English Heritage is recruiting a historian for a one-year fixed term post:
Location: 6th Floor, 100 Wood Street, London, EC2V 7AN
Salary: From £40,888 – £45,431, depending on location, skills and experience / 36 hours per week / Fixed-term contract for 12 months
Job type: Fixed Term Contract
Closing date: 04/03/2022 23:59:59
Ref: 14024
This one-year maternity cover post offers you the opportunity to join a team of dedicated historians, working with colleagues across English Heritage to produce world-class interpretation at our sites, based on rigorous research.
You will be joining a team with a range of period specialisms, managed by the Properties Historians Team Leader. Your focus will be on post-medieval sites, though you might be expected to cover other periods when required. In the role, you will undertake research into a number of post-medieval English Heritage properties to support the production of on-site visitor interpretation, print and digital content. Research must be carried out to the highest academic standards, incorporating the widest possible range of sources.
You will be responsible for creating focused research plans for sites, carrying out archival research, commissioning research from external experts, writing interpretative content and fielding enquiries from colleagues in other teams and members of the public. You will communicate your research widely, through scholarly periodicals, the English Heritage website and Members’ Magazine, and through the print and broadcast media.
Most of your work will be with colleagues as part of project teams, developing and implementing research programmes in order to support and input into high-quality, new interpretation and presentation schemes.
As a member of the Historians team, you will ensure all historical content produced by English Heritage is underpinned by rigorous research, to maintain our reputation as both a research organisation and a significant cultural institution.
This role will be based in London or as a home worker. It is available for a maximum of one year, to cover maternity leave.
We are looking for someone who is enthusiastic about historical research and committed to communicating this research to the public in engaging and exciting ways. You should be able to write confidently for a variety of media, particularly digital, aiming to reach as diverse an audience as possible. Experience in presenting to specialist and non-specialist audiences would also be useful.
You will need a good working knowledge of all periods of English history and architecture, and expertise in post-medieval history, especially country houses and their landscapes.
Due to the nature of upcoming projects, an interest in, or experience of, researching contested histories, particularly women’s history or the histories of slavery and colonialism would be advantageous.
Education to degree level in a relevant field (history, archaeology, architectural history) or equivalent experience gained through on the job training or practical experience, is essential. A higher degree in a related discipline would be desirable, but not essential.
Experience of carrying out targeted programmes of research using primary and secondary sources is essential. In particular, a track record of using archive material, and experience in the use of early modern manuscripts would be an advantage.
As the role requires working collaboratively across multiple stakeholders, you should be motivated to work as part of a team, and be able to manage tight deadlines without compromising on standards or attention to detail.
We strive to be an inclusive employer and are always looking for people who reflect the diversity of the country today, to help us make it more relevant to the diversity of the people, communities and places we serve. We continually look for new ways to promote the past in a way that is inclusive to all and that celebrates the cultural diversity of England’s heritage.
From remote sites to inner city monuments, from regional teams to our Head Office, the diversity of our teams is critical to making sure our shared heritage is inclusive, exciting and accessible.
You’ll find it’s a workplace like no other – taking you behind the scenes of these extraordinary sites and supporting you to share your ideas, inspire others and make a difference.
By joining us, you’ll enjoy the rewards of a great team environment in inspiring locations, helping to make our site a wonderful place to visit. You’ll also be joining our charity, which through our 400+ historic monuments, buildings and sites, brings the story of England to life for over 10 million visitors each year. We offer a competitive benefits package including a generous pension, 25 days leave a year and free entry to all English Heritage properties for you, another adult and up to 6 children (under the age of 19).
For more details and to apply please visit: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/about-us/jobs/job-search/default-job-page/?jobRef=14024
Image details: English Heritage Standard – Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported
