Heritage officer
Heritage officers support teams to take care of buildings, monuments and places valued for their cultural and historical importance.
Also known as: Historic buildings officer, listings officer
- Starter salary£25,000 a year
- Experienced£48,000 a year
- Typical hours37 to 40 a week
What you'll do
As a heritage officer, you could:
- inspect historic buildings and monuments to assess what work is needed
- respond to enquiries from the public and organisations
- research information using archives, heritage legislation and conservation standards
- review building plans and engineering drawings
- attend public events and present project proposals
- make sure work meets deadlines, budgets and conservation standards
- work closely with conservation and planning officials
- give technical advice to teams working on conservation projects
Working environment
You could work in an office or visit sites.
Your working environment may be outdoors some of the time and you may spend nights away from home.
Skills and knowledge you'll need
You'll need:
- customer service skills
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- knowledge of building and construction
- the ability to work well with others
- excellent verbal communication skills
- administration skills
- the ability to use your judgement and make decisions
- excellent written communication skills
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently
How to become a heritage officer
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- an apprenticeship
- applying directly
University
There are lots of subjects that can be useful for a career in heritage.
Examples include:
- history
- geography
- cultural heritage studies
- building conservation
- architecture
- archaeology
A postgraduate qualification can give you an advantage when you're looking for jobs.
Courses include:
- heritage management
- historic conservation
- cultural heritage management
It's important to look for internships and work experience opportunities while you study. Many people get into paid roles through volunteering or work placements.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
- a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study
Apprenticeship
You can apply to do a Historic Environment Advice Assistant Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship, with an organisation.
You might also be able to do a Level 7 Apprenticeship (non-degree qualification), depending on your experience.
These include:
- Cultural Heritage Conservator
- Archivist and Records Manager
- Historic Environment Adviser
National parks, heritage organisations, local authorities, and archaeological and conservation companies are useful places to check for potential apprenticeship vacancies.
Entry requirements
Employers will set their own entry requirements.
Volunteering
Work experience and volunteering are really important for getting into this type of work. You can look for opportunities with organisations like:
- English Heritage
- Historic England
- National Trust
- The Heritage Alliance
You could also try your local council , as they may be responsible for a number of historic buildings and sites in your area.
You can search for private companies in the heritage sector through the Historic Environment Provider Service Recognition scheme.
Some organisations have internship programmes to encourage people from under-represented groups to think about a career in heritage. For example, Historic England's Emerging Talent Placements Programme .
Direct application
You may be able to apply directly if you've got several years' experience in a related industry like:
- civil engineering or surveying
- construction project management
- planning or conservation
- archaeology
Restrictions and requirements
You may need a driving licence if your role involves travelling to sites throughout your region.
Career path and progression
With experience and professional development, you could become a heritage project manager, historical building manager, a senior inspector or heritage consultant.
You may need to relocate to a new area or move between organisations to get promotions.
Professional and industry bodies
You could join the Association for Heritage Interpretation or the Institute of Historic Building Conservation for professional development and to build up a network of contacts.
Guides for this industry
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