Principal Design & Conservation Officer

Principal Design & Conservation Officer needed in South East London Paying £30.33 per hr ref OR111135

Full time hours on a temporary basis

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and delivery of the heritage, conservation, and design programme, ensuring alignment with wider regeneration, placemaking, sustainability, and growth objectives.
• Act as the principal adviser on conservation, heritage, urban design, and the historic environment, providing expert advice on complex, strategic, and high-profile development and regeneration projects.
• Assess and manage applications affecting listed buildings, conservation areas, and other heritage assets, including site inspections, written reports, recommendations, and negotiations with applicants and stakeholders.
• Lead the preparation and implementation of conservation policies, appraisal documents, management plans, design guidance, and heritage strategies.
• Monitor changes in legislation, planning policy, and conservation best practice, advising on their implications and implementation.
• Build effective relationships with developers, architects, statutory consultees, heritage organisations, community groups, and other stakeholders, ensuring meaningful engagement and consultation.
• Represent the organisation at meetings, public consultations, appeals, inquiries, design review panels, and stakeholder forums.
• Promote and champion high standards of design, conservation, and heritage-led regeneration.
• Provide leadership, mentoring, supervision, and technical guidance to Design and Conservation Officers and other staff, supporting professional development and service excellence.
• Prepare reports, briefings, and presentations for senior management and decision-makers, supporting strategic planning, regeneration, and historic environment initiatives.
• Ensure all work is delivered in accordance with statutory requirements, professional standards, organisational policies, and best practice.

If you are interested in the role, please email your CV to [email protected] quoting the reference number.

Essential Employment is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy. Essential Employment is an Equal Opportunities Employer.

All our roles may be subject to pre-employment checks including references so please be prepared