Senior Technical Manager-Archaeologist

Verdantas; California City (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible Work Environment

Paid Parental Leave

Medical

Dental

Vision

Life and AD&D Insurance

Short-Term and Long-Term Disability

401(k) with Company Match

Paid Time Off + Holidays

Job summary

Verdantas is hiring a Senior Technical Manager, Archaeology in California to lead complex cultural resources projects, mentor staff, and expand client relationships. You will direct field investigations, ensure QA/QC of reports, and oversee NEPA/NHPA/CEQA regulatory work.

Travel to project sites is expected as needed. The role requires an advanced archaeology degree, 7+ years of experience, strong writing and communication skills, and active leadership in multidisciplinary teams.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in archaeology, anthropology, historical archaeology, or a related field.
• Minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible cultural resources management experience, including project leadership, supervision, or management.
• Demonstrated experience leading archaeological field investigations and technical studies.
• Knowledge of federal, state, Tribal, and local cultural resources regulations and agency processes.
• Experience managing project scopes, budgets, schedules, staffing, and proposals.
• RPA certification strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex archaeological and cultural resources projects, with responsibility for scope, budget, schedule, staffing, technical quality, and client service.
• Serve as a primary client contact and build strong, long‑term client relationships.
• Develop technical approaches and methodologies for archaeological surveys, monitoring, testing, evaluation, data recovery, and other investigations.
• Lead and oversee archaeological field investigations, providing senior technical direction when needed.
• Prepare, review, and provide QA/QC for technical reports, research designs, regulatory documentation, proposals, and other deliverables.
• Provide technical guidance related to NEPA, NHPA Sections 106 and 110, CEQA, ARPA, NAGPRA, and other applicable federal, state, Tribal, and local requirements.
• Apply knowledge of California requirements, including CEQA, AB 52, and SB 18, as applicable.
• Identify project risks and develop practical solutions to technical, regulatory, budget, schedule, and staffing challenges.
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to Project Managers, Technical Specialists, and archaeological staff.
• Collaborate across Verdantas disciplines to support successful multidisciplinary project delivery.
• Develop scopes, budgets, schedules, staffing plans, and technical approaches for proposals and projects.
• Lead and support business development, client outreach, proposal efforts, and pursuit strategies.
• Identify opportunities to expand cultural resources services with existing and prospective clients.
• Represent Verdantas with clients, agencies, Tribal representatives, teaming partners, and industry organizations.

Skills

Project leadership

Regulatory knowledge

Technical writing

Client management

Mentoring staff

Travel eligible

RPA certification

Field investigations

Communication skills

Education

Advanced degree in archaeology

Job description

Welcome to Verdantas, where innovation meets sustainability, and your career finds purpose!

At Verdantas, we’re redefining environmental consulting and sustainable engineering through our use of cutting‑edge modeling and digital technology and our genuine commitment to people. Our work spans high‑growth sectors like water resources, resilient land use, energy transformation, and civil infrastructure.

Our commitment to excellence, across more than 90 offices, is championed by a team of over 2,000 experts, scientists, engineers, geologists, and technical specialists, embedded in a people‑focused culture, prioritizing the well‑being of our employees, clients, and the communities we serve. We partner with clients to deliver smart, data‑driven solutions to complex environmental and infrastructure challenges. We don’t just solve problems; we help shape a more sustainable future.

Join a people‑first culture that values your well‑being, empowers your growth, and amplifies your impact. At Verdantas, your career goes beyond the expected, and your work helps build a better world.

Ready to shape the future of resilient communities?

The Senior Technical Manager, Archaeology serves as a senior technical leader and Project Manager for archaeological and cultural resources work. This role leads complex projects, provides technical and regulatory expertise, develops client relationships, mentors staff, and supports the continued growth of Verdantas’ cultural resources practice.

What You’ll Do

• Lead complex archaeological and cultural resources projects, with responsibility for scope, budget, schedule, staffing, technical quality, and client service.
• Serve as a primary client contact and build strong, long‑term client relationships.
• Develop technical approaches and methodologies for archaeological surveys, monitoring, testing, evaluation, data recovery, and other investigations.
• Lead and oversee archaeological field investigations, providing senior technical direction when needed.
• Prepare, review, and provide QA/QC for technical reports, research designs, regulatory documentation, proposals, and other deliverables.
• Provide technical guidance related to NEPA, NHPA Sections 106 and 110, CEQA, ARPA, NAGPRA, and other applicable federal, state, Tribal, and local requirements.
• Apply knowledge of California requirements, including CEQA, AB 52, and SB 18, as applicable.
• Identify project risks and develop practical solutions to technical, regulatory, budget, schedule, and staffing challenges.
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to Project Managers, Technical Specialists, and archaeological staff.
• Collaborate across Verdantas disciplines to support successful multidisciplinary project delivery.
• Develop scopes, budgets, schedules, staffing plans, and technical approaches for proposals and projects.
• Lead and support business development, client outreach, proposal efforts, and pursuit strategies.
• Identify opportunities to expand cultural resources services with existing and prospective clients.
• Represent Verdantas with clients, agencies, Tribal representatives, teaming partners, and industry organizations.

What You Bring

• Advanced degree in archaeology, anthropology, historical archaeology, or a related field.
• Minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible cultural resources management experience, including project leadership, supervision, or management.
• Demonstrated experience leading archaeological field investigations and technical studies.
• Strong experience preparing and reviewing archaeological reports and regulatory documentation.
• Knowledge of federal, state, Tribal, and local cultural resources regulations and agency processes.
• Experience managing project scopes, budgets, schedules, staffing, and proposals.
• Strong client management, business development, technical writing, and communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor and develop technical staff.
• RPA certification strongly preferred.
• Principal Investigator or comparable archaeological technical leadership experience preferred.
• Experience working with Tribal Nations, THPOs, SHPOs, federal agencies, and other reviewing agencies preferred.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to travel and perform or oversee fieldwork as project needs require.

Salary Range:

$100,000-$130,000

Benefits:

• Flexible Work Environment
• Paid Parental Leave
• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Life and AD&D Insurance
• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability
• 401(k) with Company Match
• Paid Time Off + Holidays

Verdantas strives to develop new ways to increase diversity awareness within our organization. We recruit and reward our employees based on capability and performance — regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, lifestyle, age, educational background, national origin, religion, or physical ability. For us, it is imperative to build balanced teams from all walks of life and we believe that a diverse workforce is a stronger workforce.

Verdantas is an EOE race/color/religion/sex/sexual orientation/gender identity/national origin/disability/vet