Vacancies

Scottish Archaeological Finds Allocation Panel - Professional and Independent members

Would you like to play a vital role in the Treasure Trove system in Scotland?

Scottish Ministers are seeking to appoint a professional member and an independent member to the Scottish Archaeological Finds Allocation Panel (SAFAP) which provides advice to the King’s and Lord Treasurer’s Remembrancer (KLTR) about archaeological items discovered in Scotland, recommending whether the artefacts should be acquired for the nation, where they should be allocated and if a payment should be made to the finder.

Ideally the professional candidate should have relevant experience in practical archaeology including metal detecting, which is not currently represented on the Panel. The independent candidate may come from a different background with particular experience of objective assessment and decision taking, informed by specialist advice.

The Panel usually meets at least three times each year.  Members would be expected to attend all Panel meetings either in person or remotely, and any additional meetings and events. The total commitment is around 8 days per year.

The closing date for the receipt of applications is: Wednesday 7 June 2023

Interviews will be held on Tuesday 20th June (either in person in Edinburgh or online - to be confirmed). The successful applicants will be expected to take up post on Tuesday 1st August allowing time for induction before the next Panel meeting on 30th August.

Click here for the full personal specification and to apply.

Responsibilities

Overview of the Role

1. The Scottish Archaeological Finds Allocation Panel (SAFAP) advises the King’s and Lord Treasurer’s Remembrancer (KLTR), as the Crown’s representative in Scotland as to whether finds of archaeological items should be acquired on behalf of the nation for allocation to a registered Scottish museum.  The Panel also advises on any ex-gratia payments which may be made to members of the public who find and report such items.  The Panel meets three times a year to deal with treasure trove cases and meets annually with the KLTR.  Recommendations of SAFAP are passed to the KLTR who ultimately makes the decision on valuation and allocation.  Additional meetings are held in accordance with workload demands.  The SAFAP terms of reference are available with the Treasure Trove Code of Practice: https://treasuretrovescotland.co.uk/documents/code-of-practice/  
2. The Panel comprises a Chair and seven Panel members.  The Chair, three professional and one lay/independent members are appointed by the Scottish Ministers.  There are also three ex-officio representatives from Historic Environment Scotland (HES), National Museums Scotland (NMS) and Museums Galleries Scotland (MGS) who are nominated by the CEOs/Directors of these institutions on behalf of the Scottish Ministers.  Members are voluntary and receive no payment for their services.  Membership of SAFAP is drawn from a variety of backgrounds in the heritage and archaeology sector.  Their role is to give an impartial perspective, independent of any one museum or institution. 

Panel Responsibilities

1. The Treasure Trove system lies within the responsibilities of the Scottish Ministers and, in particular, the Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development. The Panel is not an advisory or executive Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB), but the Chair and Panel members are appointed at present by Scottish Ministers.
2. The Chair of SAFAP convenes meetings of the Panel and the Treasure Trove Unit refers to them any reported finds for advice. The Panel advises the KLTR on whether the Crown should exercise its right to claim a reported find, on the allocation of the find to a museum, and on any ex-gratia payment to be paid by the museum to the finder.  The Panel operates in a wholly advisory capacity and final decisions on Scottish Treasure Trove items rest with the KLTR.

Skills/Experience Required

There are no specific qualifications for these posts, however as Members of SAFAP, you will need to be able to demonstrate the personal qualities, skills and experience listed in this person specification.  In providing the evidence sought, you can draw on examples from your professional or through your participation with a private, public, voluntary, charity or community organisation.  It is important to note that to be considered for these positions you must, by the end of the process, meet all of the essential criteria for the role (essential criteria can be found here).