Senior Consultant, Field Lead Archaeologist

ERM; Sacramento (CA); On-site; USD 79,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Parental leave

Medical

Dental

Vision

Life

Disability

AD&D insurance

401(k)

Other applicable benefits to eligible

Job summary

Environmental Resources Management (ERM) seeks a Senior Consultant, Field Lead Archaeologist to guide fieldwork, regulatory analysis, and reporting across the Southwest. The role blends field and office work with travel up to 75% and leadership of archaeological investigations under NHPA Section 106.

Ideal candidates hold a Master’s in Anthropology/Archaeology, 3+ years (4+ preferred) of professional experience, and regulatory permits eligibility. RPA is a plus.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Anthropology, Archaeology, or related field.
• 3+ years (4+ preferred) of professional archaeology experience.
• Field Lead experience in the Southwest.
• Eligible for BLM, ARPA, and state permits.
• Strong knowledge of NHPA Section 106 regulations (Arizona).
• Experience authoring or co-authoring agency-reviewed reports.
• Ability to lead field efforts independently or with a team.
• Willingness to travel up to 75% and lift up to 50 lbs.

Responsibilities

• Conduct surveys, testing, data recovery, and construction monitoring.
• Prepare technical reports for cultural resource investigations.
• Perform archival and desktop research to support analyses.
• Collaborate with SHPO, BLM, and other agencies.
• Support environmental permitting and compliance processes.
• Work with cross-functional teams (planners, GIS, engineers).
• Represent ERM in client, stakeholder, and agency interactions.
• Contribute to business development in cultural heritage services.

Skills

Field leadership

Regulatory knowledge

Travel readiness

Driver's license

Technical reporting

Education

Master’s degree in Anthropology/Archaeology

Equivalent experience

Tools

GPS

GIS

Mapping tools

Job description

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

Why This Role Matters

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.

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).

Benefits

• Paid time off (vacation, sick, and floating holidays)


• Parental leave


• Medical


• Dental


• Vision


• Life


• Disability


• AD&D insurance


• 401(k)


• 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.

We are 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.