Archaeological Operations Manager - Surrey County Archaeology Unit

Job description

Description

We are committed to the development of our workforce. This position is only available to applicants who already work for Surrey County Council. We thank you for your interest in our roles and would encourage you to review our vacancies which are open to all.

The starting salary for these positions is £48,698 per annum based on a 36-hour working week.

We are excited to be recruiting an Archaeological Operations Manager to lead Surrey County Archaeological Unit (SCAU).

Join us and you will be part of a small, collaborative team of knowledgeable and dedicated colleagues, with an opportunity to develop your skills and knowledge and access a variety of fascinating and high-profile projects in Surrey.

Our Offer to You

• 26 days' holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years' service, plus bank holidays
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
• A generous local government salary related pension
• Up to 5 days of carer's leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
• An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
• Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping
• A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents

About the Role

The Archaeological Operations Manager will provide strategic, operational and commercial leadership for the unit, a nationally accredited archaeological service under the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA) Registered Organisation Scheme. The scheme signifies a commitment to maintaining professional standards and competence of the unit in delivering high-quality professional archaeology across Surrey and the wider region. Leading a multidisciplinary team of specialists, you will oversee a diverse portfolio of consultancy, desk-based assessments, field evaluations, excavations, post-excavation analysis and heritage projects, working closely with developers, heritage organisations, local authorities and Surrey County Council services to ensure planning compliance, protect the historic environment and maintain the highest professional standards.

Alongside leading SCAU's commercial archaeology services, you will champion the community archaeology programme, connecting residents, schools, volunteers and local organisations with the county's rich archaeological heritage. Working with the SCAU Community Archaeologist you will oversee and help shape major community initiatives such as the ongoing Heritage Lottery Funded Communities at the River: Fetcham Springs Projects , ensuring archaeology delivers lasting educational, social and place-based outcomes while inspiring wider public engagement with Surrey's past. Through a dynamic programme of community projects, learning activities and school engagement, you will strengthen connections between people and place and maximise the public value of archaeological research.

Based at the Surrey History Centre in Woking, leading your team of five staff, you will work from a purpose-built archaeological facility that includes dedicated finds processing laboratories, equipment storage and temperature-controlled archive facilities. The Centre houses one of the county's most significant archaeological collections, with more than 370,000 artefacts curated across 748 linear metres of shelving, providing an exceptional resource for research, conservation and public engagement. We are seeking an inspiring and commercially astute leader who can drive innovation, develop services and partnerships, and shape the future direction of SCAU, ensuring it is financially viable and continues to be recognised for excellence in commercial delivery, community archaeology, education and heritage stewardship.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the County Council's Archaeological Unit and programme of archaeological projects.
• Prepare, negotiate and manage project proposals, tenders, budgets and timescales.
• Organise and oversee fieldwork, post-excavation work and reporting, with support from Senior Archaeological Advisor.
• Monitor professional standards, health and safety compliance and project performance.
• Manage staffing resources, recruitment, development and performance.
• Support Community Archaeologist programme of public engagement, outreach and the Surrey Heritage Strategy.
• Contribute to strategic development and partnership working across Surrey Heritage with support of the Service Manager: Libraries and Heritage.
• Ensure effective financial management and income generation.

Your Application

In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and align with our behaviours :

• Degree in Archaeology or a related discipline.
• Member Level with Chartered Institute for Archaeologists or willingness and ability to attain this level within a set period of time.
• Significant experience managing archaeological projects and fieldwork operations.
• Experience of budget management, resource planning and income generation.
• Strong report writing, communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Knowledge of archaeological methods, planning processes, legislation and health and safety requirements.
• Experience leading and developing staff teams.

To apply, we request that you submit a CV and you will be asked the following 4 questions:

1.Describe a time when you led and developed a professional team through a significant challenge, change or period of growth. What was your approach, what actions did you take, and what was the outcome for the team and organisation?

2. Provide an example of a complex archaeological project or programme that you have managed. Please explain your role, how you planned and delivered the work, how you ensured professional standards and compliance, and the results achieved.

3. Tell us about a time when you successfully managed budgets, resources or income-generating activities within an archaeological, heritage or related professional environment. What challenges did you face and how did you ensure financial sustainability and value for money?

4. Describe an occasion when you worked collaboratively with a range of stakeholders, such as local authorities, developers, heritage bodies, community groups, schools or volunteers, to achieve a successful outcome. How did you build relationships, manage differing priorities and maximise public benefit?

The job advert closes at 23:59 on 12/10/2026 with interviews scheduled to take place on 15 October 2026.

Contact Us

For an informal discussion regarding this role, please contact us at [email protected] . Or contact Katie Kinnear (Service Manager: Libraries and Heritage on 07968 832378. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment.

Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)

Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation and will move to new authorities in April 2027. This role is currently employed by Surrey County Council and will remain so until then. If you are employed by Surrey County Council on 1 April 2027, your employment will transfer under TUPE arrangements to one of the new councils, with your current terms and conditions protected. The provisional allocation for these posts is West Surrey Council, subject to final confirmation through the wider transition process later this year. Please see more information here: Information for applicants on Local Government Reorganisation - Surrey County Council .

Our Commitment

We are a disability confident employer which means if you have shared a disability on your application form and have evidenced you meet the minimum criteria, we guarantee you an interview.

Your skills and experience truly matter to us. From application to your first day, we're committed to supporting you with any adjustments you need, we value inclusion and warmly welcome you to join and help build a workplace where everyone belongs.

Files to download

• Archaeological Operations Manager - Job Description (PDF)

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