Regional Technical Consultant

Terracon; Concord (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Terracon, based in Concord, California, seeks a Senior Principal Archaeologist to lead and grow the Cultural Resources Services program within the Environmental Planning and Permitting group. The role reports to the Principal Investigator and requires expert CEQA/NEPA and regulatory knowledge, staff development, and cross-disciplinary collaboration for regional, statewide, and national work.

The candidate will guide project strategy, quality standards, and client engagement, while mentoring

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical discipline and 8+ years related experience, or 12 years without a degree.
• 12+ years of cultural resources management experience with California focus.
• Meets the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualification Standards for Archaeology.
• Demonstrated expertise applying CEQA, NEPA, 106 and California laws.
• Strong leadership, staff mentoring, and client relations.

Responsibilities

• Lead and grow California Cultural Resources practice and mentor staff.
• Serve as Principal Investigator and senior technical authority on archaeological projects in California.
• Ensure compliance with CEQA, NEPA, Section 106 and California resources laws.
• Manage complex projects from scoping to closeout including budget and staffing.
• Coordinate across disciplines, offices, and client communications.
• Represent Terracon in client presentations and professional activities.

Skills

Leadership

CEQA/NEPA

Project management

Archaeology

Client relations

Mentoring staff

Communication

Travel willingness

Regulatory compliance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in technical discipline

Professional Qualification Standards (Archaeology)

Tools

GIS

Job description

General Responsibilities:

This senior-level position will help lead and grow Terracon’s Cultural Resources Services program in California as part of the firm’s nationwide Cultural Resources practice. Cultural Resources is part of Terracon’s Environmental Planning and Permitting group, which also includes CEQA/NEPA Planning and full-service Natural Resources capabilities. The Principal Archaeologist will serve as a senior technical authority, Principal Investigator, project and program leader, client adviser, and practice builder. The successful candidate will collaborate across environmental and engineering disciplines to deliver defensible cultural resources solutions for regional, statewide, and national clients; develop and mentor staff; establish and maintain consistent technical and quality standards; and expand Terracon’s position in California markets. This position will be based in Terracon’s Concord, California office and may require travel to project sites and other offices.

Essential Roles and Responsibilities:

• Lead safety efforts for assigned teams and projects and ensure compliance with Terracon safety policies, procedures, and field requirements.
• Serve as Principal Investigator and senior technical authority for archaeological investigations and multidisciplinary cultural resources projects in California.
• Provide strategic and technical leadership for compliance with CEQA, NEPA, Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, the California Public Resources Code, and other applicable federal, state, and local cultural resources requirements.
• Lead or oversee cultural resources records searches, research designs, surveys, testing, evaluation, monitoring, treatment planning, data recovery, and other investigations appropriate to project needs and regulatory requirements.
• Direct preparation and senior review of technical reports, environmental document sections, management plans, treatment plans, agreement documents, proposals, and other client or agency deliverables.
• Serve as an Authorized Project Reviewer, promote continuous quality improvement, and establish consistent technical, documentation, and quality-control practices across projects.
• Manage complex projects and programs from scoping through closeout, including scope, schedule, staffing, budget, invoicing, profitability, quality, safety, risk, and client expectations.
• Develop scopes of work, cost estimates, staffing plans, schedules, and contracting strategies that align with project objectives and regulatory commitments.
• Act as a trusted adviser and primary point of contact for clients, agencies, tribal representatives, teaming partners, and other stakeholders, as appropriate to the assignment.
• Support and, where authorized, lead agency and tribal coordination and consultation; develop practical strategies to resolve complex cultural resources issues and reduce project delivery risk.
• Build, supervise, mentor, and develop cultural resources staff; provide technical direction and training; support recruiting and succession planning; and coordinate workload and staffing across offices.
• Develop and implement strategies to grow Terracon’s California Cultural Resources practice, including market analysis, client relationship development, opportunity identification, capture planning, and proposal leadership.
• Collaborate with Terracon’s regional and national Cultural Resources, CEQA/NEPA Planning, Natural Resources, and other technical teams to pursue and deliver integrated services.
• Represent Terracon through client presentations, professional associations, conferences, and other external activities that support technical leadership and market visibility.
• Perform other duties as assigned consistent with the position’s technical, project-management, and practice-leadership responsibilities.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in technical discipline practiced by the firm or related discipline and a minimum of 8 years’ related experience. Or, in lieu of a degree, a minimum of 12 years’ related experience.
• At least 12 years of progressively responsible cultural resources management experience, including substantial experience in California and demonstrated responsibility at the Principal Investigator, senior project manager, or equivalent level.
• Meets the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualification Standards for Archaeology.
• Demonstrated expertise applying CEQA, NEPA, Section 106, the California Public Resources Code, and other applicable cultural resources laws, regulations, standards, and agency procedures.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex archaeological investigations and producing or reviewing defensible technical reports, treatment plans, environmental document sections, and regulatory deliverables.
• Successful experience managing project scope, schedule, staffing, budget, financial performance, quality, risk, and client expectations.
• Strong record of client service, proposal development, interview participation, and successful pursuit of cultural resources work.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor, and supervise professional and field staff, including oversight of data collection, analysis, mapping, and report production.
• Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, presentation, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively across disciplines, offices, and organizational levels and to manage multiple priorities in a deadline-driven consulting environment.
• Ability and willingness to travel and conduct or oversee field activities, as project needs require.
• Ability to pass a drug screen and background check.
• Eligibility to work in the United States without sponsorship.
• A valid driver’s license with acceptable violation history may be required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Certification or licensure in field of expertise.
• Registered Professional Archaeologist certification.
• Established relationships with California clients, agencies, tribal representatives, and teaming partners.
• Demonstrated success building a cultural resources practice, developing a qualified sales pipeline, securing work, and expanding key accounts.
• Experience leading large, multidisciplinary, multi-office, or on-call programs in transportation, utilities, energy, water, land development, or other Terracon markets.
• Experience with California prehistoric and historical archaeology and familiarity with built-environment resources and multidisciplinary cultural resources teams.
• Experience with California agency procedures, tribal consultation processes, GIS, digital field data systems, and cultural resources databases.
• Active membership and leadership in statewide or national professional associations or other evidence of professional engagement.