Senior Consultant, Field Lead Archaeologist

ERM; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 79,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

ERM seeks a Senior Consultant, Field Lead Archaeologist to lead fieldwork and regulatory analysis across the United States, informing responsible development and environmental decisions. The role combines field and office tasks with potential travel across the Southwest and beyond.

This position requires strong reporting skills and a Master’s in Anthropology/Archaeology, plus 3+ years of experience. Applicants should have field leadership in the Southwest, eligibility for state permits,

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Anthropology, Archaeology, or related field or equivalent experience.
• 3+ years (4+ years preferred) professional experience.
• Demonstrated Field Lead experience in the Southwest.
• Eligible to be listed on BLM, ARPA, and state permits.
• Strong knowledge of Arizona cultural resource regulations (NHPA Section 106).
• Experience authoring or co-authoring agency-reviewed technical reports.

Responsibilities

• Conduct archaeological surveys, testing, data recovery, and construction monitoring.
• Prepare technical report sections for cultural resource investigations and environmental documents.
• Perform archival and desktop research to support project analyses.
• Collaborate with regulatory agencies including SHPO and BLM.
• Support environmental permitting and compliance processes.
• Partner with cross-functional teams (planners, biologists, GIS specialists, engineers).
• Represent ERM in client, stakeholder, and agency interactions.
• Contribute to business development and growth in cultural heritage services.

Skills

Field leadership

Regulatory compliance

GPS/GIS

Archaeology reporting

Education

Master's in Anthropology/Archaeology

Tools

GPS

GIS

Mapping tools

Job description

Why This Role Matters

Shape the future of cultural resource stewardship across the Southwestern states United States. Join ERM as an experienced Senior Consultant, Field Lead Archaeologist and lead meaningful fieldwork and regulatory analysis across the US, directly informing responsible development and environmental decision-making.

This role is critical to ensuring culturally and historically significant resources are identified, protected, and thoughtfully integrated into project planning. You'll play a key part in helping clients navigate complex regulatory frameworks while preserving the integrity of archaeological resources across the region. This is a full-time, salaried position will take in consideration candidates across the Arizona and/or California. The role offers a mix of field and office-based work in a dynamic, project-driven environment.

What Your Impact Is

• Lead and contribute to Class I, II, and III archaeological investigations across diverse landscapes in the Pacific Northwest
• Support compliance with Section 106 of the NHPA and eligibility evaluations for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP)
• Deliver high-quality technical reporting that informs federal, state, and local environmental decisions
• Strengthen ERM’s cultural resources practice through client engagement and multidisciplinary collaboration
• Help shape project strategies by contributing to planning, logistics, and execution in a dynamic consulting environment

What You'll Bring

• Required Master's degree in Anthropology, Archaeology, or related field. Or equivalent experience.
• 3+ years (4+ years preferred) of professional experience
• Demonstrated experience as a Field Lead in the Southwest
• Eligibility to be listed on BLM, ARPA, and applicable state cultural resource permits
• Strong knowledge of Arizona federal, state, and local cultural resource regulations (including NHPA Section 106)
• Proven experience authoring or co-authoring agency-reviewed technical reports
• Ability to lead field efforts independently or as part of a multidisciplinary team
• Ability and willingness to travel to field sites that will be located in the United States
• Fieldwork may be required up to 75% of the time during peak field season, with the remaining time spent on desktop and organizational activities
• Ability to walk long distances (up to 10 miles per day) in varying terrain under adverse conditions, including inclement weather, wildlife encounters, and able to lift and carry up to 50 lbs., and able to excavate shovel tests
• Experience with field technologies (GPS, GIS applications, mapping tools)
• 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
• This position is not eligible for immigration sponsorship
• Preferred Registered Professional Archaeologist (RPA) designation
• Knowledge of prehistoric and historic artifact assemblages
• Experience with historic structures
• Strong initiative and self-motivation

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct archaeological surveys, testing, data recovery, and construction monitoring
• Prepare technical report sections for cultural resource investigations and environmental documents
• Perform archival and desktop research to support project analyses
• Collaborate with regulatory agencies including SHPO and BLM
• Support environmental permitting and compliance processes
• Partner with cross-functional teams (planners, biologists, GIS specialists, engineers)
• Represent ERM in client, stakeholder, and agency interactions
• Contribute to business development and growth in cultural heritage services

ERM does not accept recruiting agency resumes.

For the Senior Consultant, Field Lead Archaeologist position, the anticipated annual base pay is $79,300-99,700 (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 are not bonus eligible).

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.

At ERM, sustainability is our business. We are the world's largest advisory firm focused solely on sustainability, offering unparalleled expertise across business and finance. ERM partners with clients to operationalize sustainability at pace and scale, through our unique combination of strategic transformation and technical delivery capabilities. Our diverse global team of experts works with the world’s leading organizations to help them set clear sustainability targets, measure progress and operationalize strategy through deep implementation and business transformation. With more than 50 years of experience, our ability to integrate sustainability solutions and our depth and breadth of technical knowledge are why organizations choose to partner with us as their trusted advisor. Every one of us firmly believes in the potential to create value for our clients through an integrated approach to sustainability (because we have personally seen it and professionally achieved it). Our team members are passionate about client service. We work closely with our clients to help them operationalize their sustainability goals and meet their environmental, health and safety objectives while advancing ERM’s purpose through delivering tangible progress in what the United Nations coined The Decade of Action. Organizing our people across globally integrated communities of technical and strategic talent positions ERM to be a "boots to boardroom" leader in bringing that value creation to our clients, partners, and the world.

We recruit exceptional professionals with a personal and professional passion for sustainability and nurture them to even greater success as specialists. We prepare our consultants to bring integrated, innovative and sustainable solutions to our clients and provide opportunities for ongoing development across a variety of subject areas related to technical, business, and personal growth. At ERM, effort pays off and becomes career defining work that leaves a positive imprint on our planet.

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.