Researcher

With over sixty years’ experience in the repair and renewal of listed buildings, Donald Insall Associates is uniquely placed to provide strategic advice on change and development within the historic environment. The practice has a dedicated Heritage Consultancy to support clients embarking on heritage projects at all scales, from individual houses to urban masterplans. The consultancy team work on some of the country’s most interesting and significant historic sites and buildings.

The team comprises architects, designers, architectural historians, planners and former conservation officers and Historic England inspectors who analyse what is special about a building or place, manage change, and support clients through the planning process and beyond. Our overarching aim is to use our understanding of the past to revitalise the historic environment and, where appropriate, to guide new interventions.

Job Purpose:

We are looking for a Researcher to join our Heritage Consultancy team, supporting projects across the North. Depending on your background and areas of interest, the role may involve the following activities:

• Carrying out archival and desktop research into historic sites
• Assessing evidence and presenting written findings in an engaging way for a variety of audiences
• Analysing and describing the above-ground/physical historic environment
• Expressing your findings in terms of heritage values or significance
• Working with the wider team to assess the benefits or impact of proposed change.

We opened our Manchester office in September 2016 and our York office in 2020. We are looking for a researcher who is interested in developing a long-term career within the historic environment sector. The position offers an exciting opportunity to support the growth of our Northern Heritage Consultancy team as we expand our client base in the region. Successful applicants will be offered training to progress their career within an award-winning architectural practice. We welcome applications from people coming to the end of their academic studies and can be flexible in terms of start date.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• To work successfully as part of the wider historic buildings consultancy team to jointly produce written analysis and other advice as necessary.
• To undertake both desk and archive-based research into the provenance and development of historic sites and buildings, their occupants, and their architects.
• To assist with visual site surveys, compile descriptions of historic sites and buildings and assess their significance.
• To assimilate all research undertaken into expert, well-written and accessible reports.
• To develop a good understanding of the Practice, its philosophy, members, areas of expertise, clients, and competitors.
• To develop skills in assessing heritage significance and presenting this for clients in order to inform change.
• To develop skills in providing advice to clients on the benefits and impacts of a scheme from a heritage perspective.
• To take an interest in developing the heritage consultancy offer in the North, supporting the team when pursuing new business opportunities.
• Any other reasonable duties that arise from the nature and character of the post, as requested by the line manager or other designated team members.

Please note:

In order to undertake all aspects of the role, the post holder will sometimes be required to visit a number of external sites, which may require climbing ladders and surfaces.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience Required:

• Knowledge and understanding the historic environment in Britain, supported by experience in the field or an appropriate qualification (e.g. degree in Architectural History, Art History Building Conservation, Urban Design, History or Archaeology). A commitment to continuously expanding this understanding through professional development.
• Excellent research and analytical skills.
• A demonstrable passion for the historic environment, and the ability to communicate this to non–experts in an accessible manner.
• Excellent writing skills, the ability to confidently draw together information gained from a variety of sources and distil this into succinct and accurate text which is engaging and accessible to a variety of audience types.
• Self-sufficiency, flexibility, and adaptability: to be able to understand the link between time, client requirements and profit, and respond positively and proactively to changes to schedule or requirements in order to work effectively in a client-driven environment.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team and liaise with other team members at Insall, as required, and to act as a credible ambassador for the Practice in all that they do.
• A good level of IT literacy.

Desirable:

• Previous experience in a relevant field.
• Familiarity with the roles of stakeholders in the heritage sector, such as local authorities, Historic England, and national and local amenity groups.
• Membership of appropriate bodies, e.g. IHBC, ARB, CIfA and/or RTPI memberships.

Please email a CV and covering letter to erica.bomphrey@insall-architects.co.uk

Donald Insall Associates is an Equal Opportunities employer.

March 2024

• Job Title

  Researcher

• Location

  Manchester or York

• Contract

  Full Time, flexible location and working hours considered

• Deadline for applications

  March 28th 2024

• How to apply

  Please email a CV and covering letter to Erica Bomphrey at erica.bomphrey@insall-architects.co.uk.