Historic Environment HERDS Manager

As an Historic Environment HERDS Manager at HS2, you will provide technical leadership to manage and assure the implementation of HS2 Ltd’s research-led approach to the delivery of historic environment activities. The role is fundamental to the delivery of Environmental Minimum Requirements, notably the Heritage Memorandum.

The role requires a balance between working collaboratively with internal, supply chain and stakeholder teams to ensure the technical efficacy of HS2 Ltd’s historic environment activities with ensuring value for money is at the forefront of decision making. The role will include working with a wide range of stakeholders including contractors, government decision and policy makers. 

About the role:

• Manage the implementation and assurance of HS2 Ltd’s Historic Environment Research and Delivery Strategy (HERDS) across all Phases
• Ensure that the relevant supply chain contractors understand the HERDS to facilitate the delivery of requirements.  
• Evaluate the implementation of HERDS by the supply chain and its associated processes and amend as required to deliver a dynamic programme of works.
• Facilitate and maintain a collaborative technical relationship between HS2 Ltd and between different contractors and consultants to assist the consistent and robust delivery of HERDS requirements. 
• Through technical assurance and collaboration, ensure that historic environment works are focussed on addressing the Headline and Specific Objectives of the HERDS at a location-specific and route-wide level throughout the design and implementation of fieldwork and during the post-excavation phase.  
• Encourage innovation from contractors and assist them in managing changes to technical scope and HERDS objectives through HS2’s change processes.
• Monitor the design and implementation of investigations to ensure that they respond to emerging material and work with the Historic Environment team to deliver changes of approach and scope of work. 
• Work across all HS2 Phase team to ensure consistency of approach, promote best practice, disseminate lessons learned and value for money.
• Work with external stakeholders including liaison with local authority specialists, Historic England and other organisations and forums on archaeological and heritage matters acting as a key technical focal point for stakeholders.
• Represent HS2 Ltd at stakeholder and community events as required and work with HS2 Corporate Affairs to promote the project to internal and external audiences.
• Continue to develop professionally, maintaining technical competencies and identifying opportunities for learning new skills to meet work objectives more effectively.
• Actively promote and embed Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in all your work and support and comply with all organisational initiatives, policies and procedures on EDI.

About You:

• Significant experience of managing successful outcomes with complex stakeholders including meaningful engagement with for example, Local Planning Authority archaeological and conservation officers, Historic England, and community and special interest groups.
• Ability to technically assess and review historic environment deliverables submitted by contractors and third parties
• In-depth knowledge of the relevant legislation, technical guidance, industry standards and best practice, current and emerging themes, and best practice in relation to the historic environment
• Significant experience of the preparation and implementation of complex investigation strategies and method statements.
• In-depth knowledge of current and emerging themes in archaeological research. 
• Ability to produce and present documents and reports to a variety of audiences, including internal stakeholders at various levels in the organisation.

You are expected to behave at all times in a manner consistent with the HS2 values of Safety, Leadership, Integrity and Respect.

It is expected that you will actively promote and embed Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) in all your work and support and comply with all organisational initiatives, policies, and procedures on EDI.

We ask for a variety of detail in your online application, however we perform the first assessment of suitability for a role based solely on the information in your CV. Please attach an updated word version of your CV for each new application and include evidence directly related to the criteria in the job advert.

About Us:

High Speed 2 (HS2 Ltd) will be the UK’s new high speed rail network. As well as improving capacity, the new scheme will shorten journey times between a number of Britain’s major population centres, boost the economy and create thousands of jobs.

HS2 Ltd will create a skills legacy and develop a diverse range of talent. We aim to be a leader in EDI practice by creating a safe & inclusive working environment for all our staff - living our values of Safety, Respect, Integrity and Leadership.

HS2 Ltd is also a safety-critical organisation. Employees are required to ensure reasonable care of their own and others’ health and safety by taking personal responsibility for working to our ‘Safe at Heart’ programme principles and following safe working procedures at all times.

HS2 Ltd endeavours to ensure everyone working for us and with us feels included, thrives and achieves their full potential. In practice, this means we are positive and inclusive about making adjustments, providing flexible working, encouraging our staff networks to flourish and providing personal and professional development opportunities.