Technical Lead Cultural Resources

Verdantas; Blue Ash (OH); On-site; USD 117,000 - 143,000; 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 seeks a senior archaeologist/Principal Investigator to lead Phase I–III archaeological investigations and oversee Section 106 compliance. You will set technical standards, review complex reports, and coordinate with SHPOs, tribal nations, and federal agencies across multi‑disciplinary teams.

You will mentor junior staff, contribute to recruiting and training, and play a key role in pursuing major projects and client development, in a role anchored in Ohio and national scope.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; progressive experience in cultural resources consulting.
• Demonstrated PI experience on federal undertakings.
• Strong knowledge of Section 106, NHPA, NEPA, and historic preservation compliance.
• Ability to lead archaeological investigations and prepare defensible cultural resources documentation.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior technical direction for Phase I–III archaeological investigations and Section 106 compliance.
• Establish and maintain technical standards, field protocols, and QA/QC across Cultural Resources practice.
• Review complex reports and determinations of eligibility; coordinate agency interactions.
• Lead resolution of challenging cultural resources issues and multi‑agency coordination.
• Engage with SHPOs, THPOs, tribal nations, and federal agencies (USACE, FHWA, USEPA, USFS, BLM).
• Support regulatory negotiations, tribal consultations, and Programmatic Agreements.
• Coordinate work across engineering, environmental, planning, and GIS teams.
• Mentor professionals toward RPA eligibility and broader technical capabilities.

Skills

Senior leadership

Project management

Technical writing

Client management

Regulatory coordination

NHPA/NEPA knowledge

Archaeology field work

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology/Archaeology/History or related field

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?

What You’ll Do:

• Provide senior technical direction for Phase I, II, and III archaeological investigations and Section 106 compliance.
• Establish and maintain technical standards, field protocols, and QA/QC practices across the Cultural Resources practice.
• Review complex technical reports, determinations of eligibility, and National Register nominations.
• Lead the resolution of challenging cultural resources issues, including contested site eligibility, inadvertent discoveries, and multi‑agency coordination.
• Interpret and apply requirements associated with the National Historic Preservation Act, Section 106, NEPA, CEQA, Secretary of the Interior’s Standards, and applicable state historic preservation requirements.
• Lead engagement with SHPOs, THPOs, tribal nations, and federal agencies, including USACE, FHWA, USEPA, USFS, and BLM.
• Support regulatory negotiations, tribal consultation, Programmatic Agreements, and Memoranda of Agreement.
• Coordinate cultural resources work across engineering, environmental, planning, and GIS project teams.
• Serve as a trusted technical advisor to clients on complex, high‑profile, and program‑scale engagements.
• Represent Verdantas during agency meetings, regulatory hearings, client presentations, and industry conferences.
• Lead or support technical strategy for major pursuits and client‑development opportunities.
• Build relationships with public agencies, tribal nations, and private‑sector clients.
• Mentor cultural resources professionals and support their progression toward RPA eligibility, increased project independence, and broader technical capabilities.
• Contribute to recruiting, onboarding, technical training, and succession planning for the practice.

What You Bring:

• Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology, Archaeology, History, or a closely related discipline.
• Progressive experience in cultural resources consulting, including senior technical or practice‑level responsibilities.
• Demonstrated experience serving as a Principal Investigator on federal undertakings.
• Strong knowledge of Section 106, NHPA, NEPA, and historic preservation compliance.
• Experience leading archaeological investigations and preparing technically defensible cultural resources documentation.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with regulatory agencies, tribal partners, clients, and multidisciplinary technical teams.
• Strong technical writing, communication, leadership, problem‑solving, and client‑management skills.
• Ability to establish technical standards, oversee QA/QC, and mentor developing professionals.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree or Ph.D. in Anthropology, Archaeology, or a related discipline.
• Membership in the Register of Professional Archaeologists.
• Experience leading tribal consultation and complex agency coordination.
• Experience providing expert testimony or regulatory testimony.
• Established relationships with federal, state, and tribal regulatory stakeholders.

Experience supporting cultural resources work across multiple states or nationally.

Valid driver’s license.

Salary Range:

The starting salary range for this position is $130,000, with final compensation determined based on qualifications, experience, and licensing status.

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