Assistant Vice President Archaeology

WSP • Reno, NV

18d • $123,600 - $183,600

About The Position

WSP is seeking an Assistant Vice President, Architectural Historian to join its Reno, Nevada or Seattle, Washington office. The role provides strategic leadership and technical expertise within WSP’s Cultural Resources practice, advancing historic preservation and architectural history services while ensuring technical excellence, regulatory compliance, successful project delivery, and business growth. The successful candidate will advise clients, lead multidisciplinary teams, mentor staff, and support expansion of the practice across the Western United States.

The position leads and oversees cultural resource projects and serves as Principal Investigator and technical lead on complex architectural history and historic preservation work. It directs the preparation and review of historic resource assessments, historic property evaluations, National Register of Historic Places eligibility determinations, historic context studies, and regulatory compliance documentation. The role also leads project planning and delivery, develops scopes, schedules, estimates, and proposals, and ensures work meets applicable regulations and industry standards.

The Assistant Vice President supports practice business planning and growth, develops client relationships, pursues business development opportunities, and leads client and agency coordination. The role collaborates with professionals across planning, environmental, engineering, transportation, and infrastructure disciplines, and supports staff development, recruitment, retention, and team growth. Periodic travel to project sites, client meetings, and industry events is required.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Architectural History, Historic Preservation, History, Architecture, Anthropology, or a closely related field.
• Meet or exceed the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualification Standards for Architectural History.
• At least 10 years of progressive professional experience in architectural history, historic preservation, or cultural resources consulting.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex cultural resource and historic preservation projects.
• Strong knowledge of NHPA Section 106, NEPA, CEQA, National Register criteria, and related Federal, State, and Local preservation regulations.
• Ability to manage project budgets, schedules, scopes, and multidisciplinary project teams.
• Experience interacting with public agencies, regulatory authorities, clients, and stakeholder groups.
• Strong technical writing, analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
• Demonstrated success in client management and business development.
• Ability to mentor staff and support team growth through effective leadership and collaboration.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and standard project management tools.
• Commitment to workplace safety and compliance with company health and safety standards.
• Ability to travel periodically to project sites, client meetings, and industry events as needed.
• Authorization to work in the United States.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree.
• Essential professional licensure or certification.
• 40-hour OSHA Health & Safety Training (HAZWOPER) under 29 CFR 1910.120.
• Basic First Aid and Adult CPR training.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership, technical direction, mentorship, and subject matter expertise for WSP’s Architectural History practice.
• Support and oversee cultural resource projects in California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and other regional markets as needed.
• Lead the preparation and review of historic resource assessments, historic property evaluations, National Register eligibility determinations, historic context studies, and regulatory compliance documentation.
• Serve as Principal Investigator and technical lead on complex architectural history and historic preservation projects.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams through project planning, execution, budgeting, scheduling, and delivery.
• Ensure compliance with Federal, State, Tribal, and Local regulations, including NHPA, Section 106, CEQA, NEPA, and related preservation laws.
• Support business planning and annual growth strategies for the Cultural Resources practice.
• Identify business opportunities, cultivate client relationships, and expand WSP’s presence in the historic preservation marketplace.
• Lead client meetings, presentations, contract negotiations, and agency coordination.
• Review technical deliverables for quality, consistency, industry standards, and regulatory compliance.
• Serve as a senior liaison with clients, agencies, Tribal representatives, preservation organizations, and other stakeholders.
• Develop scopes of work, project schedules, cost estimates, and proposals.
• Interpret and synthesize historic, architectural, and archival data to inform preservation and regulatory recommendations.
• Collaborate with planning, environmental, engineering, transportation, and infrastructure professionals to deliver integrated client solutions.
• Mentor and develop staff through technical guidance, performance management, and professional development.
• Stay current on preservation methodologies, regulations, technologies, and industry best practices.
• Support recruitment, retention, and growth initiatives within the Cultural Resources team.
• Make responsible and ethical decisions regarding company resources and conduct while adhering to WSP policies and standards.
• Perform additional responsibilities as required to support business objectives.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Disability and life insurance.
• Retirement savings.
• Paid sick leave.
• Paid vacation or other personal time.
• Paid parental leave.
• Paid time off for bereavement, voting, and/or attendance at naturalization proceedings.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior