Oxford Archaeology
Community Engagement and Social Value Project Manager - Oxford, Cambridge or Lancaster
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Required for Oxford, Cambridge or Lancaster
Oxford Archaeology’s Hybrid Working Policy will apply (see benefits).
Salary Range £44,774 To £57,175 (dependant On Experience)
Note – Our current work programme includes projects in the South-East, and this role requires travel for delivery in these locations. Other similar travel may be required.
Line Manager: Head of Community Engagement and Social Value
Line Management Responsibilities: Community Engagement Officers and Community Engagement Supervisors as required
Contract: Permanent
Hours: 37.5 hours per week. Flexibility to work weekends and evenings as required (TOIL or paid overtime available).
Function: Reporting to the Head of Community Engagement and Social Value, the Community Engagement and Social Value Project Manager will develop and manage imaginative, meaningful, and impactful archaeological engagement and social value projects in partnership with Project Managers and Team Leaders. The Community Engagement and Social Value Project Manager will manage CESV Officers and Supervisor placements to develop and build OA’s CESV capacity.
The Community Engagement and Social Value Project Manager will work closely with the Head of Community Engagement and Social Value to deliver OA’s Community Engagement and Social Value Strategy and achieve broader organisational strategic objectives, advocating for community engagement and social value across the organisation and sector.
About The Community Engagement And Social Value Team
Oxford Archaeology is committed to empowering communities to work towards an equitable and sustainable future through understanding and connecting with our shared past. This work is led by Oxford Archaeology’s Community Engagement and Social Value (CESV) Team. Our role is to bring the discoveries made by our archaeological specialists to new and existing audiences, through exciting and enriching engagement projects. Our work includes both social value projects funded by commercial development (e.g. infrastructure and large-scale private developments) and community engagement projects funded by other means (e.g. partnering with local charities, research grants, and our own charitable work). We collaborate with stakeholders to develop and design these programmes, so we can harness archaeological heritage to address local priorities and contemporary challenges. To deliver these projects, we work with regional teams across Oxford Archaeology’s three offices (Lancaster, Cambridge, and Oxford), supporting our colleagues in Fieldwork and Post-Excavation to build and develop their engagement skills. We also closely collaborate with the Head of Communications and Communications Team to share our work and discoveries through online channels.
Responsibilities
- Manage staff on key CESV projects across OA
- Comply with and provide feedback on organisational requirements for quality, Health, Safety, and Environment, Safeguarding, legal requirements, general duty of care and other relevant policies
- Monitor and support the delivery of OA’s Objectives and Aims for Community Engagement and Social Value
- Support the delivery of OA's organisational strategy
- Manage collaborative programme development (including tenders and funding bids, objectives and outcomes, and evaluation) with community stakeholders, internal colleagues (including joint venture colleagues), clients and funders, to deliver meaningful impact for local communities.
- Maintain and develop OA's strategic partnerships with external stakeholders to facilitate impactful engagement
- Determine and assemble appropriate project teams, including subcontracting specialists, and other staff resource requirements
- Control project costs, quality, and progress of impactful engagement projects to ensure effective and successful project delivery.
- Manage evaluation and reporting on individual community engagement and social value projects, using qualitative and quantitative data, for internal and external audiences (including clients, industry peers, community members etc).
- Manage training and development for direct reports and placements.
- Manage training opportunities for regional staff to build and develop engagement skills.
- Take responsibility for professional self-development and performance management.
- Internally and externally advocate for the potential of archaeology to address contemporary challenges and deliver meaningful public impacts for new and existing audiences in high-profile contexts.
- Provide internal guidance on archaeological community engagement and social value best practice to colleagues from other teams.
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Requirements And Behaviours
- Strong understanding of effective methods and tools to manage staff, fostering a collaborative, compassionate, supportive and reflective working environment.
- Thorough understanding of relevant legislative and statutory guidance and models of best practice, and how to ensure compliance in own work and across OA.
- Developed analytical skills, capable of interpreting complex data such as evaluation, performance and financial information, identifying organisational, departmental and project needs, and recognising strengths and areas for improvement.
- Imaginative and creative approach to designing and developing community engagement and social value programmes and proposals that are financially and commercially sound, with enthusiasm for exploring new practices and approaches.
- Ability to manage complex relationships with varied stakeholders, including colleagues, communities and clients, adapting tone and vocabulary in verbal and written communication for different audiences.
- Effective collaborator, capable of working with varied stakeholders towards shared goals, navigating conflicting priorities, and working closely with colleagues with different specialisms and stakeholders with different experiences and priorities.
- Comprehensive project management skills, including the ability to manage resources, track finances, resource effectively and lead a project team.
- Specialist understanding of evaluation and Social Return on Investment valuation and its implementation, including different frameworks, valuation systems and methods for specific project types and audience groups.
- Ability to guide, influence and train other members of OA staff, effectively sharing expertise, knowledge and understanding with non-specialists.
- Effective communicator, able to report effectively on projects and departmental activities, and advocate compellingly for Community Engagement and Social Value.
- Committed to embedding principles of equality, diversity, inclusion and accessibility throughout own work, group work, and OA generally.
- Passionate and enthusiastic about heritage and archaeology and their potential to deliver public benefit.
- Reflective, with the ability to identify and implement improvements and changes to support continuing organisational, project and personal development.
- Strategic, adept at understanding long-term goals and identifying opportunities to contribute to these through intentional use of resources and understanding of individual agency.
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An Enhanced Disclosures and Barring Service and a Baseline Personnel Security Standard clearance will be required for this role.
Employee Benefits
- Competitive, constantly benchmarked, salary range £44,774 to £57,175 (appointments will be made on the basis of demonstrated ability, previous experience and CIfA membership if appropriate).
- Generous annual leave with 25 days per year in addition to statutory holidays and concessionary days at Christmas.
- A company pension scheme with 6% employer contributions. Employees with ten years of employment or in project management roles gaining access to Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), which is one of the few remaining defined benefit schemes in the UK.
- Continued professional development is strongly encouraged through a very supportive approach to further training and education, attendance of and contribution to conferences, and involvement with academic institutions.
- A generous hybrid working policy is in place, dependant on role, and a considerate approach is taken to flexible and part-time working where appropriate to the role, individuals’ personal circumstances, and the needs of the business.
- Subsistence payment of £23.50 per night (tax free) and free, single room accommodation (usually B&B or self-catering) for away-based projects.
- 37.5 hour (basic) week with optional paid overtime at time and a half for hours in-excess of 37.5 hours Monday-Friday and on Saturdays, and double time on Sundays and bank holidays.
- Paid travel time for journeys to site that take longer than one hour from the office.
- Comprehensive care for employee welfare through a number of policies, including: the AXA Health Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) Premier, generous paid sick leave and a network of mental health first aiders.
- Free DSE eye test with a voucher towards VDU-only glasses (via Specsavers) where required.
- We pay 100% of CIfA subscription fees.
- Cycle to work scheme.
How To Apply
Please submit the following documents via email to HR@oxfordarchaeology.com.
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A CV no longer than two side of A4, tailored to this role.
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A covering letter setting out
- Why are you interested in this role? (no more than 500 words)
- What key strengths would you bring to this role at Oxford Archaeology? (no more than 500 words)
- Why does archaeological engagement matter? (no more than 500 words)
If you have any questions, please contact community@oxfordarchaeology.com
Closing date: Monday 3rd August 2026
Oxford Archaeology is an Equal Opportunities employer. All applications are judged on the relevant skills and experience of the candidate, and not by gender, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, belief, age, nationality (other than where work permits may be required), or ethnicity. You must meet the requirements to live and work in the UK by UK Visas and Immigration.
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