Principal Archeologist

Onterris; United States; Remote; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Onterris is seeking a Principal Archaeologist to lead the Cultural Resources practice for the Central and East Regions of the United States. The role combines high-level archaeology expertise with strategic business development, staff leadership, and revenue growth.

Remote-possible role with preference for candidates in the Mid-Central US. The position requires significant field and regulatory knowledge, with a salary range of $120,000 to $150,000 depending on experience and location.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Archaeology, Anthropology, or related discipline.
• Minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible professional experience in cultural resources management.
• Meets or exceeds the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualifications Standards for Archaeology.
• Ability to be listed as a Principal Investigator on agencies permits (BLM, USFS, NPS).
• Demonstrated experience growing a cultural resources practice, service line, or regional program.
• Experience managing large, complex cultural resources projects.
• Strong knowledge of NEPA, NHPA Sections 106 and 110, ARPA, NAGPRA, and related regulations.
• Experience overseeing proposal development, cost estimating, competitive bids, interviews, and contract negotiations.
• Strong leadership to recruit, mentor, manage, and develop technical staff.
• Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills for client discussions and compliance reports.
• Ability to operate independently while contributing to company goals and leadership initiatives.
• Travel willingness to support project and business development needs.
• Existing client relationships and experience supporting growth initiatives are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Developing the Cultural Resources practice for Central and East Regions, including strategic support and staff planning.
• Lead efforts to secure new cultural resources work and grow revenue.
• Provide senior technical oversight and strategic direction for archaeological projects.
• Collaborate with biologists, GIS professionals, planners, and engineers to deliver integrated solutions.
• Oversee proposals, cost estimating, and interview execution.
• QA/QC oversight of high-volume programs and projects.
• Manage project staffing, budgets, and schedules.
• Mentor and develop staff to maintain technical excellence.
• Maintain safety and confidentiality compliance; stay current on industry trends.

Skills

Entrepreneurial mindset

Client development

Leadership

Regulatory knowledge

Communication skills

GIS proficiency

Microsoft Office

Education

Master’s degree in Archaeology/Anthropology or related discipline

Tools

GIS platforms

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

About Us

At Onterris, we build careers grounded in purpose,responsibilityand real-world impact.

“For Planet and Progress” is our north star that guides everything we do. We believe environmental responsibility and human progress are interconnected,interwovenand international. Our scientists, engineers, field teams,consultantsand professionals collaborate across disciplines and geographies, guiding industries and governments, ensuring that communities and environments thrive.

When you join us,you’renot just forging acareer,you’rejoining a movement. A movement for better thinking, smartersolutionsand lasting impact.

Together, we will advance our way of life and protect the integrity of our environment every step of the way.

ADay in theLife

Our Principal Archeologist position can be performed remotely; however, the ideal candidate will be based in Mid-Central Region of the U.S. The Principal Archaeologist will serve as both a senior technical authority and strategic business leader responsible for growing and leading the Cultural Resources practice in our Central and East Regions. This role combines technical excellence in archaeology and cultural resources compliance with a strong focus on client development, market expansion, staff leadership, and revenue growth.

The salary range for this role is $120,000 to $150,000 commensuratewith experience, skills, and geographic location.

• To thrive in this role,you’llbe comfortable taking ownership of the following responsibilities:
• Developing the Cultural Resources practice for our Central and East Regions, including strategic support, market expansion, and staff planning.
• Play a key role in securing $500K in new cultural resources work through competitive pursuits, sole‑source opportunities, on‑call contracts, and strategic teaming arrangements.
• Providing senior technical oversight and strategic direction for archaeological projects.
• Collaborating with internal subject matter experts, including biologists, GIS professionals, planners, regulatory specialists, and engineers, to deliver integrated solutions for complex projects.
• Overseeing proposals and business development activities, including leading proposals, cost estimating, and interview execution.
• QA/QC oversight of high-volume programs/projects.
• Project staffing, budget and schedule management.
• Mentoring and developing staff, fostering technical excellence and professional growth.
• Maintaining compliance with all safety, confidentiality, and company policies.
• Staying current on industry trends, regulations, and best practices through continuous professional development.
• Working collaboratively with the core technical team and working independently.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Your Expertise and Skills

The Principal Archaeologist is a recognized technical expert, business leader, and client relationship manager responsible for cultural resources practice growth, technical excellence, regulatory compliance, and long-term client success. These requirements reflect the knowledge,skillsand abilities that help you do your best work here.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Archaeology, Anthropology, or related discipline.
• Minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible professional experience in cultural resources management.
• Meets or exceeds the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualifications Standards for Archaeology.
• Ability to be listed as a Principal Investigator on agencies permits, including BLM, USFS, NPS.
• Demonstrated experience building, leading, or significantly growing a cultural resources practice, service line, business unit, or regional program.
• Experience managing large, complex cultural resources projects.
• Strong working knowledge of NEPA, NHPA Sections 106 and 110, ARPA, NAGPRA, and other applicable federal, state, and local regulations.
• Experience overseeing proposal development, cost estimating, competitive pursuits, interviews, and contract negotiations.
• Strong leadership skills with a demonstrated ability to recruit, mentor, manage, and develop technical staff.
• Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills, including the ability to lead client discussions and prepare or oversee complex technical documents and compliance reports.
• Ability to operate independent while contributing to broader company goals and leadership initiatives.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite; experience with GIS platforms and cultural resources databases preferred.
• Ability and willingness to travel as necessary to support project, client, and business development needs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Existing client relationships within our Central and East Regions.
• Experience supporting mergers, acquisitions, strategic growth initiatives, or new market expansion efforts.

#LI-LK1

#INDONT

Onterris is a leading global environmental solutions company partnering with organizations to solve complex challenges where environmental pressures, regulatory expectations and operational risks intersect. Guided by our mission to advance the way of life without compromising the integrity of our environment, we believe environmental responsibility and human progress are fundamentally connected. Our scientists, engineers, field teams and consultants apply systems thinking that unites science, data and practical expertise to deliver solutions that strengthen our clients’ resilience, mitigate risk and protect the air, water and soil that sustain communities, while uncovering responsible paths forward for planet and progress. For more information, visit www.onterris.com.

We are an equal opportunity employer and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We acknowledge that these experiences and perspectives help to enrich our teams and contribute to our ongoing success. We are committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in our employment for all applicants. For US residents, click here to learn more.