Fieldwork Staff (Project Officers, Supervisors)

Location: Sheffield (flexible working supported)

Contract: Full-time 12-month Fixed Term with possibility of extension

Reference: SHEFFWK.03.26

Supervisor - £29,469 - £33,026

Officer - £32,570 - £37,783

Closing date: 13 April 2026

Why join us?

Bringing together leading minds and practitioners in the sector, Wessex Archaeology is a trusted archaeology and heritage service provider and educational charity. From our network of offices, we work in partnership with our clients to deliver sustainable solutions to manage the historic environment - above ground, below ground and underwater. We are committed to our social impact. This means using the knowledge and connections we make through our commercial activities as a catalyst to engage the communities in which we work.

Join us and you’ll be part of a collaborative team committed to shaping a better future for our staff, the sector and the world. As well as having knowledgeable and dedicated colleagues, you’ll have a chance to be part of a variety of exciting projects in the North of England offering an opportunity to develop your skills, knowledge and experience working on complex and high-profile archaeological projects. We currently require staff for a range of significant infrastructure projects, both ongoing and upcoming, comprising evaluation and excavation works across Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and Norfolk.

Willingness to work away from home for four nights per week for long periods of the contract is essential.

The roles – what’s involved?

Supervisor

You will supervise teams excavating and recording archaeological features and deposits and taking an active role in excavation and recording. You’ll apply your archaeological knowledge and experience gained supervising evaluations and excavations to make sure that your and others’ work is high quality. Enthusiastic and with a keen interest in British Archaeology, you’ll have excellent excavation skills and be confident machine watching and undertaking site GPS surveys. A key part of the role will be motivating others and you’ll be confident creating positive collaborative working relationships with colleagues across the programme team.

Main responsibilities will include:

Supervising teams to deliver projects on a variety of archaeological sites.
Excavation and recording of features and deposits
Working closely with Sub-contractors and Principal Contractors.
Making sure that health, safety and wellbeing methodologies and policies are followed on site.
Supervising plant
Motivating and leading site teams to develop skills
Help Deliver site strategies.
Monitor initial site data.
Ensuring work is completed to deadline and of a high standard.

Project Officer

With experience in directing across a variety of archaeological projects, you’ll be responsible for leading archaeological teams developing on-site strategies. You'll be enthusiastic and used to applying your knowledge and experience to help develop and implement site excavation strategies, ensuring sites are recorded and excavated to the highest quality.

You’ll have a good understanding of health safety and wellbeing policies and a firm commitment to ensuring safe working conditions and practices. Comfortable building collaborative relationships with colleagues and contractors, you’ll be responsible for setting deadlines and successfully leading and motivating teams to produce high-quality work.

Main responsibilities will include:

Leading teams to produce high-quality of work.
Planning site excavation strategies to meet deadlines.
Supervising plant.
Making sure that health, safety and wellbeing methodologies and policies are understood, communicated and followed on site.
Working closely with sub-contractors and Principal Contractors and SPOs, when required.
Monitoring initial site data quality to ensure accuracy.

What can you look forward to?

Our focus is on creating a collaborative culture where people can thrive and develop, and where safety and wellbeing come first. From anonymising candidate data in our recruitment process to continuous improvements in our benefits, we’re committed to creating a safe, fair and inclusive working environment.

We offer:

22 days of annual leave per year plus bank holidays rising to 27 after 5 years of continuous service.
Option to buy up to 5 days holiday per year.
Salary Sacrifice Pension Scheme, Wessex Archaeology employer pension contribution 6.5%.
Life assurance scheme of three times your basic salary.

Wellbeing and family-friendly benefits

Our maternity, adoption and shared parental pay is 100% for 12 weeks, 90% for 21 weeks and 6 weeks statutory, day 1 eligibility.
Enhanced paternity leave, up to 4 weeks from day 1.
5 days of carers leave.
Paid sick leave from the start of a contract, with the number of days dependent on length of service.
Hybrid and flexible working arrangements where applicable.
Company Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) - free and confidential service in the form of counselling and assistance in areas such as health and stress.
AIG SmartHealth – round-the-clock support for you and your family.

Sustainability and other benefits

Electric Vehicle Salary Sacrifice Scheme.
Bike2Work scheme.
100% Professional membership costs reimbursed.
High-quality personal protective equipment (PPE) provided.
Free transport from regional offices to sites.
Time in lieu or paid time for drivers.
Subsistence allowance.

How to apply

Interested in working with us?

Email your completed application form and equal opportunities monitoring form by 13 April 2026 to wa.applications@wessexarch.co.uk. All applications will be acknowledged within two weeks of the closing date. If you have questions about the role, then please contact wa.applications@wessexarch.co.uk.

We welcome applications from people with disabilities and aim to be supportive in our recruitment and employment practices. Please let us know if you need any special arrangements or adjustments in the application or interview process.

Successful candidates must have proof of identity and eligibility to work in the UK by the start of their employment.

Downloads

Application Form

Downloads

Equal Opportunities Form

WESSEX ARCHAEOLOGY LIMITED

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