The Organisation

Established in 1988, Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust was founded to protect, enhance and promote the Historic Environment in Perth and Kinross. A registered charity and company limited by guarantee; our remit encompasses Historic Building Conservation,

Archaeology, Interpretation and Training. We also manage the Perth City Heritage Fund, which aims to encourage sustainable economic and social recovery within Perth by conserving and restoring Historic Buildings.

The Trust is overseen by a Board of volunteer Trustees and a team of seven employees.

More information about our organisation can be found on our website pkht.org.uk.

The Role

We are seeking an organised and proactive Built Heritage Project Officer to support the effective delivery of the £1.5m Historic Environment Scotland funded Perth City Heritage Fund. Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust award over £125,000 in funding each year through the Perth City Heritage Fund’s grant programme which helps building owners in Perth protect and repair the city’s historic buildings.

Since the Perth City Heritage Fund was established in 2012, we have delivered a range of Traditional Building Skills Training and Continuing Professional Development

events and activities. Other additional key objectives in this five-year fund include a Materials Audit, Skills Audit, and Climate Impact Assessment.

As part of their career development, and to ensure they are equipped for the technical aspects of the role, the Trust will support the successful candidate with professional development including membership of professional bodies such as IHBC or RICS.

This role would suit someone who wishes to develop their career in building conservation, and a degree or equivalent knowledge in built heritage is preferred.

Perth City Heritage Fund is supported by Historic Environment Scotland

Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust (PKHT) is a long-established and respected charity focused on the protection and enhancement of Perthshire’s historic environment. To operate effectively, the Trust relies on volunteers with a range of skills to provide strategic guidance, good governance and support to the staff. Trustees ensure that PKHT adheres to legal and financial regulations and support the wider delivery of key projects. They also champion the work of the organisation, helping to raise awareness of the Trust’s work.

Due to the retirement of a number of long-standing members, the current Trustees are looking to strengthen the Board by recruiting several new Trustees with a variety of experience and backgrounds and who have a genuine passion for safeguarding the heritage of Perth and Kinross.

The current Board is seeking applications from those with interest in the work of the Trust and who have time available to commit to supporting PKHT.

Time commitment for Trustees

The PKHT Board meets 4 times per year and meetings usually last around 2 hours. Board meetings are held in person in Perth, but a hybrid option to join online is feasible if that is more convenient. Currently, meetings are during the day but will be adapted to suit the majority of Trustees and may therefore vary in timing.

Board papers are emailed out by staff a week in advance and Trustees are expected to have read the papers in advance of the meeting so that they can support decision-making and ask any questions.

There may also be the following additional time commitments:

• Staff and Trustee Away Day -where the whole team get together to learn, meet and share ideas, usually once per year.
• Sub-committees- Trustees who are on sub-committees such as finance or the Perth City Heritage Fund will be invited to attend additional meetings. Being a member of a sub-committee is voluntary and depends on relevant experience and time availability.
• Ad hoc meetings- there may be occasional additional meetings such as an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) or where an urgent decision is required.
• Decision by email- where a decision is required, staff will email Trustees and set a deadline for response.
• Events- Trustees may be asked to represent the Trust at local or occasionally national events.
• Board appointments- those who have additional responsibilities such as Chairperson and Treasurer will have additional time commitments as required by the Board and staff.

Trustees are appointed for three years and can serve a maximum of three terms (9 years) as per the current PKHT Articles.

Candidate Experience

PKHT welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds and we particularly welcome those who are currently under-represented including younger people (see below). This ensures that we are fully representing the geographic area that we serve.

Potential Trustees must have an interest in and enthusiasm for the heritage of Perth and Kinross, and we are also looking for the following areas of expertise:

• HR
• Legal/ Charity Governance
• Finance
• Archaeology
• Building Conservation
• Architecture/ Surveying
• Community engagement

Young Trustees

PKHT is committed to increasing the diversity of its Board including through the recruitment of younger Trustees. We would therefore particularly welcome applications from people aged up to around 30 years old. All Trustees must legally be 18 years old, so this is the minimum age for applicants.

Becoming a member of a Board is useful for a person’s CV by helping to develop skills in decision-making, governance and in how grant-funded projects operate. In return, a Board gains from having the perspective of younger people who may bring a different viewpoint and can help to better represent the community a Board serves.

We understand that younger people may have little or no Board experience and we will offer support to any we recruit with mentoring from more experienced Trustees.

Preference will be given to those based in the Perth & Kinross area.