Professor of Cultural and Natural Heritage – Durham University

About Position/Job

Durham University is seeking to appoint an outstanding scholar to the role of Professor of Cultural and Natural Heritage in its Department of Archaeology. This is a full-time, open-ended (permanent) senior academic position aligned with the University’s strategic Heritage 360 research initiative. The role focuses on the integration of cultural and natural heritage with archaeology, supporting agenda-setting research, evidence-based policy, and innovative postgraduate teaching.
The successful candidate will bring world-leading research excellence, a strong record of external grant capture, and demonstrated leadership across disciplines. The position offers a reduced teaching load during the initial phase to prioritise research leadership, collaboration with heritage-sector partners, and contribution to interdisciplinary themes including heritage landscapes, social justice, wellbeing, and collections. This role provides a unique opportunity to shape international heritage research within a globally recognised UK university.

Position/Job Details

Position: Professor of Cultural and Natural Heritage
Institution: Durham University
Department: Department of Archaeology
Research field: Archaeology and Heritage Studies
Location: Durham, United Kingdom
Number of posts: 1
Job Type: Full-time, Permanent (Open-ended)
Start Date (Anticipated): 2026
Working Hours: 35 hours per week
Salary Range: £73,711 per annum
Required Degree/Diploma: PhD

Research area

Cultural and Natural Heritage Integration
Archaeology and Heritage Management
Heritage Landscapes and Built Environment
Evidence-based Heritage Policy and Practice
Heritage Science, Conservation, and Museum Studies
Community Engagement and Co-production

Eligibility & Qualifications

Minimum Requirements:

PhD in Archaeology, Heritage, or a closely related discipline
World-leading research profile with internationally excellent outputs
Proven leadership of national and international research projects
Strong record of external research funding
Experience supervising and mentoring PhD researchers
Evidence of excellence in postgraduate teaching
Demonstrated commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications:

Leadership within interdisciplinary or cross-institutional research platforms
Experience translating research into policy, practice, or management plans
Active engagement with non-academic and heritage-sector stakeholders

Key Responsibilities

Conduct world-leading research integrating cultural and natural heritage with archaeology
Lead and contribute to major UK and international research funding bids
Deliver and develop high-quality postgraduate teaching in heritage and archaeology
Strengthen the Department’s research culture and international profile
Supervise and mentor postgraduate and early career researchers
Contribute to academic leadership, citizenship, and departmental governance
Collaborate across disciplines within the Heritage 360 research platform