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Principal Heritage Consultant - Built Environment

Lead landmark heritage projects, shape sector-leading practice, and help illuminate the past to inspire the future.

Artefact Heritage and Environment is seeking an exceptional Principal Heritage Consultant – Built Environment to provide strategic, technical and people leadership within our growing multi-disciplinary heritage consultancy.

Based in Pyrmont, on Sydney Harbour, Artefact delivers archaeological, Aboriginal cultural heritage, built heritage, interpretation and environmental services across NSW, the ACT and beyond. We work with government, developers, architects, planners, designers, councils, community groups and Traditional Owners to achieve thoughtful, practical and enduring heritage outcomes.

This is a rare opportunity for a highly experienced built heritage practitioner to take a visible leadership role in a purpose-led business: guiding complex projects, mentoring talented consultants, strengthening client relationships and helping shape the future of built heritage practice.

A registered Architect with substantial heritage expertise will be viewed very favourably.

  • Your role will include:

    • Providing strategic leadership, technical direction and expert built heritage advice across Artefact’s projects and services

    • Leading and overseeing complex, sensitive and high-profile heritage projects, including project planning, resourcing, budgeting, scheduling, quality assurance and risk management

    • Acting as a senior technical reviewer and approving significant heritage reports, advice, proposals, methodologies and project strategies

    • Preparing, reviewing and delivering high-quality heritage impact statements, heritage assessments, conservation management plans, archival recording reports and related consultancy deliverables

    • Providing clear, independent and commercially practical advice to clients, regulators, project teams and other stakeholders

    • Undertaking and reviewing site inspections, heritage surveys, photographic recording, fabric analysis and field-based investigations

    • Managing multidisciplinary project teams and coordinating the contribution of Heritage Consultants and other specialists

    • Developing project proposals, fee estimates, tenders and methodologies, and contributing to the conversion of opportunities into contracted work

    • Building and maintaining strong relationships with clients, government agencies, consent authorities, architects, planners, developers, community groups and industry representatives

    • Representing Artefact at industry events, stakeholder forums and external meetings, and contributing to policy discussion and sector best practice

    • Monitoring project financial performance, utilisation, budgets and delivery timeframes to support sustainable consulting outcomes

    • Mentoring, training and supporting consultants through technical guidance, review, knowledge sharing and professional development

    • Leading continuous improvement in heritage methodologies, technical standards, quality systems and project-delivery processes

    • Promoting Artefact’s purpose, values and reputation through brave leadership, technical excellence and respectful collaboration

    The role is expected to balance approximately 60–80% billable project work with 20–40% leadership, mentoring, proposal development, business development and administration responsibilities, depending on project and business needs.

  • Essential experience and capabilities

    • At least eight years’ experience in built heritage, heritage conservation, architecture, planning, archaeology or a closely related heritage discipline

    • Demonstrated experience in a heritage consulting environment

    • Extensive experience managing heritage projects of varying size, complexity and stakeholder sensitivity

    • Strong knowledge of NSW, ACT and relevant Commonwealth cultural heritage, planning and environmental legislation

    • Ability to independently provide high-level technical, strategic and legislative advice to clients and internal teams

    • Demonstrated experience preparing and reviewing complex heritage reports, assessments, strategies, proposals and tender submissions

    • Exceptional written, analytical and technical-review skills

    • Experience managing project budgets, programme, resourcing, risk and quality assurance

    • Strong stakeholder-management capability, including experience working with clients, regulators, councils, consultants and community stakeholders

    • Demonstrated people leadership experience, including mentoring, coaching, training or managing heritage professionals

    • An ability to lead with confidence, empathy, accountability and sound professional judgement

    • A positive, solutions-focused approach to challenging heritage and project issues

    • A strong commitment to safety, quality, respectful engagement and ethical practice

    Qualifications

    You will hold tertiary qualifications in a relevant discipline, such as:

    • Architecture

    • Heritage conservation

    • Built heritage

    • Planning

    • Archaeology

    • Architectural history

    • A related cultural heritage discipline

    Postgraduate heritage qualifications will be highly regarded.

    Registered Architect status is very favourably regarded. We particularly welcome applications from registered architects with demonstrated expertise in heritage conservation, adaptive reuse, heritage planning, conservation management, heritage impact assessment and working within complex regulatory environments.

    Experience in related areas—such as historical archaeology, field survey, excavation, geomorphological assessment, regulatory compliance or environmental planning—will also be valued.

Apply

Why join Artefact?

At Artefact, we believe great work starts with great people. We create an environment where people can grow professionally and personally, contribute ideas, build meaningful careers and do work that matters.

You will be joining a close-knit, collaborative and values-led team with the opportunity to make a genuine impact on projects, people and the sector.

The opportunity

As Principal Heritage Consultant – Built Environment, you will be a senior technical authority and strategic leader for Artefact’s Built Environment team.

You will lead the delivery of complex and high-profile heritage projects from inception through to completion, ensuring excellent technical outcomes, sound commercial performance, legislative compliance and trusted client relationships. You will provide expert advice on challenging heritage, planning and regulatory matters, while setting standards for quality, innovation and professional practice across the team.

You will also play a key role in business growth: preparing and reviewing major proposals, strengthening relationships with clients and agencies, identifying opportunities, and representing Artefact in industry, government and stakeholder forums.

Just as importantly, you will be a generous and capable people leader. You will mentor senior and emerging consultants, build confidence and capability within project teams, and help foster the collaborative, inclusive and high-performing culture that makes Artefact unique.

About you

You are an accomplished Built Heritage Consultant with the judgement, credibility and leadership capability to advise on complex projects and guide others to deliver exceptional work.

You bring a strong understanding of the NSW heritage, planning and environmental framework, as well as the ability to translate technical and legislative requirements into practical advice for clients and project teams.

You are a thoughtful and confident communicator with exceptional report-writing and review skills. You can manage competing priorities, build trusted relationships and make sound decisions under pressure. You are also curious, commercially aware and motivated by the opportunity to improve systems, support people and influence the direction of the heritage profession.

If you are ready to lead important work, grow an exceptional team and help shape the future of built heritage consulting, we would love to hear from you.

Applications close ….

What we offer 

  • Attractive remuneration commensurate with experience

  • Work-life balance with flexible hours and hybrid work arrangements

  • A senior leadership opportunity within a growing, multi-service heritage and environmental consultancy

  • The chance to lead significant, complex and high-profile heritage projects

  • Professional development leave and a professional development allowance

  • Regular training, mentoring and informal learning opportunities

  • The opportunity to shape technical standards, systems and innovative heritage practice

  • Strong career development opportunities in a supportive, professional environment

  • Employee referral rewards

  • Pets at Work arrangements

  • A heritage wharf office overlooking Sydney Harbour, with regional offices in Newcastle and Bathurst

  • An Empowered Business Model that gives you space in your working week to take actions for positive social and environmental change

Our values

Artefact is proudly a purpose-led company with social and environmental justice in our DNA. Artefact invites people who are curious, collaborative and brave enough to create positive change to join their dynamic collective of heritage experts.

Our values guide how we work:

  • Think deeply, act bravely — We find creative solutions, even when they challenge conventional thinking.

  • Say what you mean, mean what you say — We communicate honestly, respectfully and with heart.

  • Work as a team, play as a team — We support each other, share knowledge and enjoy the work along the way

  • We are all in this together — We treat clients, colleagues and stakeholders with care and respect.

  • Always give your best, otherwise what’s the point? — We take pride in quality, detail and professional excellence.

  • Bring life to work — We bring our individual passions and purpose to work, and encourage others to do the same.

Acknowledgement of Country

Artefact acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands and waters of Australia. We acknowledge the Gadigal and Wangal peoples of Pirrama, where our Sydney office is located; the Awabakal, Worimi and Wonnarua peoples of the Hunter Region, where our Mulubinba/Newcastle office is located; and the Wiradyuri people of the Central West, where our Bathurst office is located. We pay our respects to Elders past and present and thank them for sustaining and caring for Country for millennia.

Meet the team

Our Built Environment team bring a wealth of experience and the latest expertise to our clients’ heritage projects.

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