Consulting Senior Associate, Archaeology

Environmental Resources Management (ERM); Houston (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Environmental Resources Management (ERM) seeks a Consulting Senior Associate, Archaeologist in Houston, TX to support cultural resource compliance on infrastructure, energy, and development projects across the U.S. You will conduct archaeological studies, write reports, and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities include leading field and office activities, mentoring staff, and maintaining client relationships while navigating NHPA Section 106 and NEPA requirements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Anthropology, Archaeology, or closely related field, or equivalent experience.
• 1–2+ years of related professional experience.
• Knowledge of Texas cultural areas.
• Experience inventory, survey, testing, and/or data recovery.
• Experience as primary author on agency‑reviewed technical reports.
• Strong attention to detail in documentation of work.
• Experience interacting with regulatory agency personnel.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
• Willingness to travel to field sites (out of state as needed).
• Preferred Registered Professional Archaeologist.
• California archaeological field experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research and writing for cultural resource heritage components of NHPA Section 106 and NEPA documents.
• Perform literature reviews, field reconnaissance, field surveys, and excavation activities.
• Interact with SHPOs, federal agencies, and online cultural resource databases.
• Lead and supervise staff in office and field environments.
• Prepare technical reports and supporting documentation.
• Provide technical consulting to grow ERM's archaeology and cultural heritage services.
• Collaborate with other ERM practice areas to share best practices.

Skills

Archaeology

Fieldwork

Technical writing

Regulatory knowledge

Client communication

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Anthropology/Archaeology

Tools

Total station

GPS

Mapping software

Laboratory processing

Job description

Preserve the Past While Shaping the Future of Responsible Development ERM is seeking a highly motivated Consulting Senior Associate, Archaeologist to join our growing Cultural Resources Services team. This full-time, salaried position is based in Houston, Texas. Candidates are preferred possess familiarity with applicable federal, state, and municipal cultural resource regulations and processes. In this role, you will help clients navigate complex cultural resource and heritage considerations across infrastructure, energy, development, and environmental projects throughout the United States. Working alongside multidisciplinary teams of environmental and permitting professionals, you will contribute technical expertise that supports responsible project development while protecting and preserving cultural and archaeological resources. This position offers the opportunity to blend fieldwork, research, client engagement, and project leadership while advancing your career within one of the world's leading sustainability consultancies.

Why This Role Matters

Cultural heritage resources provide critical connections to our shared history and communities. As development projects continue to expand across North America, identifying, evaluating, and protecting these resources is essential to responsible environmental stewardship and regulatory compliance. As a Consulting Senior Associate, Archaeologist, you will play a key role in helping clients meet cultural resource requirements under NHPA Section 106, NEPA, and other regulatory frameworks. Your work will help balance project development goals with the preservation of cultural heritage, ensuring informed decision‑making and sustainable outcomes.

What Your Impact Is

In this role, you will:

• Support cultural resource compliance efforts for complex public and private sector projects.
• Help clients successfully navigate federal, state, and local regulatory requirements.
• Conduct archaeological research, field investigations, and technical analyses that inform project planning and permitting decisions.
• Lead and mentor staff while contributing to high‑quality project delivery.
• Build trusted relationships with clients, agencies, and project stakeholders.
• Support the continued growth of ERM's archaeology and cultural heritage practice through technical excellence and business development activities.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across ERM to deliver integrated environmental and sustainability solutions.

What You'll Bring

• Required Bachelor's degree in Anthropology, Archaeology, or closely related field of study, or equivalent experience.
• 1-2+ years of related professional experience.
• Knowledge of Texas cultural areas.
• Demonstrated experience completing inventory, survey, testing, and/or data recovery.
• Experience as primary author on agency‑reviewed technical reports.
• Strong attention to detail in documentation of work.
• Experience interacting with regulatory agency personnel.
• Excellent communication and computer skills.
• Demonstrated business development abilities.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and within a team environment.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Must be locally available for projects.
• Ability and willingness to frequently travel to field sites located both in and out of state.
• Ability to walk long distances (up to ten miles per day) in varying terrain under adverse conditions, including inclement weather and wildlife encounters.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 lbs. and perform excavation of shovel tests.
• Driver's License.
• Preferred Registered Professional Archaeologist.
• Ability to be listed on BLM cultural resources use permits.
• California archaeological field experience.
• Familiarity with relevant federal, state, and municipal regulatory processes.
• Previous experience with mapping equipment and other specialized application equipment (e.g., total station, GPS, etc.).
• Previous laboratory materials processing experience.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office Word and Excel.
• Detail‑oriented and resourceful approach to problem solving.
• Positive and energetic attitude.
• Self‑motivated with strong initiative.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct research and writing for cultural resource heritage components of NHPA Section 106, and NEPA documents for projects serving both private and government sector clients.
• Perform literature reviews, field reconnaissance, field surveys, and excavation activities for archaeological studies.
• Interact with State Historic Preservation Offices, federal agencies, and online cultural resource databases.
• Lead and supervise staff in office and field environments.
• Conduct research and prepare technical reports and supporting documentation.
• Provide technical consulting expertise to support the continued growth of ERM's archaeology and cultural heritage services.
• Collaborate with other ERM practice areas to leverage multidisciplinary expertise and share best practices across the organization.
• Represent ERM through communications and meetings with state, federal, and local agencies.
• Communicate regularly with clients through email correspondence and conference calls.
• Assist in preparing proposals and developing solutions that meet client needs.
• Adapt to changing project priorities, schedules, and client requirements while maintaining high‑quality deliverables.

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 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! #LI-Hybrid #LI-SO2 At ERM, sustainability is our business. We are the world’s largest advisory firm focused solely on sustainability, offering unparalleled expertise across business and finance. ERM partners with clients to operationalize sustainability at pace and scale, through our unique combination of strategic transformation and technical delivery capabilities. Our diverse global team of experts works with the world’s leading organizations to help them set clear sustainability targets, measure progress and operationalize strategy through deep implementation and business transformation. With more than 50 years of experience, our ability to integrate sustainability solutions and our depth and breadth of technical knowledge are why organizations choose to partner with us as their trusted advisor. Every one of us firmly believes in the potential to create value for our clients through an integrated approach to sustainability (because we have personally seen it and professionally achieved it). Our team members are passionate about client service. We work closely with our clients to help them operationalize their sustainability goals and meet their environmental, health and safety objectives while advancing ERM’s purpose through delivering tangible progress in what the United Nations coined The Decade of Action. Organizing our people across globally integrated communities of technical and strategic talent positions ERM to be a “boots to boardroom” leader in bringing that value creation to our clients, partners, and the world. We recruit exceptional professionals with a personal and professional passion for sustainability and nurture them to even greater success as specialists. We prepare our consultants to bring integrated, innovative and sustainable solutions to our clients and provide opportunities for ongoing development across a variety of subject areas related to technical, business, and personal growth. At ERM, effort pays off and becomes career defining work that leaves a positive imprint on our planet.