Principal Consultant, Archaeologist

erm; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

ERM is seeking a Principal Consultant, Archaeologist to lead complex cultural resources projects from a US office. You will mentor teams, manage regulated deliverables, and strengthen client relationships while expanding ERM's leadership in environmental consulting.

Responsibilities include leading field and desktop studies, obtaining necessary permits, and coordinating with multidisciplinary teams to deliver sustainable solutions for energy and infrastructure clients across the United States.

Qualifications

• Graduate degree in Anthropology, Archaeology, or closely related field, or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a permitted BLM Principal Investigator.
• Obtain BLM Cultural Resources Use Permits and other necessary federal and state permits.
• Provide technical QA/QC of deliverables prepared by other archaeologists.
• Oversee desktop studies and field investigations: reconnaissance surveys, pedestrian surveys, testing, excavations, monitoring.
• Lead, supervise, and mentor archaeologists across levels, including hiring and development.
• Coordinate with CR leads and managing partners to support performance and delivery.
• Sign as PI or Task Manager for cultural resources studies on major projects.
• Ensure safety, scope, budget, schedule, and quality expectations are met.
• Support multi-state infrastructure projects and smaller site assignments.
• Expand ERM's profile and market share through excellence and BD activities.
• Cross-sell cultural resources services to existing clients.
• Collaborate with environmental planners, GIS, and other specialists.

Skills

Leadership

Client engagement

Regulatory liaison

Travel willingness

Education

Graduate degree in Anthropology/Archaeology or related field

Registered Professional Archaeologist (RPA)

Tools

Total station

GPS

ArcGIS FieldMaps

Survey123

Job description

As a Principal Consultant, Archaeologist , you will play a critical leadership role in advancing complex cultural resources projects based out of an ERM US office. This position offers the opportunity to guide high-impact projects, mentor and develop talent, strengthen client relationships, and contribute to ERM's continued leadership in environmental and sustainability consulting.

Why This Role Matters?

ERM is seeking a highly motivated Principal Consultant, Archaeologist to join our growing Cultural Resources Services team. This role combines technical excellence, project leadership, team development, and business growth. The successful candidate will provide archaeological expertise throughout the United States while supporting project delivery, client service, and business development initiatives.

What Your Impact Is:

• Serve as a senior archaeological leader supporting cultural resources projects throughout the United States.
• Drive quality, consistency, and technical excellence across archaeological investigations and regulatory deliverables.
• Mentor and develop archaeologists while supporting team growth and succession planning.
• Strengthen existing client relationships and cultivate new business opportunities that contribute to ERM's continued growth.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to deliver innovative and sustainable solutions for clients in the energy and infrastructure sectors.

What You'll Bring:

Required

• Graduate degree in Anthropology, Archaeology, or closely related field of study, or equivalent experience.
• 6-8 years of related paid experience.
• Secretary of the Interior-qualified archaeologist listed as a Registered Professional Archaeologist (RPA), with skills and experience that meet or exceed SHPO requirements.
• Demonstrated field experience and principal-level oversight for projects, including leading inventory, survey, testing, and/or data recovery efforts.
• Experience as primary author and/or third-party reviewer on agency-reviewed technical reports, including but not limited to Class I and Class III technical reports, sections of NEPA documents, Cultural Resources Treatment Plans, and related regulatory documentation.
• Experience interacting with regulatory agency personnel as a consultant representing client interests.
• Ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary teams of archaeologists and other technical specialists.
• Ability and willingness to occasionally travel to field sites.
• Previous experience with mapping equipment and other specialized field technologies (e.g., total station, GPS, ArcGIS FieldMaps, Survey123, or similar applications).
• 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

• BLM Principal Investigator qualifications.
• Established experience obtaining BLM Cultural Resources Use Permits and other applicable federal and state permits.
• Demonstrated success managing large capital-project cultural resource programs and multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience supporting business development and client relationship management in the cultural resources consulting market.

Key Responsibilities:

• Serve as a permitted BLM Principal Investigator.
• Obtain BLM Cultural Resources Use Permits and other necessary federal and state permits required to execute projects and support new opportunities.
• Provide technical quality assurance and quality control review of deliverables prepared by other qualified archaeologists.
• Oversee teams conducting desktop studies and field investigations, including reconnaissance surveys, pedestrian surveys, testing, excavations, and construction monitoring activities.
• Lead, supervise, and manage archaeologists across varying experience levels, including participation in hiring, mentoring, training, and engagement initiatives.
• Coordinate with Cultural Resources Business Unit Leads, the Consulting Director for Archaeology, Area Managers, and Managing Partners to support team performance and project delivery.
• Serve as signing Principal Investigator and/or Task Manager for cultural resources studies associated with major capital projects.
• Ensure projects are delivered safely, efficiently, and in accordance with scope, budget, schedule, and quality expectations.
• Support projects ranging from multi-state linear infrastructure developments to smaller site‑specific assignments.
• Expand ERM's profile and market share in the cultural resources consulting market through technical excellence and business development activities.
• Partner with Managing Partners to deepen key client relationships, develop new client opportunities, and drive revenue growth.
• Identify and promote opportunities for cross‑selling cultural resources services to existing clients.
• Collaborate closely with environmental planners, biologists, wetland specialists, GIS professionals, engine