Managing Technical Consultant, Archaeologist

ERM; Richmond, Washington, Philadelphia (VA, District of Columbia, Philadelphia County); On-site; GBP 66,000 - 83,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Parental leave

Medical insurance

401(k) plan

Job summary

ERM is seeking a Managing Technical Consultant, Archaeologist to lead high‑impact cultural resources projects across the Mid‑Atlantic and beyond. You will mentor staff, oversee fieldwork and reporting, and ensure compliance with agency standards while expanding ERM’s cultural resources practice.

The role requires a graduate degree in Anthropology or Archaeology and 4+ years of experience, with travel across the Mid‑Atlantic and occasional nationwide assignments.

Qualifications

• Graduate degree in Anthropology, Archaeology, or a related discipline.
• 4+ years (7+ years preferred) of paid professional experience in archaeology and cultural resources.
• Qualifications to serve as a Principal Investigator.

Responsibilities

• Lead archaeological investigations including literature reviews, field reconnaissance, surveys, and excavations.
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously with on-time, high-quality delivery within budget.
• Provide technical subject-matter expertise and review to uphold ERM standards and meet client needs.
• Build relationships with clients, agencies, and internal teams.

Skills

Archaeology leadership

Team leadership

Field archaeology

GIS and field mapping

Budget and project management

Client and agency engagement

Education

Graduate degree in Anthropology/Archaeology

Tools

GPS

ArcGIS FieldMaps/Survey123

Total stations

Job description

As a seasoned cultural resources leader, you understand the importance of protecting heritage while advancing modern infrastructure. At ERM, you’ll translate that expertise into strategic oversight, project leadership, and regional influence—guiding complex archaeological initiatives that shape responsible development across the Mid‑Atlantic and beyond.

Why This Role Matters

As a Managing Technical Consultant, Archaeologist, you’ll guide high‑impact cultural resources projects across the Mid‑Atlantic and beyond—strengthening ERM’s ability to deliver thoughtful, compliant, and culturally sensitive solutions that protect heritage while supporting community and client needs. This is your opportunity to lead at scale, mentor the next generation, and shape how organizations approach cultural stewardship nationwide.

This full-time, salary-based position that will be associated with ERM’s Richmond, Washington D.C., or Philadelphia office.

What Your Impact Is

• Champion the delivery of high‑quality archaeological services across multiple, concurrent projects.
• Guide teams through literature reviews, field reconnaissance, surveys, and excavation activities.
• Serve as Task Manager, ensuring work is delivered on time, within scope, and aligned with ERM’s rigorous quality standards.
• Provide technical insight that strengthens ERM’s cultural resources practice and deepens client trust.
• Foster collaboration across ERM’s multidisciplinary teams and practice areas nationwide.
• Build strong client and agency relationships, representing ERM with professionalism and strategic insight.
• Mentor, develop, and inspire technical staff to achieve excellence.
• Oversee subcontractors to maintain consistency, quality, and efficient project execution.
• Contribute to proposal development and strategic business growth initiatives.
• Ensure compliance by engaging with State Historic Preservation Offices, federal agencies, and regional cultural resource databases.

What You’ll Bring

• Required Graduate degree in Anthropology, Archaeology, or a related discipline.
• 4+ years (7+ years preferred) of paid professional experience in archaeology and cultural resources.
• Qualifications to serve as a Principal Investigator.
• Registered Professional Archaeologist (RPA) standing and ability to meet/exceed qualifications for Virginia DHR, PA SHPO, MHT, and Secretary of the Interior standards.
• Proven leadership in directing archaeological survey, testing, and data recovery across the Mid‑Atlantic.
• Demonstrated experience preparing agency‑reviewed cultural resource documentation (e.g., Phase I/II reports, NEPA sections, mitigation plans).
• Experience interacting with agency personnel in a consulting environment.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.
• Willingness to travel across the Mid‑Atlantic and occasionally across the eastern U.S.
• Ability to conduct fieldwork up to 50% during peak season, including long‑distance walking, navigating difficult terrain, and lifting/carrying up to 50 lbs.
• Proficiency with GPS units, total stations, ArcGIS FieldMaps/Survey123, and other common field mapping tools.
• 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.

Preferred

• Ability to serve as Principal Investigator in multiple states.
• Prior experience supervising direct reports or managing technical teams.
• Laboratory materials processing experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead archaeological investigations including literature reviews, field reconnaissance, surveys, and excavations.
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring on‑time, high‑quality, and budget‑aligned delivery.
• Provide technical subject‑matter expertise and review to uphold ERM standards and meet client needs.
• Build strong relationships with clients, agencies, and internal teams.
• Oversee subcontractors to maintain quality and consistency.
• Prepare and contribute to proposals to support business growth.
• Mentor and manage staff to support team development and success.
• Maintain accountability for billability targets, sales contribution, and BU goals.

For the Managing Technical Consultant, Archaeologist position, the anticipated annual base pay is $89,926–$112,764 (USD). Actual pay will depend on factors such as education, experience, skills, location, performance, and business needs.

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

• paid time off
• parental leave
• medical
• dental
• vision
• life
• disability
• AD&D insurance
• 401(k) or RRSP/DPSP
• other applicable benefits to eligible employees

Note: Bonuses, commissions, and other forms of additional compensation are not guaranteed and subject to the sole discretion of ERM and its policies and procedures.

This position is not eligible for immigration sponsorship.

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.

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.

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.