Assistant Vice President Archaeology

WSP • Reno, NV

16d • Onsite

About The Position

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

The position oversees cultural resource projects and serves as Principal Investigator and technical lead on complex architectural history and historic preservation work. It leads project planning and delivery, ensures compliance with applicable preservation regulations, and reviews technical deliverables. The role also supports business planning, business development, client relationships, proposals, and coordination with agencies and stakeholders. The position collaborates with professionals across planning, environmental, engineering, transportation, and infrastructure disciplines.

The role is based in either Reno, NV, or Seattle, WA, and requires periodic travel to project sites, client meetings, and industry events as needed. WSP offers benefits covering medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance; retirement savings; paid sick leave and vacation or other personal time; paid parental leave; and paid time off for bereavement, voting, and attendance at naturalization proceedings. Expected salary for Washington only is $123,600–$183,600. The posting also provides compensation information referencing Colorado and states that actual compensation may vary based on qualifications, equity, and location.

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.
• 10 or more 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.
• Proven ability to manage project budgets, schedules, scopes, and multidisciplinary project teams.
• Established 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 activities.
• 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.

Nice To Haves

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

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 preparation and review of historic resource assessments, historic property evaluations, National Register of Historic Places 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 the NHPA, Section 106, CEQA, NEPA, and related preservation laws.
• Support business planning and annual growth strategies for the Cultural Resources practice.
• Identify business development 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 to 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 support preservation and regulatory recommendations.
• Collaborate with planning, environmental, engineering, transportation, and infrastructure professionals to deliver integrated solutions.
• Mentor and develop staff through technical guidance, performance management, and professional development opportunities.
• 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, adhering to WSP policies and standards.
• Perform additional responsibilities as required to support business objectives.

Benefits

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

What This Job Offers

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