We are looking for an Junior Architectural Historian to join our growing practice. The successful candidate will be an ambitious, dynamic and motivated individual, who is looking for a challenging and rewarding career.
The company undertake a considerable amount of research into historic buildings, as well as character analysis of towns and villages. This role is for a knowledgeable and diligent individual capable of finding appropriate materials and developing research into detailed heritage reports. The key focus of this role will be to undertake independent historic research on specific properties and produce heritage statements. These reports need to be written with full academic rigor, but presented in a visually engaging style, that is well illustrated, focused on the key heritage issues and easy to understand. They also need to include detailed phasing diagrams to show the development of properties and highlight important features.
Full training will be provided though a background in architectural history would be an advantage.
Key Competencies
- A passion for architectural history
- Willingness to learn graphical skills and/or work alongside Graphics team to produce documents
- Flexibility in approach
- Proven background in research and a degree in or including architectural history.
- Experience of independent research in UK archives.
- Ability to work under own initiative and independently create historic documents.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to combine academic rigor with commercial demands.
- Ability to work efficiently and to tight deadlines, with excellent time management skills.
- Willingness to learn and to deepen knowledge and experience.
- Common-sense and a practical approach to problems.
- Good communication skills and personal presentation with an ability to engage with consultants.
- Driving license and willingness to travel in UK
Other Beneficial Qualities
- Ability to use graphical software (InDesign) and create own documents
- Good knowledge of online archival resources
- A higher-level degree in architectural history or related subject
- Willingness to engage in company presentations and share knowledge in chalk talks etc.
- Willingness to pursue academic goals and engage with wider architectural and historical debates
- Interest in landscape history
- Knowledge of planning framework/other planning related skills
Key Responsibilities
- Responding to specific research enquiries on buildings and estates as instructed, independently writing, and assembling historic building reports.
- Identifying the locations of relevant archival materials and conducting in-person documentary research at record offices and archives across the UK.
- Organising remote document orders where required and conducting initial desktop studies, (including desktop work for bid documents and expressions of interest).
- Undertaking on-site analysis and photographic surveys of buildings and estates.
- Creating detailed building phasing diagrams for historic properties, based upon the findings of site analysis and archival research.
- Assisting in creating room-by-room surveys of larger properties if required.
- Writing assessments of significance to assist in heritage applications.
- Contributing to the production of Design, Access and Heritage Statements.
- Assisting in the character analyses of towns and villages, for Pattern Books and urban character analysis documents.
- Engaging with the Historic Building Group.
Additional Ad Hoc Responsibilities
- Assisting in the on-going management and cataloguing of the ADAM image database.
- Assisting in assembling lectures, articles and academic research for directors.
- Liaising with local heritage bodies and helping the Senior Architectural Historian to run historic tours of the office.
- Assisting at trade stands at exhibitions and conferences on occasions.
- Assisting in any general writing tasks across company as required.
- Helping to draft statements for planning inquiries and assisting in related conferences if required.
- Providing administrative support for specific tasks as required, such as cataloguing the directors’ libraries.
If this is a role you are interested in, find out more through our careers page - we would be delighted to have you join our growing team.
