Consulting Senior Associate, Archaeologist

ERM; Walnut Creek (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

401(k)

Paid time off

Job summary

ERM is seeking a Consulting Senior Associate, Archaeologists to join the Cultural Resources Services team in Irvine and Walnut Creek, California. You will support archaeological studies, evaluate resources for NRHP eligibility and Section 106 compliance, and contribute to technical reports that influence project approvals.

Travel up to 75% and fieldwork are part of the role, with a strong emphasis on regulatory knowledge and multidisciplinary collaboration.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Archaeology, Anthropology, or a related field.
• 1-2+ years archaeological field and reporting experience.
• Experience leading surveys, testing, or data recovery projects.
• Experience authoring or co-authoring agency-reviewed technical reports.
• Working knowledge of NHPA Section 106, NRHP criteria, and regional regulatory frameworks.
• Willingness to travel across the U.S. and perform fieldwork up to 75% during peak season.
• Physical ability to work in demanding field conditions (long hikes, lifting up to 50 lbs).

Responsibilities

• Prepare portions of technical reporting for desk- and field-based cultural resources investigations.
• Coordinate and participate in field investigations including surveys and testing.
• Interact with SHPO and BLM as part of project work.
• Draft sections of technical reports under supervision of PIs and PMs.
• Support growth of ERM’s archaeology and cultural heritage consulting.

Skills

Archaeology

Field work

Technical reporting

Agency reporting

NHPA Section 106

NRHP criteria

GIS

Driver's license

Education

Bachelor's degree in Archaeology/Anthropology or related field

Tools

GPS

ArcGIS

Survey123

Job description

Build your archaeology career while helping shape responsible, sustainable development across California and beyond.

ERM is seeking highly motivated Consulting Senior Associate, Archaeologists to join our Cultural Resources Services team in Irvine and Walnut Creek, California. This salaried, full-time position offers the opportunity to support archaeological and cultural heritage projects for private- and public-sector clients throughout the United States, applying your field, research, and technical skills to projects where cultural resource stewardship and regulatory compliance matter.

Why This Role Matters?

As part of ERM’s Cultural Resources Services team, you will contribute to archaeological desk and field studies that help clients understand, manage, and protect cultural resources while navigating applicable federal, state, and municipal requirements. California archaeological field experience is highly desired.

This role is well suited to someone who is flexible and responsive in a challenging and changing work environment, where schedules and tasks may fluctuate according to project and client needs.

What Your Impact Is

• Support and lead archaeological studies that guide environmental decision-making
• Evaluate and document cultural resources for NRHP eligibility and Section 106 compliance
• Contribute to high-quality technical reports that influence project approvals
• Partner with clients, agencies, and interdisciplinary teams to deliver defensible, compliant outcomes
• Help strengthen ERM’s presence and reputation in archaeology and cultural heritage consulting

Required

What You’ll Bring

• Bachelors degree in Archaeology, Anthropology, or a related field; or equivalent experience
• 1-2+ years of archaeological field and reporting experience
• Demonstrated experience leading surveys, testing, or data recovery projects
• Experience authoring or co-authoring agency-reviewed technical reports
• Working knowledge of NHPA Section 106, NRHP criteria, and regional regulatory frameworks
• Ability to work independently or collaboratively in multidisciplinary teams
• Willingness to travel across the U.S. and perform fieldwork up to 75% during peak season
• Physical ability to work in demanding field conditions (e.g., long hikes up to 10 miles per day, variable weather, lifting up to 50 lbs., wildlife encounters)
• Experience with field technologies (e.g., GPS, GIS tools such as ArcGIS FieldMaps or Survey123)
• Driver's License Required: This position requires a valid driver's license and/or the ability to operate a company vehicle due to the nature of job duties, which include frequent travel to various client locations across a large geographical area.
• This position is not eligible for immigration sponsorship.

Preferred

• Registered Professional Archaeologist (RPA) designation
• Knowledge of prehistoric and historic artifact assemblages
• Experience with historic structures
• Strong initiative and a self-directed, adaptable work style

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare portions of technical reporting for desktop-level or field-based cultural resources investigations or impact assessments, including contributing to cultural resources sections of larger federal and state environmental documents.
• Coordinate and participate in field investigations, including reconnaissance- and pedestrian-level surveys, testing/excavations, and construction monitoring for cultural resources.
• Interact with various State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPO).
• Interact with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
• Perform research and author portions of technical reports under the supervision of principal investigators, project managers, and partners.
• Communicate with senior staff and teaming partners to support environmental analyses.
• Provide technical consulting skills to support the growth of ERM’s business and client base in the area of archaeology and cultural heritage
• Collaborate with different multi-disciplinary teams consisting of environmental planners, biologists, wetland specialists, GIS specialists, engineers, etc. across ERM’s United States geography to serve our clients in the energy sector.
• Represent ERM through communications and meetings with our clients, teaming partners, subcontractors, stakeholders, and agency counterparts.

For the Consulting Senior Associate, Archaeologist position, the anticipated annual base pay is $70,304–$80,100 (USD). Actual pay will depend on factors such as education, experience, skills, location, performance, and business needs. In some cases, pay may fall outside this range. This role may be eligible for bonus pay subject to the sole discretion of ERM and its policies and procedures (casual and fixed term/flex force employees are not bonus eligible).

We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including paid time off (vacation, sick, and floating holidays), parental leave, medical, dental, vision, life, disability, AD&D insurance, 401(k), and other applicable benefits to eligible employees.

Who We Are

As the largest global pure play sustainability consultancy, we partner with the world’s leading organizations, creating innovative solutions to sustainability challenges and unlocking commercial opportunities that meet the needs of today while preserving opportunity for future generations.

At ERM we know that creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive work environment is an essential part of making our company a great place to build a career. We also see our diversity as a strength that helps us create better solutions for our clients. Our diverse team of world-class experts supports clients across the breadth of their organizations to operationalize sustainability, underpinned by our deep technical expertise in addressing their environmental, health, safety, risk and social issues. We call this capability our “boots to boardroom” approach for its comprehensive service model that allows ERM to develop strategic and technical solutions that advance objectives on the ground or at the executive level.

ERM does not accept recruiting agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to our jobs alias, ERM employees or any other company location. ERM is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.

ERM is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

Thank you for your interest in ERM!