Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: Grade I. Scale 35 - £46,142 to Scale 39 - £50,269 with a professional bar at Scale 37 - £48,226**
Hours Per Week: 36 hours
Base Location: Tameside One
Assessment Date: To be arranged
The Role
Be part of something exceptional. Shape the future by protecting the past.
Tameside is on an exciting journey. Recently selected by the National Lottery Heritage Fund as one of the UK’s new “Heritage Places”and the first in Greater Manchesterwe are securing long-term investment to unlock the full potential of our historic environment.
We are now seeking a Principal Conservation Officer to play a pivotal role in delivering this ambitious visionprotecting and enhancing our rich heritage while supporting regeneration, growth, and high-quality placemaking across the borough.
As our Principal Conservation Officer, you will lead on heritage and conservation matters across Tameside, ensuring that development respects local character and contributes positively to our places and communities.
You will:
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Provide specialist heritage advice on planning applications, listed buildings, and conservation areas
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Shape planning policy and develop strategies that safeguard and enhance the historic environment
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Lead a multidisciplinary team including urban design, landscape, and arboriculture specialists
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Support major regeneration projects, ensuring heritage is central to sustainable growth
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Champion innovative reuse of heritage assets and address buildings at risk
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Represent Tameside in regional partnerships, including the Greater Manchester Conservation Officers Group
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Manage key initiatives such as conservation area programmes and shopfront improvement grants
This is a unique opportunity to influence place-making at scale and help deliver real, lasting impact for communities.
Why Join Us?
At Tameside, you’ll be part of a ambitious, collaborative organisation where your ideas and expertise are valued.
We offer:
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Competitive salary and benefits including membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme
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The chance to work on major mixed use regeneration and heritage projects
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Strong commitment to professional development and career progression
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A supportive, innovative and forward-thinking culture
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Opportunities to shape the borough for future generations
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A workplace that values wellbeing, creativity, and inclusion
About You
We’re looking for a motivated and experienced heritage professional who can bring expertise, leadership, and creativity to the role.
Essential requirements
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A degree in conservation, planning, architecture, archaeology, or a related field
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Significant experience providing heritage advice within planning and regeneration contexts
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Strong understanding of heritage legislation, policy, and best practice
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Proven ability to assess historic buildings and advise on repair, design, and impact
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Experience developing heritage strategies and delivering conservation-led outcomes
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Excellent communication skillsable to influence colleagues, stakeholders, and communities
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Experience working collaboratively across disciplines and with external partners
Desirable (but not essential)
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Professional accreditation (e.g. IHBC, RTPI, RIBA, CIfA)
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Experience in local authority or city-region environments
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Knowledge of Greater Manchester heritage networks
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Experience managing staff or projects and delivering grant programmes
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Familiarity with tools such as GIS or CAD
Make a Difference
This is more than a jobit’s an opportunity to protect Tameside’s heritage while helping drive its future.
If you are passionate about conservation and want to make a tangible impact on places and communities, we’d love to hear from you.
About Us
Come shape the future of Tameside with us!
Message from Julian Jackson, Director of Housing, Environment & Estates at Tameside Council.
“Since joining Team Tameside in September 2022, I’ve been proud to work alongside a hardworking and passionate team that’s making a real difference to our borough.
“Our Place Directorate is at the heart of shaping Tameside, covering everything from planning and highways to parks, culture, arts, environmental services, and facilities management. Whether it’s keeping our streets clean, improving green spaces, or driving forward exciting regeneration projects, our work makes a direct impact on the lives of residents and businesses every day.
‘’We’ve already delivered some amazing projects, like Ashton Old Baths, and are currently working on master plans for our town centres in Stalybridge, Hyde, with projects like Ashton Mayoral Development Zone, and Godley Green Garden Village also set to create new homes, jobs and commercial spaces. But it’s not just about developments, day to day it’s about making sure our core services are modern, efficient, and able to support thriving communities and safeguard our heritage buildings and assets for the future.
To do that, we need passionate people to join us. If you want to be part of a team that’s driving real change, improving local services, and shaping the future of Tameside, we’d love to have you on board.
Come and be part of something great. Let’s build the future of Tameside together!’’
** This post is classified as being in a professional job category. As such the grade for the job has a professional grade development bar which employees can progress through subject to meeting the following criteria:
1. Relevant professional qualification for the job role at Level 6 or above, AND
2. Minimum of 2 years post qualification experience in the role, AND
3. Maintained membership of a regulated body where this is a requirement to practice in the role where applicable, AND
4. Professional standards practised to the highest expected level.
This is a politically restricted post.
This post is a designated customer facing role under the fluency duty and requires a specified level of spoken English.
If you have completed the GM Elevate (Leadership Development) Programme, please indicate this within the ‘About You’ or ‘Supporting Statement’ section of your application.
Unfortunately, at this time we are not able to offer sponsorship.
We are committed to developing a culture which respects individuals, appreciates difference and allows everyone regardless of background to reach their full potential. We are proud to be an accredited disability confident employer. Reasonable Adjustments will be considered in accordance with the Equality Act 2010 in relation to the Job Role Criteria.
Our rewards and benefits package can be viewed here
For further information about this role please contact the recruiting manager Graham Holland on 07970456260 or [email protected]
