JOB TITLE: Heritage at Risk Landscape Architect

JOB DESCRIPTION

DEPARTMENT: Planning Group

LOCATION: Waterhouse Square, London

RESPONSIBLE TO: Principal Adviser, HAR

PAY BAND: BAND B (Heritage)

The local Heritage at Risk (HAR) team is responsible for delivering the national and local HAR strategies. Working proactively with partners and funding bodies the team will use Historic England resources (including e.g. advice, legal expertise and grant- aid to enable repairs) to reduce risk to the significance of heritage assets. It will also support local authority partners in using their powers to safeguard the significance of heritage assets at risk. The team will liaise closely with the National HAR team and work with and support the Historic Places, Business Support and Development Management teams.

OVERALL PURPOSE OF THE JOB:

As part of this team, the HAR Landscape Architect will use their expert technical skills to develop proposals for repair and alteration to heritage assets (including but not exclusively Registered Parks and Gardens). Applying the ethos of ‘constructive conservation’ and making effective use of Historic England’s Conservation Principles in all their work, they will support the delivery of the Heritage at Risk strategy, including assisting owners as intelligent client in preparing conservation management plans etc.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. To work proactively with owners, local authorities, funding bodies, building preservation trusts etc. to promote a sustainable and viable future for historic landscapes on the HAR Register, encouraging and facilitating applications for grant-aid, liaising with professional advisers etc. as required. 2. To provide expert technical advice to the Development Management Team on proposals to change historic landscapes in order to preserve and enhance significance, and delivering that advice to agreed timescales and to excellent customer service standards.

3. To contribute to the development and implementation of the local Heritage at Risk Strategy, including maintaining the HAR Register of registered parks and gardens at risk.

4. To work proactively with funding bodies in particular the Heritage Lottery Fund, Natural England, and Forestry Commission to reduce the risk to the significance to historic assets at risk.

5. To monitor grant-aided or commissioned Landscapes at Risk work in progress to confirm that it meets the necessary standard, and recommend grant payments.

6. To provide advice on Inheritance Tax Exemption cases as required, and advise the Development Management team on issues where their specialist technical knowledge can add value to proposals for change, e.g. EIAs, Visual Landscape Assessments and setting etc.

7. To support the delivery of ‘Heritage 2020’ activities (including supporting activities such as capacity-building) as agreed with line management.

8. To be an effective advocate for the benefits for local places of conserving heritage assets.

9. To undertake any other reasonable duties commensurate with the grade and competencies required of the post requested by line management.

Please note that  The role requires regular travel to sites not serviced by public transport.  The role may require visiting/inspecting sites which is likely to require climbing scaffolding and negotiating confined space (e.g. grottos etc.)  The role will require occasional attendance at community meetings which are usually held at evenings or weekends.

This is a description of the job as it is at present constituted and will be subject to change. Job descriptions are updated on a regular basis to ensure they continue to reflect the needs of the role.

2 PERSON SPECIFICATION

ESSENTIAL DESIRABLE

TRAINING AND QUALIFICATIONS

 A degree, or equivalent qualification, in a  Post-graduate qualification in heritage relevant subject. conservation.  Full membership of a relevant professional  Experience of assessing and advising on body. proposals for change affecting historic  Substantial experience of implementing repair landscapes. and restoration schemes in historic landscapes.  Recent experience of drawing up conservation management plans (or equivalent) for historic landscapes.  Full driving licence.

KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS

 Excellent knowledge of current historic  Good knowledge of the UK planning system landscape conservation practice, and of a as it affects historic landscapes. wide range of methods for the repair,  Knowledge of grant schemes, incentive alteration and adaption of historic landscapes, frameworks and management regimes which including design in an historic context. are applicable to historic landscapes.  Thorough working knowledge and understanding of the history of designed landscapes and their structures of all types.  Good project management skills.  Constructive and creative problem-solving skills.  Good negotiating and influencing skills.  Ability to deal with pressure and challenge.

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS

 Good oral and written communication skills

3  Ability to adapt communication styles to a variety of circumstances.  Ability to act as an authoritative and persuasive representative of Historic England at all levels including public speaking.  Excellent team-working skills.

We are committed to providing equality of opportunity for all. We will consider making reasonable adjustments for disabled people where necessary, to ensure this.