Senior Cultural Resources Specialist - Principal Investigator

Burns & McDonnell; Tucson (AZ); On-site; USD 100,000 - 155,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)

401(k) retirement program

Job summary

Burns & McDonnell’s Southwest Region seeks an archaeological Principal Investigator to lead a growing Cultural Resources team across Arizona and the Southwest. This role combines technical oversight, project management, staff development, and client interaction while maintaining PI authority over work under permits.

Working with the existing PI and project managers, the successful candidate will oversee scoping, proposals, schedules, budgets, and technical reviews, while mentoring field

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in archaeology, anthropology, or a related field is required.
• Graduate degree is required for PI responsibilities under professional standards.
• Meet professional standards for archaeology; Arizona Museum/permit approvals may apply.
• RPA status is preferred but not required; travel across Arizona is expected.
• Ability to qualify for/state permits and agency coordination is needed.

Responsibilities

• Serve as PI and technical lead for cultural resources projects with project-management duties as assigned.
• Identify opportunities, prepare scopes and fee estimates, support pursuit decisions.
• Coordinate proposals, track hours and budget, forecast workload, ensure capacity.
• Direct research designs, surveys, monitoring, testing, and data recovery; perform quality reviews.
• Mentor field directors and staff toward expanded supervisory responsibilities and PI qualifications.
• Apply permit conditions, agency reporting requirements, and safety procedures; train staff through reviews.

Skills

PI leadership

Staff mentoring

Client communication

Project management

Quality & safety procedures

Education

Bachelor’s degree in archaeology, anthropology, or closely related field

Graduate degree required for PI responsibilities

RPA status preferred

Tools

GPS/GIS workflows

Microsoft Office

Job description

Description

Burns & McDonnell’s Southwest Region is seeking an archaeological Principal Investigator (PI) to help lead a growing Cultural Resources team. This role combines technical oversight, project management, staff development, and work with clients and other Burns & McDonnell practices on projects across Arizona and the Southwest. Burns & McDonnell is a 100% employee-owned firm.

Working with the existing PI and project managers, this person will serve as the PI and, where assigned, project manager for cultural resources projects. The role includes scoping, proposals, schedules, financial performance, technical review, and client communication while maintaining clear PI authority over work conducted under their permits.

The successful candidate will improve consistent delivery across field and office work, develop staff, and help expand cultural resources services within the Southwest Environmental Services practice.

Key responsibilities may include

• Serve as PI and technical lead for assigned cultural resources projects; act as project manager on cultural resources-led work when assigned, with accountability for client communication, scope, schedule, budget, and delivery.
• Identify and develop cultural resources opportunities with existing and new clients, prepare competitive scopes and fee estimates, and support pursuit decisions with practice leadership.
• Coordinate proposals and maintain a pipeline of anticipated work; track actual hours, expenses, and project financial performance, forecast workload, and flag field capacity, permit coverage, equipment, and hiring needs early.
• Direct archaeological research designs, surveys, monitoring, testing, data recovery, and technical reporting; conduct technical edits and quality reviews of field methods, data, interpretations, and recommendations before submission.
• Mentor field directors and early career staff toward expanded technical and supervisory responsibilities, including a documented path toward project director and PI qualifications where appropriate.
• Apply project-specific permit conditions, agency and Arizona State Museum reporting requirements, Section 106 requirements, and Burns & McDonnell quality and safety procedures; develop shared technical checklists and standard operating procedures with the other PI, using review comments as opportunities to train staff.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

This role involves client and agency coordination, report preparation, occasional field leadership, and travel based on project needs. It requires clear communication and collaboration with the existing PI, field directors, and multidisciplinary project managers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in archaeology, anthropology, or a closely related field from an accredited program required.
• Graduate degree in archaeology, anthropology, or a closely related field required for archaeological PI responsibilities under the Secretary of the Interior’s professional qualification standards.
• Meet the Secretary of the Interior’s professional qualification standards for archaeology and demonstrate current eligibility for, or ability to obtain, Arizona State Museum approval as an archaeological PI on Arizona Antiquities Act permits.
• Registered Professional Archaeologist (RPA) status preferred, not required.
• Minimum 8 years of relevant experience, or 7 years with a Master’s degree, with archaeological survey, monitoring, testing or data recovery, research designs, reporting, and supervision; a related master’s degree may be substituted for one year of experience under the applicable company qualification policy.
• Ability to qualify for and maintain applicable state and federal archaeological permits and authorizations needed for assigned work.
• Cultural resources consulting experience preferred, including work on utility, renewable energy, mining, or other infrastructure projects.
• Experience conducting cultural resources work for or in coordination with federal agencies preferred.
• Knowledge of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, the Arizona Antiquities Act, and relevant state, federal, and Tribal requirements and consultation processes.
• Knowledge of Southwestern archaeology, archaeological research methods, and defensible field and reporting practices.
• Ability to resolve technical issues, communicate decisions, and recognize when permit conditions or agency consultation require escalation.
• Ability to participate in fieldwork and site visits as required for assigned responsibilities, with appropriate field safety planning.
• Strong writing and communication skills, including experience with technical reports, research designs or treatment plans, and proposal scopes.
• Experience directing teams, mentoring staff, and giving constructive technical review comments.
• Detail-oriented review of field records, analyses, figures, and final deliverables.
• Experience with field data collection and GPS/GIS workflows used on archaeological projects.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and collaborative document and project tracking tools.
• Ability to adapt field and office plans to changing client needs, agency comments, and project schedules.
• Willingness to travel throughout Arizona and the Southwest as project commitments require.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to meet the Company’s Motor Vehicle Safety Policy requirements for driving privileges.

Compensation

$100,000.00-155,000.00 Yearly

The expected compensation range for this position is displayed in compliance with all local/state regulations. The expected compensation range for this position is based on a number of factors, including but not limited to: individual education, qualifications, prior work experience and work location. The total annual compensation package will consist of a base salary and eligibility to participate in our discretionary year-end incentive bonus program.

Benefits

Our extensive benefits package takes care of you so that you can focus on doing great work. From insurance and disability to time off and wellness programs, we provide the tools to meet your needs. As part of being 100% employee-owned, eligible employees participate in our Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) in addition to our 401(k) retirement program.

For more information, please visit the Benefits & Wellness page.

EEO/Disabled/Veterans

Job: Scientific

Primary Location: US-AZ-Phoenix

Other Locations: US-NM-Albuquerque, US-Nevada, US-UT-Salt Lake City, US-AZ-Tucson

Schedule: Full-time

Travel: Yes, 100 % of the Time