Archaeologist

Olsson; United States; Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Olsson is seeking qualified candidates to lead compliance projects under SOI standards and navigate NHPA requirements across multiple states. The role involves coordinating with agencies, tribes, clients, and consultants to ensure preservation goals are met.

The ideal candidate will manage field investigations, engage stakeholders, mentor team members, and collaborate with engineers and planners to integrate historic preservation into projects. Remote-friendly with regional opportunities.

Qualifications

• Graduate degree in archaeology, anthropology, history, architecture, historic preservation, or closely related field.
• SOI Professional Qualification Standards (36 CFR 61) for Archaeologist or Architectural Historian.
• Practical experience in cultural resource management or compliance with historic preservation standards.

Responsibilities

• Navigating federal, state, and local regulations to obtain permits and clearances.
• Develop NHPA documentation and coordinate with agencies and tribes.
• Lead field investigations, surveys, and documentation of historic resources.
• Organize public engagement meetings and coordinate with stakeholders.
• Collaborate with engineers, architects, and planners to integrate preservation goals.
• Oversee projects, manage timelines, budgets, and deliverables.

Skills

Regulatory compliance

NHPA knowledge

Stakeholder engagement

Project management

Field investigations

Education

Graduate degree in archaeology or related field

Job description

Colorado Springs, CO; Denver, CO; Fayetteville, AR; Lincoln, NE; Little Rock, AR; Loveland, CO; Oklahoma City, OK; Omaha, NE; Overland Park, KS; Remote

Company Description

We are Olsson. We engineer and design solutions that improve the world around us. As a company, we promise to always be responsive, transparent, and focused on results – for our people, our clients, and our company.

We’re a people‑centric firm, so it’s no surprise our greatest asset is our people. The impact this creates is an environment that encourages our people to grow and be creative with their talents. This approach builds a culture that is uniquely Olsson. It allows us to grow our people as we grow our business. This, in turn, creates a lasting impact on the world around us.

Job Description

At Olsson, we help our clients in multiple states navigate complex historical and archaeological compliance landscapes with ease. We ensure proactive adherence to key historical preservation laws and regulations, including Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) review process. Our innovative methods empower clients to achieve project goals while preserving our historical heritage.

Olsson is seeking candidates who meet the United States Secretary of Interior (SOI) Professional Qualifications Standards (36 CFR 61). The ideal candidate could be an archeologist or an architectural historian. This role is multifaceted and critical in ensuring compliance with state, local, and federal historical and archaeological preservation regulations while promoting sustainable projects. In this role, you will lead compliance projects, perform cultural resource assessments, engage with regulatory agencies, coordinate with clients, and collaborate with team members and external consultants. You will have the opportunity to mentor and train others in complex compliance work, as well as lead client and regulatory meetings.

Join us and be part of a team that’s making a real impact!

We are open to considering candidates in a variety of locations, including areas where we may not currently have an office presence. While we have active openings in Fayetteville, AR; Little Rock, AR; Lincoln, NE; Omaha, NE; Overland Park, KS; Oklahoma City, OK; Colorado Springs, CO; Loveland, CO; and Denver, CO, we welcome candidates interested in other locations as well.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Regulatory Compliance: Navigating complex federal, state, and local regulations, and attaining necessary permits and clearances
• National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA): Developing necessary NHPA documentation, collaborating with agencies such as the lead federal agency, Native American tribes, state agencies, the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), USACE, and USFWS to obtain essential reviews and guidance, while coordinating a multidisciplinary team.
• Field Investigations: Completing or coordinating fieldwork with Olsson staff or sub‑consultants, including archaeological surveys, test excavations, and the documentation of above‑ground historic resources such as buildings, roadways, bridges, and historic districts
• Public Engagement and Outreach: Organizing public meetings and workshops to gather community input, shaping projects through feedback, and ensuring transparent communication of project details while effectively engaging stakeholders. Additionally, lead federal agencies may request Olsson's assistance with tribal consultation requirements
• Collaboration and Interdisciplinary Work: Collaborating with engineers, architects, and urban planners to incorporate historical preservation into projects and promote interdisciplinary teamwork
• Project Management: Overseeing projects from start to finish, managing timelines, budgets, and deliverables, and coordinating with subconsultant, clients and agencies

Qualifications

You are passionate about:

• Working collaboratively with others
• Having ownership in the work you do
• Using your talents to positively affect communities
• Empowering others to use their talents
• Utilizing your skills to manage multiple priorities in a client‑focused environment
• Enhancing team development by sharing best practices, tools, and valuable lessons learned

You bring to the team:

• Ability to contribute and work well on a team
• Graduate degree in archaeology, anthropology, history, architecture, historic preservation, or a closely related field
• Qualification under the Secretary of the Interior (SOI) Professional Qualification Standards (36 CFR 61) for Archaeologist or Architectural Historian
• Practical experience in archaeological or historical research, cultural resource management, or compliance with historic preservation standards
• Aptitude for project management, ensuring oversight and compliance with historical and archaeological regulations

Skilled in clearly communicating findings and producing high‑quality written deliverables, including reports, memos, and documentation

• Self‑direction and dependability, with strong follow‑through on deadlines and deliverables

#LI-DNI

Actual compensation will vary based on factors such as experience, qualifications, geographic location, skills, education, and internal equity.

$80,000 - $140,000 USD

The typical annual salary range for this role is as listed below. Compensation may vary based on geographic location, experience, and qualifications. Employees in this role may be eligible for our performance‑based bonus and merit increases.

National Pay Range

$80,000 - $140,000 USD

Additional Information

Olsson specializes in engineering and design, client advisory services, planning, field services, and environmental. Improving the world has been our mindset from the very beginning, back when Olsson first opened for business in 1956. And it will be our mindset for years to come.

As an Olsson employee, you will:

• Be empowered to build your career with tailored development paths
• Have the possibility for flexible work arrangements
• Engage in work that has a positive impact on communities
• Participate in a wellness program promoting balanced lifestyles

In addition, full‑time employees will receive our traditional benefits package (health care, vision, dental, paid time off, etc.) and the opportunity to participate in a bonus system that rewards performance.

Olsson is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We encourage qualified minority, female, veteran, and disabled candidates to apply and be considered for open positions. We do not discriminate against any applicant for employment or any employee because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender, disability, age, military status, or other protected status.

Olsson understands the importance of privacy and is committed to protecting job applicants’ personal information. Pursuant to the California Consumer Privacy Act, as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act (collectively, the “CCPA”), this notice explains Olsson’s practices regarding the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information for job applicants residing in California. Please read this Notice carefully to understand our privacy practices.

For more information about the types of information we collect and how we use it in connection with your general access and use of our website, please review our general California Privacy Notice here .

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self‑identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in Olsson’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service‑connected disability.

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