Senior Project Archaeologist

Jobtailor; Arizona; On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Langan is seeking a senior leader to lead and expand its Cultural Resources practice in the US. The role involves strategic planning, client development, and collaboration with office and practice leadership across complex projects.

You will serve as Principal Investigator, Project Manager, and Technical Lead, shaping research designs and regulatory analyses. Candidates should have a Master’s degree in Archaeology/Anthropology, 10–15 years in cultural resources, and strong communication skills

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Archaeology, Anthropology, or related field.
• 10–15 years of cultural resources experience with increasing leadership responsibility.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication; ability to explain methods to clients and non‑technical audiences.
• Deep understanding of federal, state, and local regulations, including Section 106.

Responsibilities

• Lead and expand cultural resources practice, including strategic planning and client development.
• Serve as Principal Investigator, Project Manager, and Technical Lead on complex projects.
• Manage tasks: research designs, field strategies, reporting, data recovery, and mitigation planning.
• Prepare and review technical documents for archaeological and architectural history studies.
• Oversee field operations, surveys, excavations, monitoring, lab analysis, and documentation.
• Interface with clients, permitting agencies, Tribal reps, and internal teams; communicate regulatory requirements clearly.
• Ensure compliance with Section 106, NEPA, and local regulations; oversee regulatory review.
• Support proposal development, scope/fee prep, and business development to expand client relationships.
• Manage project budgets, schedules, invoicing, and financial performance of projects.
• Supervise, mentor, train staff archaeologists and field crews; assist in staffing.
• Collaborate across disciplines and offices for integrated environmental work.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of regional cultural resource standards and regulatory trends.
• Promote health and safety in office and field environments.
• Contribute to growth of corporate culture practice in the US and internationally.

Skills

Leadership

Regulatory knowledge

Client development

Team supervision

Education

Master’s degree in Archaeology/Anthropology or related field

Job description

• Lead and expand Langan’s Cultural Resources practice, including strategic planning, client development, and collaboration with office and practice leadership;
• Serve in key roles such as Principal Investigator, Project Manager, and Technical Lead on complex cultural resource projects;
• Manage a wide range of project tasks including research designs, work plans, survey strategies, reporting, data recovery, site/resource evaluations, and mitigation planning, etc;
• Prepare, oversee, and review technical documents for archaeological and/or architectural history studies; background, historic and ethnographic contexts; evaluations, regulatory analysis, etc;
• Oversee field operations, ensuring proper execution of archaeological and historic architecture surveys, excavations, monitoring, laboratory analysis, and documentation, etc;
• Interface with clients, permitting agencies, Tribal representatives, and internal team members; clearly communicate regulatory requirements and project strategies in concise, accessible terms;
• Ensure compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, NEPA, state and local cultural resource regulations (including Washington DAHP and Oregon SHPO processes);
• Support proposal development, scope/fee preparation, and broader business development efforts to expand client relationships and project opportunities;
• Manage project budgets, schedules, and client expectations; oversee invoicing and financial performance of assigned projects;
• Supervise, mentor, and train staff archaeologists, architectural historians, paleontologists, and field crews; assist in staffing and recruitment as needed;
• Collaborate across disciplines and offices to support integrated environmental and land development work;
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of regional cultural resource standards, best practices, and regulatory trends; participate in internal and external training programs;
• Promote and uphold Langan’s commitment to health and safety in both office and field environments;
• Contribute to the growth and improvement of the corporate-wide cultural resource practice in the US and internationally.

Requirements

• Master’s degree (M.A. or Ph.D.) in Archaeology, Anthropology, or related field required
• 10-15 years of professional experience in Cultural Resources with demonstrated increase in leadership responsibility in a CRM environment
• Exceptional technical expertise and demonstrated experience leading fieldwork and preparing technical studies and reports and contributing to regulatory review documents
• Deep understanding of federal, state, and local cultural resource regulations, including Section 106; with long term experience in the general PNW region and surrounding states highly desirable
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly explain methods, requirements, and recommendations to clients and non-technical audiences
• Experience in business development and/or client management
• Experience building or expanding a cultural resources team is highly desirable
• Proven ability to lead teams, supervise staff, and foster a collaborative, high-quality work environment
• Excellent attention to detail, organizational skills, and judgment capabilities
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced consulting environment
• Ability to conduct strenuous physical fieldwork when needed, including walking long distances, digging, and lifting up to 50 lbs
• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation to access remote project sites
• Availability for occasional overtime, evening work, and travel based on project needs
• Register of Professional Archaeologists (RPA) preferred.