Job detail for Principal Inspector (Government Historic Estates Unit - GHEU)
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Summary
Historic England is the public organisation that brings new life to heritage to build a better future for every place and everyone.
Historic England has a fantastic opportunity for you to join us as our Principal Inspector (Government Historic Estates Unit - GHEU).
This is a full time, permanent position.
The location of this role is London, inclusive with hybrid working.
We offer a wide benefits package including a competitive defined benefit pension scheme to which we make 28.97% employer contributions, a generous 28 days holiday, corporate discounts, free entry into English Heritage sites across the country and development opportunities to ensure you achieve your goals.
To view our full range of benefits please follow the link here.
What you will be doing
The Development Advice teams (including GHEU) support Regions Group’s unique and respected national role, to identify, explain, protect and care for the historic environment, by offering expert advice across the country.
We do this by ensuring our advice is influential, consistent nationally and informed by the best evidence. We help shape historic places for the public good, so that the historic environment plays its role in making vital places for people now and in the future.
As Principal Inspector (GHEU) you will be a lead specialist, with your main within GHEU, but with reference also to the central Development Advice team.
You will have equal specialist expertise in the sustainable management of change to historic buildings and areas and in stakeholder engagement at a senior level. Your highly developed expertise will be applied impartially in a variety of situations across the government’s historic estate and the occupied royal palaces.
As a key member of the GHEU team, you will contribute your expertise and judgement to the full range of the team’s work, ensuring that casework is escalated to the Executive Team whenever it raises issues that are novel, high-profile or sensitive. You will lead on some of the most sensitive and complex cases, working to influence and support Government and the Royal Household in the sustainable management of the historic sites in their care. You will have a leading role in relation to the Biennial Report on the Care of the Government Historic Estate.
For the central Development Advice team, you will support the Director of Development Advice on matters relating to the management of the government’s national estate, including leading on developing policy and strategies for government disposals, and advising on Urgent Crown Development . The role will encompass consideration of our approach to these areas of work or aspects of them, the review of processes and training.
In respect of both teams you will liaise with Ministries on behalf of Historic England, particularly those with large historic estates, building and maintaining relationships to achieve Historic England’s objectives.
You will work in a way that is integrated with teams at regional and national level, and may contribute, on occasion, to the work of other teams within and beyond Regions Group, supporting corporate activities where needed, to influence national advice and policy.
In all aspects of the role you will apply the ethos of ‘constructive conservation’ and make effective use of HE’s Conservation Principles in your own work; you will also develop the capabilities and knowledge of others, and will have a local and national remit to mentor and develop colleagues’ expertise in your area(s) of specialism.
You will have a key role in shaping local and national strategy in your areas of specialist expertise, for example through expert input to leadership team discussions and decision making.
Who we are looking for
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A proven track record of working constructively with Local Planning Authorities, government stakeholders and other organisations.
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An excellent understanding of the management historic buildings and conservation areas through the planning system and parallel regulatory systems, and of the legislative and policy context at both the strategic and local level, and of its role in the sustainable management of the historic environment
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Constructive and creative problem-solving skills
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Excellent team-working skills
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Ability to maintain discretion in handling sensitive material
Please note your application will be scored and assessed against the above criteria.
Historic England is a Disability Confident Leader and normally offers guaranteed interviews to disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria for the role, where it is practical and appropriate to do so. We want all candidates to shine in the recruitment process, so please tell us what we can do to help you show us your very best self. For more information, please visit our Everyone is Welcome page, or contact us at recruitmentTeam@Historicengland.org.uk if you have any recruitment queries.
We are an equal opportunity employer which values diversity and inclusion. If you have a disability or neurodiversity, we would be happy to discuss reasonable adjustments to the job with you. Having won the Gold Award from MIND for workplace wellbeing in seven consecutive years, we also recognise the importance of a healthy work-life balance.
We are an inclusive employer and believe that flexible working options are for everyone. We want to make sure our working arrangements don’t prevent anyone from joining us because of their personal circumstances. We also want to provide you with the best balance in your home and work life that we can.
We are open to considering options including job sharing, part-time working, compressed hours working and different working locations, including hybrid working. Please visit our jobs pages or contact us to find out more.
Why work for Historic England
We are committed to promoting equality of opportunity for everyone. Diversity helps us to perform better and attract more people to support our work. We welcome and encourage job applications from people of all backgrounds.
We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates and candidates with disabilities as they are within Historic England at this level.
Historic England wants all of our candidates to shine in the recruitment process. Please tell us what we can do to make sure you can show us your very best self. You can contact us by email at recruitmentTeam@Historicengland.org.uk if you have any recruitment queries.
At Historic England we use a hiring system called Applied. Applied is a behavioural science-backed recruitment platform that reduces bias, improves quality of hire and increases diversity. We do not use CV application for the majority of our hiring processes. You will answer a selection of questions that allow our hiring teams to test your skills and suitability for the role.
At Historic England, we value the expertise and individuality each candidate brings and want to hear about this in your own words. If you require the use or AI tools or other resources to support your application, we ask that all information is factually accurate, original, and reflects your own experience. To best represent yourself, we encourage you to write in your own words and use AI-generated content only as inspiration—not as direct input.
Provisional first stage interview dates: w/c 2nd November. There is a two stage interview process.
Please follow the link for a full copy of the Job Description –