Research Officer: Finding Futures for Scotland's Churches

The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland are looking to hire a new member of staff to help co-ordinate and deliver the Finding Futures for Scotland’s Churches Project.

Working closely with Scotland’s Churches Trust, this role will collate country-wide information on both heritage and community value of Scotland’s churches. This will include collating existing information and where knowledge gaps are identified, co-ordinating heritage surveys, and engaging community-representative groups to undertake community value assessment applying the University of Stirling’s Social Value Toolkit. It will also involve setting up and supporting a network of key stakeholders. 

Role: Research Officer– full-time, fixed term for two years.

Salary: £29,200 per annum, with an additional 10% pension contribution.

Contract: 24 months (2 years)  

Hours: 37.5 hours (five days) per week with flexible daytime working hours on Monday–Friday, and an occasional requirement to assist at evening or weekend events with time of in lieu (TOIL) given for overtime provided.

Location: Hybrid working – all staff are expected to work from our office at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh at least twice per week (pro rata). Employees starting in a new role will be required to work from the office more regularly in the first instance. Please note that there are several flights of stairs up to the Society offices, although we are happy to explore different ways of working.

Main Responsibilities

•  Support the Head of Research and respective Directors of Scotland’s Churches Trust and the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland in project delivery 
• Undertake a rapid needs assessment of Scotland’s church buildings, including both desk-based and proactive survey 
• Create and maintain a database to store and share information
• Commission the creation of and maintain the project microsite, including adding regular work updates and project database 
• Work with at least five community groups to undertake heritage survey using the Recording Churches Project 
• Commission at least five community-representative organisations to undertake community value survey using the University of Stirling’s Social Value Toolkit methodology 
• Support the work of the Finding Futures Action Group as secretariat 
• Organise a symposium, workshops, and other project events as required 
• Provide updated information to any relevant stakeholder (for example, to create updates to the Canmore database or Local Authority Historic Environment Record)
• Provide written reports and updates as required, and contribute to final project reporting 

Job details

A full job description and more information about the project is available on our website.

How to apply

Submit a CV and a cover letter outlining how your experience, skills and knowledge meets the requirements (cover letter to be no more than two sides of A4) by the closing date to the Head of Research, Dr Helen Spencer FSAScot

Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed in person in Edinburgh or online via Zoom on Wednesday 2 April 2025. Reasonable travel expenses can be claimed.  

Closing date: 11:59 PM, Wednesday 26 March 2025