Heritage Manager

Key Information

Job title: Principal IP Specialist Heritage Manager

Salary: Circa £58,000     Grade: Band 3

Contract type: TfL     Reference: 3669

Team: Town Planning & Heritage     Directorate: IP - Professional Services

Contract details: Full-time     Location: Southwark SE1 and pan-London, with hybrid working
Standard hybrid working within this team enables a balance of 50 per cent of time split between the office (or working on-site) and home over a 4-week period. However, working arrangements are subject to business requirements, and for this role, flexibility will be required, as on-site meetings can arise at short notice. For the first six months at least, a greater proportion of time will be required on the TfL network familiarising yourself with our rich heritage assets and engaging with our clients.

Application closing date: 24 February 2026 @ 2359

Overview of project/role

TfL’s Town Planning & Heritage team brings together specialist town planners and heritage experts who help to shape the evolution of London’s transport network while safeguarding its rich historic environment. The team provides expert guidance  for transport infrastructure schemes on road, rail, river, advising on everything from electric vehicle charging infrastructure to major rail extensions.  It plays a central role in preserving and enhancing TfL’s extensive heritage estate including listed stations, historic bridges and conservation‑area assets—while supporting high‑quality design and public realm improvements.  The heritage specialists also advise Places for London who manage our extensive commercial portfolio and have an ambitious programme to develop new housing projects on underutilised land.

As TfL’s Heritage Manager, you’ll play a key role in making sure TfL manages its infrastructure and properties in line with heritage legislation, policy and good practice, while helping to ensure that the diversity of London’s heritage is properly recognised. You’ll be working in a complex, 24/7 transport environment where operational demands and rigorous safety requirements shape how heritage responsibilities can be met, so a pragmatic, a solutions focused mindset is essential. Day-to-day, you’ll collaborate with project teams to shape proposals that meet heritage expectations first time, building strong relationships with local authority conservation officers along the way.

Your work will stretch from advising on the installation of new equipment in listed stations; guiding retail tenants through heritage sensitive fit-outs; supporting teams as they seek to introduce changes such as new cycleways into historic townscapes;   influencing the design of step free access schemes and major programmes like the Bakerloo Line Extension; all with a view to ensuring that heritage is embedded from the earliest stages. You’ll be responsible for the ongoing maintenance and development of TfL’s Heritage Registers and provide broader guidance/training on built heritage matters across the organisation.  You will be TfL’s discipline lead for all heritage matters and manage TfL’s heritage specialist(s).

Key Accountabilities

Your duties will include, but not be limited to:

• Champion TfL’s heritage approach by applying inclusive, advanced heritage expertise to balance operational needs with the protection and enhancement of heritage assets
• Provide proactive specialist advice to project teams, helping shape creative, heritage sensitive solutions that minimise consents risk and give appropriate weight to the historic environment
• Strengthen organisational awareness of heritage through maintaining and developing TfL’s Heritage Registers, offering clear guidance, and providing training that promotes consistent, informed management of the heritage estate
• Monitor and interpret best practice across regional, national and international heritage initiatives to ensure TfL’s management of its heritage assets reflects London’s diversity and aligns with emerging best practice
• Ensure alignment with policy and legislation by advising on how the Mayor’s Transport Strategy and related policy documents reflect heritage and conservation requirements s
• Build and maintain strong external partnerships with key heritage stakeholders such as Historic England, local conservation officers and specialist organisations including the Railway Heritage Trust
• Lead and support Heritage Specialists by role modelling TfL’s Vision, Values and People Leader Framework, creating an inclusive environment that empowers others to excel

Skills, Knowledge & Experience

Skills

• High standard of written and verbal communication, with the ability to produce good quality reports, presentations and other material, conveying complex issues in a manner appropriate for the audience (Essential)
• Excellent negotiation skills and the ability to advise and influence colleagues to manage conflicting priorities and stakeholder expectations, developing innovative solutions to deliver positive outcomes and maintain effective working relationships (Essential)
• Excellent research and analytical skills with expertise in the identification and assessment of architectural and historical significance; the appraisal of national, regional and London legislation, policy developments and trends; and the ability to make recommendations based on complex information (Essential)
• Ability to work under pressure, leading and supporting on different projects whilst managing staff and other resources (Essential)
• Good IT skills including PowerPoint, SharePoint and Excel (Essential)
• Effective people leadership skills including capability to successfully motivate and develop colleagues in a matrix environment (Essential)

Knowledge

• Degree in Built Heritage Conservation / Architecture / Urban Design / Town Planning, or other relevant qualification and extensive relevant experience at a senior level (Essential)
• Excellent understanding of the historic environment, legislation and best practice in relation to heritage and town planning consents (Essential)
• Expert knowledge and understanding of the value, opportunities and constraints of working within the historic environment and the need to develop innovative solutions, balancing different and potentially competing priorities (Essential)
• Excellent understanding of the roles and duties of central government and London’s local planning, transport and heritage organisations (Essential)
• Good understanding of London’s transport system, its role, history and the contribution it makes to the quality of the public realm and built environment (Essential)
• Membership of relevant professional body (e.g. Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC), Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)) (Desirable)

Experience

• Significant experience of conducting advanced assessments of heritage matters and defending these when challenged eg at Committees, meetings with the public and Public Inquiries (Essential)
• Proven experience of working with public agencies and private developers on a variety of complex projects in the historic environment and successfully securing agreement (Essential)
• Proven experience of providing high quality technical advice on heritage matters including production of bespoke guidance and negotiation on heritage consenting matters to achieve satisfactory heritage outcomes and obtaining the required consents (Essential)
• Demonstrable experience of stakeholder management, in particular dealing with large, high profile external organisations and complex internal relationships as well as specialist interest groups (Essential)
• Experience of working in a fast-moving sensitive, political environment (Essential)
• Leading, developing, and motivating colleagues / teams in a matrix environment (Essential)

Application Process

• Please apply using your CV and a one-page covering letter
• Think carefully about the skills, knowledge and experience in the advert and cover this in your CV and cover letter
• PDF format preferred and do not include any photographs or images

If you would like to learn more about the role, we are holding drop-in sessions via Microsoft Teams, where you can meet some of our existing team and get a chance to ask any questions you may have.

18 Feb 12.30 – 13.30 – click to join online
Meeting ID: 390 533 295 708 25 
Passcode: 7mC2YJ7b

Equality, diversity and inclusion

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. We want to represent the city we serve, which will help us become a more innovative and efficient organisation. Our goal is to make our recruitment as inclusive as possible. We are a disability confident employer who guarantee an interview to any disabled candidate who meets all of the essential criteria. We also use anonymising software that removes identifying information from CVs and cover letters to make the process fair.

Benefits

In return for your commitment and expertise, you will enjoy excellent benefits and scope to grow. Rewards vary according to the level of role but mostly include the below:

• Final salary pension scheme
• Free travel for you on the TfL network
• Reimbursement of 75% of the cost of a standard class Ticket for National Rail travel from home to work or 75% reimbursement on a 28-day flexi ticket
• 30 days annual leave plus public and bank holidays
• TfL is committed to work-life balance, operating a hybrid working approach where business and role requirements allow
• Private healthcare discounted scheme (optional)
• Tax-efficient cycle-to-work programme
• Retail, health, leisure and travel offers
• Discounted Eurostar travel

We will make every effort to give you as much notice as possible, however some interviews/assessments could be organised at short notice.

Vetting Process

At Transport for London, safety, trust and fairness sit at the heart of how we recruit. Our Vetting Charter (https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/careers/our-vetting-process) explains the checks we carry out before you join us, helping ensure we create a safe, inclusive and reliable network for everyone who depends on our services. We simply ask that the information you provide is honest and accurate so we can progress your application smoothly. If something doesn’t match or can’t be verified, we may not be able to move forward with your application, but we’ll always treat you with transparency, respect, and clear communication throughout.