equivalent professional competence and achieve membership, would be advantageous. A full manual driving licence is desirable.

WHAT WE OFFER

Proximity to our Milton Keynes office would be advantageous, although flexible and hybrid working opportunities are available.

Our benefits include a competitive salary, generous annual leave allowance, company sick pay, pension and life assurance schemes, access to an Employee Assistance Programme a Cycle to Work scheme and free annual flu iimmuniatins. This is a great opportunity for professional development and career progression within a leading archaeological organisation.

If you are looking to develop your career with an ambitious, supportive and forward-thinking company, we would love to hear from you.

We reserve the right to close this role early if multiple applications are received.

Cotswold Archaeology is an equal opportunities employer. All applications are assessed solely on the candidate’s relevant skills and experience relevant to the role.

We will take into consideration any reasonable adjustments required to support you. Should you need adjustments during the recruitment process, or require additional support related to neurodiversity or for any other reason, please let us know by contacting [e-mail]

Applicants must already have the legal right to live and work in the UK as defined by UK Visas and Immigration

Job Description: Publications Officer

Purpose:

Ensure the successful completion of post-excavation project work to appropriate standards, deadlines and budgets; assist with fieldwork reporting and with the development of report-writing skills of field staff

Main Activities:

• Ensure the successful completion and undertake a programme of post-excavation project work, including research designs, post-excavation assessments, updated project designs, stratigraphic analysis, and the writing for and compilation of Excavation Reports and publication texts;
• Liaise with and programme CA project staff and commission external subcontractors to facilitate the successful completion of project work within established project parameters, including review of specialist and subcontractor reports to assure technical validity and adherence to commission;
• Assure the quality of archaeological understanding and site records, stratigraphic accounts and fieldwork summaries; and oversee the compilation of archaeological archives to required standards;
• Mentor and develop the report-writing skills of field staff, ensuring field reports are produced to standard, deadline and budget, including undertaking field reporting as required;
• Manage personal workload effectively, as required, with appropriate escalation when conflicts of prioritisation arise;
• Ensure that all projects are carried out in accordance with the CA Health and Safety policy, preparing risk assessments and other relevant documentation;
• Contribute to departmental processes and working practices via Learning Reports, feedback to Committee Representatives and suggestions for new and improved practices;
• Actively promote and develop a greater public awareness and appreciation of the work of CA through displays, publications, contributions to the website, media liaison, lectures, etc.;
• Carry out any other duties commensurate with responsibilities as CA may determine from time to time.

Person Specification:

Essential

• Experience of post-excavation procedures and practices, including analysis of site records and writing archaeological reports to publication standard;
• Knowledge of current archaeological developer-led practice, and familiarity with the archaeology of all periods in Britain;
• Proven team leadership skills, ensuring that project staff are able to work effectively and efficiently to overall project parameters;
• Organisational, time-management and problem-solving skills, with the ability to programme work schedules and to anticipate and resolve/escalate programme conflicts;
• Ability to work under pressure to deliver projects to a high standard within tight deadlines;
• Six months of commercial fieldwork experience;
• Ability to develop reporting skills of others through effective training, coaching and mentoring;
• Committed to keeping abreast of new developments, approaches and procedures in all aspects of post-excavation, publication and archiving;
• The ability to deal efficiently and courteously with clients of the company, officers of other bodies including English Heritage and Local Planning Authorities, and members of the public;
• Good administrative ability in the keeping of records and accounts and the submission of reports;
  
• Good word processing and database skills;
• Membership of the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists at least ACIfA, and preferably MCIfA, level (or able to demonstrate that you meet the requirements for membership). Candidates who are not already a member of the Institute must be prepared to join immediately upon appointment.

Desirable

• Experience/expertise in computer generated graphics packages and/or databases;
• Demonstrable ability to write authoritative academic discussions for archaeological publications;
• Fieldwork experience as Project Leader on small to medium field projects.;
• Full manual driving license

Job Description: Senior Publications Officer

Purpose:

Lead on the delivery of post-excavation projects to appropriate standards, deadline and budget; assist with fieldwork reporting and with the development of report-writing skills of field staff; assist with the management of the Post-Excavation and Archives team and its work.

Main Activities:

• Lead the successful completion of post-excavation projects, including post-excavation assessments, updated project designs, detailed stratigraphic analysis, and the writing, compilation and editing of publication reports;
• Assist Post-Excavation Managers in the management of post-excavation projects through the planning, monitoring and progress of post-excavation programmes and budgets, including regular reporting and escalating issues as required;
• Liaise with CA project staff and commission external subcontractors to facilitate the successful completion of project work within established project parameters, including review of specialist and subcontractor reports to assure technical validity and adherence to commission;
• Assure the quality of CA project archives (including digital archives) in accordance with Cotswold Archaeology and repository policies and standards, and make recommendations for changes and improvements to archive systems and procedures;
• Mentor and develop the report-writing skills of field staff, ensuring field reports are produced to standard, deadline and budget, including undertaking field reporting as required;
• Assist with the management of the Post-Excavation and Archives team, including their continuous improvement through performance reviews, constructive feedback, training, coaching and improved practices;
• Manage personal workload effectively, balancing project delivery with line-management responsibilities, with appropriate escalation when conflicts of prioritisation arise;
• Ensure that all projects are carried out in accordance with the CA Health and Safety policy, preparing risk assessments and other relevant documentation;
• Contribute to departmental processes and working practices via Learning Reports, feedback to Committee Representatives and suggestions for new and improved practices;
• Carry out any other duties commensurate with responsibilities as CA may determine from time to time, which may include fieldwork duties.

Person Specification:

Essential

• Proven expertise in post-excavation procedures and practices, including analysis of site records and writing archaeological reports to publication standard;
• Proven expertise in archaeological practice including familiarity with the archaeology of all periods in Britain;
• Fieldwork experience as Project Leader on major excavation;
• Ability to develop reporting skills of others through effective training, coaching and mentoring;
• Committed to keeping abreast of new developments, approaches and procedures in all aspects of post-excavation, publication and archiving, and the ability to communicate these to colleagues;
• The ability to deal efficiently and courteously with clients of the company, officers of other bodies including English Heritage and Local Planning Authorities, and members of the public;
• Ability to work under pressure to deliver complex projects to a high standard within tight deadlines;
• Good administrative ability in the keeping of records and accounts and the submission of reports;
  
• Good word processing and database skills;
• Membership of the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists at least ACIfA, and preferably MCIfA level. Candidates who are not already a member of the Institute must be prepared to join immediately upon appointment.

Desirable

• Experience/expertise in computer generated graphics packages and/or databases;
• Demonstration of ability to write authoritative academic discussions for archaeological publications.
• A full manual driving license