Senior Principal Investigator

Colliers Engineering & Design; Holmdel Township (NJ); Hybrid; USD 96,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

401(k)/Roth option

Education reimbursement

Job summary

Colliers Engineering & Design seeks a Senior Principal Investigator in New Jersey to lead cultural resource projects, oversee Class I–III surveys, testing, and data recovery, and mentor staff. The role focuses on regulatory compliance with NHPA, NEPA, ARPA, and NAGPRA, working with SHPO, agencies, and Tribal Nations.

Ideal candidate has a Master’s or PhD in Anthropology/Archaeology, 10–15 years of experience, strong writing skills, and RI/THPO relationships.

Qualifications

• Master’s or PhD in Anthropology/Archaeology or related field.
• 10–15 years of professional experience.
• Experience leading Class I, II, III surveys, testing, and data recovery.
• NJ experience preferred and PI qualifications for state/federal agencies.

Responsibilities

• Act as Principal Investigator for cultural resource projects (Class I–III surveys, testing, data recovery).
• Develop research designs and methodologies for projects.
• Oversee regulatory compliance (NHPA/NEPA/ARPA/NAGPRA) and coordination with SHPO/tribal nations.
• Mentor field directors, crew chiefs, and field staff.
• Coordinate with clients, agencies, and tribes to facilitate consultation and compliance.
• Provide QA/QC of reports, site forms, and regulatory deliverables.
• Manage budgets, schedules, and staffing; drive profitability.
• Contribute to business development and client relationships.

Skills

Archaeology

Regulatory compliance

Technical writing

Project management

Team leadership

ArcGIS

Budgeting

Field supervision

Proposal writing

Education

Master's or PhD in Anthropology/Archaeology

Tools

ArcGIS

Collector

Trimble

Job description

Overview

Colliers Engineering & Design (CED) is a leading engineering and environmental consulting firm with a rapidly growing archaeological practice dedicated to preserving and interpreting cultural heritage. We provide comprehensive cultural resource management services across diverse industries and landscapes, with a strong focus on a different states throughout the country thus far. Our team is expanding, and we are seeking a full-time Senior Principal Investigator (PI) with deep expertise in archaeology and regulatory compliance to help lead projects and mentor staff. This position can be located in any of our offices in the state of New Jersey!

Responsibilities

• Serve as Principal Investigator for cultural resource projects, including Class I, II, and III surveys and testing and data recovery projects.
• Develop and implement project-specific research designs and methodologies.
• Lead compliance efforts with Section 106 of the NHPA, NEPA, ARPA, NAGPRA, and state/local regulations.
• Supervise and mentor field directors, crew chiefs, staff archaeologists, and field technicians.
• Coordinate with clients, SHPO, ASM, federal and state agencies, and Tribal Nations to facilitate consultation and compliance.
• Provide technical QA/QC review of archaeological reports, site forms, research designs, and regulatory deliverables.
• Manage project budgets, schedules, and staffing to ensure efficiency and profitability.
• Contribute to business development, including proposal writing, budgeting, and cultivating client relationships.
• Remain current with archaeological research, regulatory developments, and best practices in cultural resource management.
• Establish & maintain positive relationships with co-workers, support and build others on the team and across disciplines/offices.
• Working in various terrains and environments throughout the year.
• Performing physical tasks in the field which may include regular carrying of equipment (20-50 pounds).
• Occasional local and overnight travel may be required.

Qualifications

• Master’s or PhD Degree in Anthropology, Archaeology or another closely related field.
• 10-15 years of professional experience.
• Demonstrated expertise in the archaeology.
• Experience in New Jersey preferred.
• Experience leading Class I, II, and III surveys, testing, and data recovery projects.
• Must meet or be capable of meeting Principal Investigator qualificationsand permitting requirements for applicable state agencies and federal land-managing agencies.
• Excellent technical writing and communication skills.
• RPA certification or ability to obtain.
• Existing working relationships with Tribal Historic Preservation Offices (THPOs) in the region.
• Familiarity with geospatial and archaeological software (ArcGIS, Collector, Trimble, etc.).
• Experience conducting public outreach and interpretation of archaeological resources.
• Proven experience preparing scopes of work, level of effort estimates, and project budgets for public and private sector clients.
• Ability to read, write and understand English for purposes of comprehending written job-related communications and verbal instructions and interactions.
• Ability/willingness to lift equipment or objects weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Ability/willingness to walk long distances on rugged terrain.
• A valid Driver’s License is required.

Compensation: $95,545 - $139,725 per year (depending on qualifications)

What We Offer

At Colliers Engineering & Design, our people are our most important resource. That’s why we are committed to providing all our employees with a safe, comfortable work environment, potential for career advancement, and the ability to impact society through their projects as well as Company sponsored activities.

This dedication begins with supporting a work life balance through a generous compensation package that includes: company paid medical, dental, and vision coverage; paid pregnancy disability leave; short- and long-term disability insurance; life insurance; a company-matched 401(k)/Roth; paid time off that includes parental and military leave; employee referral and professional license bonuses and a straight time policy that compensates exempt employees for billable hours worked in excess of 40 billable hours within a work week.

We have also created an internal culture that provides the resources and technology needed to encourage personal and professional growth opportunities through reimbursement for education; a free in-house resource for hundreds of educational and self-enrichment courses; mentorship program; wellness program; Women’s Organization and ongoing philanthropic opportunities.