Heritage Recording Officer

Starting salary: £32255

Contract type: Fixed term

Grade: 3

Location: Longmore House (with hybrid working)

Working Hours: Monday - Friday, 35 hours per week

Interviews: To be held in person at Longmore House on Week Commencing 15 December 2025

As Heritage Recording Officer you will play a vital role in delivering project and programme work within our Heritage Directorate through investigating, recording, creating and curating information about the archaeology, buildings, and historic sites and landscapes of Scotland. This role presents a unique opportunity for a passionate heritage professional to combine fieldwork, research, and cutting-edge survey techniques to contribute to the National Record of the Historic Environment and to provide information to help us achieve our directorate's priorities.

Benefits of joining us at Historic Environment Scotland

• Enrolment onto a Civil Service Pension scheme – 28% employer contribution
• 25 days annual leave, pro-rata (increasing to 30 days after 3 years public holidays
• Reimbursement for relevant professional subscriptions
• Support for further education and personal development
• Study leave for work related courses
• Flexible working hours (where appropriate)
• Free entry to all of our properties (with up to three guests)
• Free entry to English Heritage, Manx and Cadw properties

Key Responsibilities of this role

• Researching, producing and delivering information about the historic environment in a variety of forms to support the National Record of the Historic Environment (published via ) and to support the work of the wider directorate.
• Planning and delivering survey fieldwork, including spatial data capture, UAV imaging, measured survey, geophysical survey & photography.
• Post-survey and desk-based data processing, analysis and interpretation, including working with a variety of spatial data in GIS.
• Creating graphic outputs using a range of software, and producing written outcomes.
• Management of data and information, and archiving of material using appropriate systems to established standards.
• Working as part of a team and with other teams to help define priorities for your work and to deliver appropriate outputs to agreed deadlines.
• Working with colleagues to understand and manage risks and safety.
• Supporting the training of colleagues and the public in heritage survey and recording techniques.

Key requirements of the role:

In order for you to be successful in this post, we will be looking for you to submit a cover letter which addresses how you can meet each of the essential and desirable criteria (in up to 1,200 words), using examples of where you have demonstrated these criteria previously. Please ensure that you provide real life examples for each of the criteria to be considered for this post. You can use examples of how you have met this criteria from your work life, home life, education or volunteer experience.

Essential:

• Broad and demonstrable knowledge of Scotland's historic environment and relevant approaches to recording and understanding archaeological sites and landscapes.
• Experience of working in heritage recording, and some understanding of the requirements of producing accurate, informative heritage data.
• Familiarity with the technical aspects of survey and recording applicable in the historic environment sector (e.g. digital data capture, site description, photography, drawn illustration, geophysical survey, camera drone imaging, LiDAR).
• Computer Literacy – use of Microsoft Office software, spreadsheets and databases.
• Experience of working with maps and GIS systems to integrate and analyse various types of spatial data, including remote sensing data, in (e.g. QGIS/ArcGIS).
• Ability to undertake editing and processing of digital material using graphic-related and surveying software (for example, Adobe Creative Cloud, Leica R360+, Reality Scan, Pix4D).
• Demonstrable research and analytical skills and the ability to write in plain English.
• Ability to manage resources effectively to deliver an outcome e.g. equipment inventorying and planning/co-ordinating resources for a project.
• A full driving licence or ability to use independent means of travel.
• SCQF Level 9 (Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework) qualifications in relevant subject matter i.e. archaeology, history, geography, geosciences or equivalent relevant experience are required for this post

We are dedicated to building a workforce which is reflective of diversity within Scotland. We warmly welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, regardless of age, race, gender or gender identity, religious beliefs, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, or neurodiversity. In support of our Gaelic Language Plan, we welcome applications from Gaelic speakers.

We want every candidate to have the best chance to succeed during the recruitment process. If you require your application in an alternative format, please reach out to us via email at or call our Head Office at and speak to a member of our People Team.

Please note that, at this time, we are unfortunately unable to provide sponsorship as part of the recruitment process, therefore you must have current right to work in the UK to be considered for a post.