Specialist work based training placement in archaeobotany

With Historic England

Job Description

Title: Specialist work based training placement in archaeobotany

Department of Historic England: Investigation and Analysis

Location: Fort Cumberland, Portsmouth

Job Type: Temporary – structured work based training placement

Line manager: Ruth Pelling

Salary: £17,299 p.a.

Hours: 37 hours per week

Note: this post will be employed by the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA) and seconded to Historic England for the duration.

Aimsof the placement

The placement offers a training opportunity to develop skills in archaeobotany.Thepostwill provide an environmental archaeologist with the skills and experience needed to carry out assessment, analysis and reporting on plant macroscopic remains and/or charcoal (but developing an awareness of the full range of potential evidence). The placement will select samples, carry out identifications and analysis, and produce, to publishable standard, a report on a minimum of two contrasting sites. The analysis will be carried out to meet agreed research objectives, following a defined methodology and within an agreed timetable determined with the placement supervisor. In addition the placement will assist the Senior Archaeobotanist with other duties such as maintaining the botanical reference collection, literature searches and project specific data entry.

The placement is designed for an early career archaeobotanist, who is considering making the transition from academic to commercial archaeobotany, or who wishes to develop their skills and experience. The candidate is likely to have a higher degree or some work experience or both, but has not had the opportunity to develop more specialist skills and competencies or has largely single project specific experience. It is intended to provide the opportunity to increase confidence and to gain experience of a broad range of material likely to be encountered in British archaeobotany and to develop an understanding of research priorities.

Main activitiesto be undertaken

Training and outreach opportunities may arise from specific projects, or in response to other priorities for heritage protection.

During the course of this placement the placement holder will be offered the opportunity to acquire skills in the following areas of expertise:

  • The evaluation, assessment and analysis of macroscopic plant remains according to an agreed work programme using appropriate methods
  • Understanding when to seek senior or specialist support and what level of identification is appropriate
  • The design of sampling programmes as part of archaeological investigations
  • The legislative procedure and regulation of archaeological mitigation through the shadowing of an HE Regional Science Advisor (5 to 10 days)
  • The presentation ofwritten reports in forms appropriate to different outlets. At least one report for which the Placement is the principal author will be published as part of the Historic England Research Report Series.
  • The presentation of results in the form of a lecture supported by PowerPoint and/or a poster display.

For full details of the training to be given and skills to be gained please see the adjoining Training Plan.

There will be a chance to see the work of other specialist teams within Historic England, for example shadowing one of the Science Advisors.

The placement holder will be encouraged to attend relevant training courses, seminars and conferences, as time and resources allow. We also encourage placement holders to carry out library and online research to broaden and deepen their knowledge of archaeology.

The training is delivered on a mentoring/tutoring basis during the placement. Learning outcomes and skill levels will be defined for the activities above. The placement may contribute towards an appropriate vocational qualification.

Salary

£17,299 per annum

Pension

An employers’ pension contribution of 6% of salary will be available for the placement holder to contribute to a pension scheme of their choice.

Holiday entitlement

You will receive 25 days holiday per year. In addition there are 8 public holidays. 3 days holiday must be taken over the Christmas period when the Historic England offices will be closed.

Person Specification
Essential / Desirable
TRAINING, EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
A degree/higher degree in archaeological or environmental science, or equivalent experience.
Some proven experience in the identification of macroscopic plant remains / MA/MSc in Environmental Archaeology
Practitioner membership of CIfA
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
Good understanding of the principles and practice of archaeobotanical research (T)
Ability to write clearly and produce reports
Good analytical and problem solving skills
Able to manage your own time and resources to meet assigned objectives
Competence in work-processing and data-handling. / Good knowledge and understanding of key research priorities within British archaeobotany
INTERPERSONAL SKILLS
A career-oriented approach to the acquisition of new knowledge and skills
An enthusiastic and positive manner
Ability to work in a team
Ability to work with limited supervision / Ability to communicate at a variety of levels to explain the results and value of archaeobotany or environmental archaeology.