Principal Technical Consultant, Paleontologist

ERM; Overland Park (KS); On-site; USD 108,000 - 145,000; Full time

Job summary

ERM is seeking a highly motivated Principal Technical Consultant, Paleontologist, to join our global consulting firm as part of our Cultural and Paleontological Resources Services team. This is a full-time, salaried position based in an ERM US office.

In this senior leadership role, you will provide technical excellence, project leadership, mentorship, and business development support while helping clients navigate complex paleontological, cultural resource, and environmental compliance

Qualifications

• Graduate degree in Paleontology, Geology, Earth Sciences, Biology, Anthropology, Archaeology, or related discipline.
• 8+ years (10+ years preferred) of professional experience related to paleontological resources.
• Experience leading assessments, surveys, monitoring programs, mitigation efforts, and agency consultation.
• Strong understanding of NEPA and related environmental review requirements.
• Strong leadership, project management, and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership and oversight for paleontological and cultural resource projects.
• Manage project teams, schedules, budgets, and deliverables.
• Support strategic business development and client relationship management.
• Ensure regulatory compliance and technical excellence.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Communication

Education

Graduate degree in Paleontology or related Earth sciences

Job description

ERMers considering application for internal positions should consider the following eligibility criteria prior to application:

• Should already be an ERMer for a minimum of 12 months
• Should have two Good/Meets Expectations (minimum) performance ratings for the last two cycles (over 12 months)
• Transition period to the new role should be discussed per role and based on regional differences

ERM is seeking a highly motivated Principal Technical Consultant, Paleontologist, to join our global consulting firm as part of our Cultural and Paleontological Resources Services team. This is a full-time, salaried position based in an ERM US office. In this senior leadership role, you will provide technical excellence, project leadership, mentorship, and business development support while helping clients navigate complex paleontological, cultural resource, and environmental compliance challenges throughout North America.

Why This Role Matters

As a senior technical leader, you will play a key role in advancing ERM's paleontological resources services while supporting integrated cultural resources programs across North America.

What Your Impact Will Be

• Serve as Principal Investigator, Permit Administrator, or technical lead on paleontological resource investigations and permitting programs.
• Provide QA/QC review of deliverables prepared by paleontologists, archaeologists, and cultural resources specialists.
• Lead desktop studies, field investigations, monitoring, mitigation, fossil recovery efforts, and resource management planning.
• Collaborate closely with archaeologists and cultural resources specialists on multidisciplinary projects.
• Lead, mentor, and support mid-level and junior staff.
• Serve as primary author or senior reviewer for environmental studies and technical reports.
• Support business development, proposals, and client relationship management.

What You'll Bring

• Graduate degree in Paleontology, Geology, Earth Sciences, Biology, Anthropology, Archaeology, or related discipline.
• 8+ years (10+ years preferred) of professional experience related to paleontological resources.
• Experience leading assessments, surveys, monitoring programs, mitigation efforts, and agency consultation.
• Strong understanding of NEPA and related environmental review requirements.
• Strong leadership, project management, and communication skills.

Preferred

• Experience supporting integrated paleontological and archaeological resource management projects.
• Experience supporting energy, mining, transportation, technology, water, or infrastructure projects.
• Demonstrated success in business development and proposal preparation.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership and oversight for paleontological and cultural resource projects.
• Manage project teams, schedules, budgets, and deliverables.
• Support strategic business development and client relationship management.
• Ensure regulatory compliance and technical excellence.

Accepting applications on an ongoing basis.

For the Principal Technical Consultant, Paleontologist position, the anticipated annual base pay is $108,200-$144,800(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 arenot bonuseligible).

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 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!