Training Placement Description

For employment with The Glamorgan Gwent Archaeological Trust

Please note applications for this traineeship are now closed

• Based in: The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust Ltd Heathfield House. Heathfield, Swansea, SA1 6EL
• Reporting to: Training supervisor/line manager at GAT
• Training overseen by: Bursaries Co-ordinator based at the CBA in York
• Bursary: £16,450, plus attractive pension
• Hours: Subject to the host organisation’s policies on work time, but with adherence to IfA’s recommendations on employment packages, e.g. 7.5 hours per day/37.5 hours per week with work time outside of these hours being compensated with time off in lieu. Post holders will be expected to work evenings and weekends as necessary with some flexibility.

Download an Application Pack here

• GGAT: Community Archaeology Training Placement DOC | 837 KB

Role: The role will require individuals to learn by directly working with line managers, training providers and mentors at the host organisations in order to acquire the skills needed to run and support effective community archaeology projects.

The skills being acquired/developed will be the kind of ‘soft’/intangible skills that are needed when working with the public/voluntary sector. These will include:

• Interpersonal skills, for example: social skills and coping with authority
• Organisational skills, such as: personal organisation, and the ability to order and prioritise
• Analytical skills, such as: the ability to exercise judgement, manage time or solve problems
• Personal skills, for example: insight, motivation, confidence, reliability and health awareness

These skills will be developed utilising archaeological information and practice as a learning and support mechanism. Postholders will be supported to learn how to enhance hard skills, such as excavation, archiving, processing, recording, publication - by using, presenting and interpreting archaeological information for public benefit and community/volunteer capacity building.

Postholders will undertake a number of tasks to develop knowledge of how to work with the voluntary sector. These will include (this is not an exhaustive list):

• Designing and running archaeological training sessions
• Designing interpretive and learning materials
• Initiating and supervising fieldwork involving volunteers
• Identifying and co-ordinating archaeological projects
• Setting up and co-ordinating networking opportunities
• Updating contact management systems
• Archiving and record management
• Identifying and contacting specific community groups for inclusion
• Evaluating the social outcomes of projects involving volunteers and community groups
• Contribution (where appropriate) to funding applications, either by the host organisation or by voluntary groups with which the host organisation interacts
• Publication for a variety of audiences
• Communication both oral and written (particularly in the context of explaining complex concepts).
• Postholders will also learn how to utilise new media to maximise access and share information.

Personal Qualities: CATP holders will

• Be highly motivated to learn and develop their skills and apply these skills in a community context and for the benefit of the communities in which they will be working
• Be able to work under supervision, instruction and within a team, but will also be able to use their own initiative to work on your own, where necessary and/or appropriate
• Be willing and keen to gather evidence and materials related to the role to assist in compiling a resource to inform future training of individuals in this field
• Contribute to dissemination of information on the project and their work through presentation at conferences or by publication in journals, magazines or newsletters
• Be highly motivated individuals required to facilitate and encourage people in the local community to explore and discover the historic environment
• Be willing to undertake an NVQ in archaeological practice using existing and/or new experience/evidence within the 12 months of the placement
• Contribute to development and management of ‘community resources’ of equipment and materials for public use and provide training, advice and resources for fieldwork, duration and dissemination
• Promote best practice among the community by helping them with their projects, and enable a greater number and variety of people to get involved
• Be willing and keen to design and deliver training opportunities for community groups
• Be willing and keen to work with diverse communities in the location of their placement and gather information related to working with them and recommendations for developing community working practices to better suit their needs

A full job description and person specification is available in the Applicant Pack.

The post will be based at the host offices in the areas listed above. The post-holder will work in the office or community, local area as necessary. The post-holder will be required to travel within the area covered by the post to work with communities. This may on occasion entail working at weekends or evenings and days off in lieu will be used to compensate for this.

Candidates must be able to demonstrate that they are eligible to work in the UK.

Application is by application form and a covering letter, which should clearly show how you meet the essential and preferred criteria for the post as outlined in the person specification.

The closing date for receipt of completed application forms is Friday 20th January 2012. Interviews will be held on 8th February 2012.

Please mark your applications for the attention of Andrew Marvell, Chief Executive and send them by post to The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust Ltd Heathfield House. Heathfield, Swansea, SA1 6EL. If you require an acknowledgement of receipt of your application, please enclose a stamped, addressed envelope. Alternatively, you can email your application to Andrew@ggat.org.uk, please title the e-mail GGAT CATP Application followed by your name.

About Glamorgan Gwent Archaeological Trust

The work of the Trust is overseen by an elected Board of Trustees, and co-ordinated by a management team formed from senior staff. The Trust undertakes works for government and non-governmental bodies and private sector organisations.

It maintains and continually enhances the Regional Historic Environment Record, which includes information on more than 25,000 known archaeological and historic sites and monuments and is a prime tool for education and research. The Trust provides a development-control advisory service jointly funded by the Unitary Authorities and Cadw, Currently more than 14,000 planning applications are checked each year for implications to the Historic Environment. Actions are advised to ensure that proper assessments are carried out and appropriate measures implemented to ensure that Historic Environment interests are protected. As a result of potential conflicts of interest this area of work is separately staffed and funded and governed by a Code of Conduct approved by Cadw. The Trust also provides general advice through its Heritage Management Services to a variety of institutions and organisations including the Forestry Authority, CCW , Statutory Undertakers, the Environment Agency, National Trust, and the Church in Wales. The Trust is also a reporting station for the Portable Antiquities scheme.

The Trust through its Projects teams undertakes assessments, evaluations, surveys, watching-briefs, building recording and excavations in South Wales and elsewhere. It has had extensive involvement with many major developments in the area. In addition Projects staff carry out area wide monument assessment and historic landscape characterisation works with the intention of improving the information and evidence base to support enhanced protection of the historic environment.

The Trust has also contributed to developing research agendas through publication of its work. It promotes knowledge and learning about the past through publication, displays, leaflets, lectures and talks and actively involves the community of southeast Wales in its work including undertaking community led archaeological surveys and investigations.

The Trust is registered as an approved organisation with the Institute of Field Archaeologists (no 15) and requires all employees, whether corporate members of the Institute or not, to adhere to the Institute’s Codes and Standards as a condition of employment.

For more information about us please see our website