SAVE is hiring! We are looking for a Senior Conservation Officer

1st February 2024

Senior Conservation Officer, SAVE Britain’s Heritage

We are an independent, national charity that campaigns to protect historic buildings and places of all ages and types from demolition and decay. We stand out from other organisations in our field by working with architects, engineers and developers to come up with re-use proposals. Where possible and with advice from our lawyers, we take legal action to prevent needless loss. Find out more about our campaigns and our work.

As a result of some significant high-profile public inquiries in recent years, including the M&S Oxford Street public inquiry, Anglia Square in Norwich, the Custom House in the City of London, Smithfield General Market, and the Welsh Streets in Liverpool, we have a high profile in the heritage and planning sectors and beyond and a track record of success as we head towards our 50th anniversary in 2025. 

The need for SAVE’s work is as important as ever. We face significant challenges in relation to ongoing demolition, neglect and decay of historic buildings, and major planning policy gaps. The pressing need for a new approach to demolition and re-use in the construction sector in the face of the climate crisis is a key priority. It goes hand in hand with our work to save and re-purpose remarkable buildings that people cherish. 

We now have a fantastic opportunity for you to become our Senior Conservation Officer. This is a key role in the SAVE team. You will co-ordinate our responses to major planning applications affecting historic buildings or places, and act as a primary point of advice for casework in the office. You will liaise with a wide range of people from members of the public and community groups to decision makers on all levels from local authorities and amenity societies to national organisations and government. You’ll be prioritising, planning and co-ordinating campaigns in conjunction with the Director, and Editorial and Communications Manager – from organising public meetings and drafting petitions, to speaking at events, or helping craft press releases. 

You will co-ordinate SAVE’s comments on planning applications, assessing proposals in terms of impact/significance within statutory timeframes, and occasionally making representations to planning committees as well as liaising with legal advisers, architects or developers where appropriate. You will give media interviews or comment to the press in liaison with the Editorial and Communications Manager and contribute copy for online content and hard copy publications. 

This post reports to the Director and manages an Assistant Conservation Officer. We are a small, busy and friendly team. No day here is the same. 

How to apply: Please send your CV, and a covering letter (no more than two pages) stating why you would like to work for SAVE and how you fit the person specification for the role advertised to Leigh Stanford, Administrator: administrator@savebritainsheritage.org

Deadline: 1st March 2024, midnight.

We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith, or disability.

Location: Our offices at Cowcross Street, Clerkenwell, central London. An element of flexible working is negotiable. 

Hours: Full time, 35 hours per week, with occasional evening work and national travel 

Salary: circa £32- 35,000 depending on experience

Annual leave: 28 days including 3 days between Christmas and New Year

Timetable: 1st interviews will be held on 11-13th March, 2nd interviews will be held 25-26th March  

For an informal chat, please ring or email Henrietta Billings, Director: 0207 250 3500 henrietta.billings@savebritainsheritage.org

Image Credit: Phoenix Columns, Smithfield General Market, SAVE Britain's Heritage

Documents (click to read/download)