Vacancies

Why join us?

We employ around 350 staff across a diverse range of heritage specialisms, from field archaeologists and marine geophysicists to researchers and engagement specialists. With a diverse client portfolio, our UK offices are in Bristol, Salisbury, Meopham, Sheffield and Edinburgh, as well as an expanding network of international offices. 

We are always looking for enthusiastic, talented individuals to join our collaborative team. Our current job vacancies are advertised below. Can't find the heritage job you’re after? Email us a speculative application. 

Anonymising And Debiasing Our Hiring Process

Human decision making is prone to unconscious bias, no matter how well-intentioned we may be. At Wessex Archaeology we are striving to remove bias for a forward-thinking alternative to traditional candidate screening. Our hiring process anonymises candidates to level the playing field so that decisions are made solely on someone's ability - and not their background.

Benefits and Career Development 

We offer:

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

Well-being 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.
• 4 weeks enhanced Paternity Leave from day 1 
• 5 days carers leave 
• Paid sick leave from start of contract, with the number of days dependent on length of service
• Hybrid and flexible working arrangements where applicable 
• Company Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), offering a free and confidential service to the employee and immediate family in the form of counsel and assistance for personal problems such as health and stress. Confidential external advice is available on health and wellbeing issues including, work-life balance, legal and health concerns and child and elder care support. The service is available 24/7, 365 days per year.
• AIG SmartHealth - Round-the-clock support for you and your family

Sustainability and other benefits 

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

Training and Development 

We are committed to supporting the ongoing professional training and development of all staff, as well as ensuring they have a high standard of health and safety awareness. Whether you are starting out in your career or an experienced professional, our aim is to help you develop.

Fairness Inclusion and Respect

We place the wellbeing of our people before all other considerations and believe our staff have the absolute right to work in an environment where they feel safe, respected and valued. We believe that when our organisation includes people with different backgrounds, talents and ideas, we are more dynamic and successful. That is why we value each and every employee as an important contributor to Wessex Archaeology. 

Our principles

• We will create a working environment free of bullying, harassment, victimisation and unlawful discrimination
• We will actively promote a culture of dignity and respect for all in which individual difference and the contribution of all staff is recognised and valued
• We treat all complaints of bullying, harassment, victimisation and unlawful discrimination seriously and with confidentiality 

We believe that everyone should be treated with fairness, respect and dignity. As an equal opportunity employer, we comply with legislation concerning non-discriminatory employment practices and are committed to providing opportunities for all. 

Our employment practices are based on qualifications, demonstrated skills and achievements without regard to age, race, gender, nationality, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, physical ability, thinking style or any other characteristics, we work hard to ensure that we offer a culture of inclusivity for all staff.

Our aim is to manage, treat, and develop people from all backgrounds fairly and transparently, encouraging open dialogue and a culture of trust to create a truly inclusive organisation.

Our core values

Wessex Archaeology have a code of seven core values that unites our staff across projects, departments and offices. These core values were developed by and for our employees, embodying the key traits that we live by as we carry out our commercial and charitable aims:

• Collaborative behaviour
• Authenticity and ethics
• Customer focus
• Applied knowledge
• Reliability and resilience
• Communicating passion
• Innovative thinking

Apprenticeships, Internships and Paid Work Placements

Our recent apprenticeships programme has been successful. Very occasionally we have opportunities for paid work placements and internships for those interested in a career in archaeology and heritage. We will advertise any opportunities on our Vacancies page. Want to find out more about starting apprenticeships and what it's like to have a career in archaeology? Follow this link.