Remote Principal Paleontologist & Project Lead

ERM; Albuquerque (NM); On-site; USD 110,000 - 161,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Parental leave

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Disability insurance

401(k)

Job summary

ERM seeks a Principal Technical Consultant, Paleontologist to provide senior technical leadership for cultural and paleontological resources across the Great Basin and Rocky Mountains. This full-time role supports major energy and infrastructure projects, ensuring regulatory compliance, high-quality deliverables, and strong client engagement.

You will mentor paleontologists, lead field and desktop studies, and coordinate with multi-disciplinary teams to deliver integrated environmental

Qualifications

• Graduate degree in Paleontology, Geology, Biology, Anthropology, or a closely related field.
• 6-8 years of related mitigation and environmental due diligence experience, or equivalent experience.
• Ability to be listed as Principal Investigator on BLM Paleontological Resources Use Permits, state permits, and similar authorizations within the Great Basin and/or Rocky Mountain subregions.
• Candidates who have served as a BLM Field Agent (Field Director) on permits are encouraged to apply.
• Demonstrated field experience and principal-level project oversight within the Great Basin or Rocky Mountain subregions, including inventory, survey, salvage, and data recovery efforts.
• Experience serving as primary author and/or third-party reviewer of agency-reviewed technical reports, including paleontological resource reports, mitigation plans, and environmental review documents prepared to meet federal, state, and local regulatory requirements.
• Experience working directly with regulatory agency personnel while representing clients.
• Ability to work effectively within teams of cultural heritage specialists and multidisciplinary technical professionals.
• Ability and willingness to travel occasionally to project sites throughout Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, and other locations.
• Previous experience using mapping and field technologies, including GPS equipment, ArcGIS Field Maps, Survey123, and related 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.

Responsibilities

• Serve as Permit Administrator and/or Principal Investigator on BLM Paleontological Resources Use Permits and applicable state permits, and provide technical-level quality assurance and quality control of deliverables prepared by qualified paleontologists and resource specialists.
• Oversee a team of paleontologists conducting desktop studies and field investigations, including reconnaissance and pedestrian surveys, fossil salvage and collection efforts, and construction monitoring.
• Lead, manage, mentor, and develop mid-level and junior paleontologists and cultural resources specialists, including participation in hiring, mentorship, engagement initiatives, and coordination across the broader cultural and paleontological resources practice.
• Collaborate with Paleontology Principal Investigators, Regional Leads, the Consulting Director for Archaeology, Area Managers, and Managing Partners to drive technical excellence and team success.
• Serve as primary author, senior reviewer, or task manager for paleontological resource studies supporting large-scale capital projects, ensuring work is completed within scope, budget, schedule, and quality expectations.
• Manage projects ranging from multi-state linear infrastructure developments to smaller site-specific investigations.
• Strengthen existing client relationships and develop new client partnerships that contribute to significant revenue growth.
• Identify opportunities to cross-sell cultural and paleontological resources services to existing and prospective clients.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams including environmental planners, archaeologists, biologists, wetland specialists, GIS specialists, and engineers to deliver integrated solutions for energy-sector clients.
• Represent ERM in communications and meetings with clients, regulatory agencies, stakeholders, teaming partners, and subcontractors.
• Identify subcontractor needs and manage subcontractor quality, schedules, and deliverables supporting cultural and paleontological resource services.

Skills

Regulatory expertise

Project leadership

Team mentorship

Field experience

GIS mapping

GPS proficiency

Travel readiness

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Graduate degree in Paleontology or related field

Tools

ArcGIS

Survey123

GPS equipment

Job description

ERM seeks a Principal Technical Consultant, Paleontologist to provide senior technical leadership for cultural and paleontological resources across the Great Basin and Rocky Mountains. This full-time role supports major energy and infrastructure projects, ensuring regulatory compliance, high-quality deliverables, and strong client engagement.

You will mentor paleontologists, lead field and desktop studies, and coordinate with multi-disciplinary teams to deliver integrated environmental