Senior Archaeological Officer

Kent County Council; Maidstone; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Kent County Council is seeking a Senior Archaeological Officer to join the Heritage Conservation group in Maidstone. The role involves providing planning advice to the County Council, districts and other bodies, preparing responses to applications, writing specifications, and monitoring fieldwork and post-excavation programmes.

The team is expanding for projects like the Lower Thames Crossing. The post requires a degree in archaeology or related subject, strong fieldwork experience, and

Qualifications

• Degree in archaeology or related subject.
• Good fieldwork experience.
• Strong analytical and communication skills.
• Excellent team-working skills.
• Ability to work under pressure to tight deadlines with minimal supervision.

Responsibilities

• Provide archaeological planning advice to Kent County Council, District Planning Authorities, Medway Council, Ebbsfleet Development Corporation and other agencies and developers.
• Prepare responses to planning applications, write specifications and monitor fieldwork and post-excavation programmes.
• Support Major infrastructure projects such as Lower Thames Crossing and liaise with developers and agencies.

Skills

British archaeology knowledge

Fieldwork experience

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Teamwork

Ability to work under pressure

Education

Degree in archaeology

Job description

Senior Archaeological Officer

A dedicated and enthusiastic individual is sought to join the Heritage Conservation group to help protect and manage the rich and varied historic environment of Kent. Your primary responsibility will be to work as part of a busy team providing archaeological planning advice to the County Council, District Planning Authorities, Medway Council, Ebbsfleet Development Corporation and other agencies and developers, including major infrastructure projects such as Lower Thames Crossing. This will involve preparing responses to planning applications, writing specifications, and monitoring fieldwork and post-excavation programmes. The team is expanding to meet the extra demand created by Lower Thames Crossing.

Kent has an outstanding heritage of archaeological and historical remains which the County Council gives high priority to conserving and making accessible. The geological diversity of the county, together with its proximity to mainland Europe, has left an incomparable archaeological resource of all periods. Exceptionally high development pressure, including several key growth areas, linked to the County's strategic position between London and Europe, produces one of the most challenging and rewarding environments for archaeological heritage management.

You will have a degree or equivalent in archaeology or a related subject, a good working knowledge of British archaeology including good fieldwork experience, good analytical and communication skills, excellent team-working skills and the ability to work under pressure to tight deadlines with minimal supervision.

This post is considered by KCC to be a customer-facing position. The Council therefore has a statutory duty under Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) to ensure that post holders have a command of spoken English/Welsh sufficient for the effective performance of the job requirements. The appropriate standards are set out in the Job Description/Person Specification.

Interviews are expected to take place in Maidstone on Wednesday 2nd December 2026.

Contact Details

For more information, please contact:

Lis Dyson - Heritage Conservation Manager:

03000 413364

About the Company

Work that works for you and us - let's talk flexibility!

KCC is committed to building a workforce which reflects the diversity of the county's working residents, encouraging applications from people of all ages, abilities, genders, sexual orientations, ethnic backgrounds, faiths and those with caring responsibilities, and aspires to create an inclusive workplace where everyone can be themselves at work.