Job Description

Principal Historic Environment Consultant
Permanent, Full Time
45,749 to 53,822 per annum
Location: Chelmsford*
Working Style:
Closing Date: 9th November 2025
*You will work from the Chelmsford office at least one day a week and across our operational area on other days, depending on business need.
Place Services is a multi-disciplinary consultancy within Essex County Council (ECC) providing environmental and planning services to the Council, local authorities and other public bodies. The purpose of the Principal Historic Environment Consultant is to lead on all historic environment matters, ensuring the effective operational and commercial management of our Historic Environment specialism.
The Principal Historic Environment Consultant is accountable for the operational delivery and commercial development of our historic environment services, leading a team providing specialist planning advice, heritage assessment and historic area appraisals and field survey and Historic Environment Record (HER) management, as well as leading multi-disciplinary projects, across Essex and England.
The role requires a qualified, highly experienced and authoritative subject matter expert with advanced technical expertise, practical knowledge, understanding and experience of historic environment issues and relevant legislation, policy and principles, strong business development, information and financial management with good communication skills, experience managing a team, and the ability to build secure client relationships.
Accountabilities
Accountable for the operational delivery and commercial development of ECC's traded historic environment services, leading the effective, efficient and profitable delivery of expert historic environment advice and technical support to ensure the financial viability and performance of Place Services' Historic Environment specialism, through a commitment to achieve sustainable development, environmental protection, and profitable revenue.
Accountable for the effective delivery of advice in relation to historic environment matters, including: managing a demanding case load of the most complex and development management/consent consultations at all stages of the planning process (pre-application, application and post consent); attendance at hearings, EIPs and public inquiries; evaluating and carrying out heritage assessments (DBA, HIA, EIA), of any size and complexity and in challenging scenarios; managing large-scale and complex historic environment records and data projects; designing and undertaking a range of complex surveys, including development of new tools and techniques; and management and monitoring of complex contracts, and projects with multiple stakeholders, against approved budgets, specifications and indicators.
Responsible for the generation of new business for Place Services, seeking out new sales and client accounts, and working collaboratively to promote our services, tendering on high value opportunities to expand our client base and increase profitable revenue, creating a commercial mind-set within the Historic Environment team.
Acts as the subject matter expert and discipline lead for members, senior officers and internal accounts, providing authoritative technical advice and guidance.
Responsible for account and client relationship management, establishing, building and maintaining secure working relationships with clients and partners, managing complex client interactions and seeking feedback to identify opportunities for continuous improvement, maintain a client-focused culture across Place Services.
Leads joined up, integrated and effective team working, management of medium to high value projects and contracts against approved budgets, specifications and indicators.
Contributes to increasing the skills base across the environmental and planning sectors through design, development and delivery of complex training and events, and preparation of a wide range of learning material.
Contributes to the execution of ECC and client's responsibilities and duties of care in relation to heritage assets and the wider historic environment.
Line manager responsibility for consultants in the team.
Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework.
Skills, Knowledge and Experience
Educated to at least RQF level 6 (Bachelor's degree) with a post graduate qualification, or equivalent by experience, and evidence of substantial post qualification experience.
Strong evidence of continuing professional development and expert knowledge in relevant professional area, Full Membership of relevant professional body e.g. CIfA.
Authoritative technical and subject matter expertise, with advanced knowledge and extensive experience of: the development management processes; of planning policy, legislation, and enforcement standards and guidance; heritage assessment (HIA, DBA, EIA); Historic Environment Record management, conservation management planning and field survey techniques; and related office and site-based practices and procedures.
Extensive experience of undertaking development management and using a Historic Environment Records in a development management role.
Excellent people skills with experience managing a team, including staff development and performance management, coaching, mentoring and delivery of training.
Accomplished communication and negotiation skills and strategies with ability to build networks and to engage and influence clients and stakeholders, both strategically and corporately, including in a political environment. Able to manage complex client and stakeholder interactions, including public consultations, and high value accounts, to engender trust, and secure strong relationships.
Good understanding of commercial practices, and track record of growing and developing business through bid winning, and able lead multi-disciplinary teams, and to effectively manage large scale and complex projects from concept through to completion. Effective financial management.
Strong understanding of wellbeing and H&S, and experienced producing and implementing standard and complex risk assessments with appropriate controls, and the ability to identify and implement safe working practices for self and others, and to promote a team-wide culture of H&S and wellbeing.
Advanced use of common and bespoke software packages including all Microsoft applications, databases, HBSMR, GIS and other information management systems and/or other information technology tools, to implement complex data collection, analysis and presentation for the organisation.
Please note that the job role requires you to be mobile throughout an operational area. Therefore, the post holder will need to have a driving licence and access to a vehicle, or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means.
Comprehensive CPD is available with the role, including access to our annual programme of Traditional Building Skills, Conservation courses and lectures:
Place Services is a unique business and a great place to work. To find out more about us please visit:
For an informal discussion please contact the Historic Environment Manager, Tim Murphy via tim.murphy@essex.gov.uk / 0333 032 0847.
Your benefits package
Benefits include:

• Holiday entitlement of 27 days per annum (plus bank holidays), with the opportunity to buy additional annual leave
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Life assurance of three times annual salary
• Learning and Development Opportunities
• Employee Wellbeing and Counselling provision
• Employee Networks
• Volunteering leave
• Eye care vouchers, travel discounts, season ticket loans and much more!

There is also an employee Rewards Scheme available for all permanent/FTC employees, which includes:

• Retail and restaurant discounts
• Cashback on purchases
• Private health and dental care plans

Why Essex?
As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we're committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in . With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.
In February 2025, Greater Essex was accepted onto the Government's devolution priority programme, which will see local authorities in Essex work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority by May 2026. You can read more about ) on our careers site.
Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We're committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We're also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.
Once you've secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.
At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the , including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.
Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.
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