Business Group Director-Cultural Resources

Environmental Science Associates • Tampa, FL

6d • Hybrid

About The Position

Environmental Science Associates (ESA), a 100% employee-owned environmental consulting firm, is seeking an established cultural resources leader to build and grow its Southeast practice. The senior leadership role will set the practice’s direction, recruit a team, develop new client relationships, and turn existing demand for cultural resources services into a regional business. The practice will support ESA’s growth in transportation and aviation, water and public infrastructure, energy, and coastal restoration and resilience, connecting cultural resources expertise with environmental planning, permitting strategy, and natural resources services.

Building on ESA’s Florida foundation, the Director will pursue opportunities in Georgia, the Carolinas, Texas, and the wider Gulf Coast. The role works closely with the Regional Director, regional business group leaders, and ESA’s Cultural Resources Practice Leader to develop growth plans and hiring priorities. Cultural resources colleagues across ESA will provide technical expertise and project delivery support as the regional team develops. The position may be based in a hybrid arrangement at ESA’s Tampa, Orlando, Boynton Beach, Sarasota, or Pensacola offices, or remotely in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia, South Carolina, or North Carolina.

The Director will lead the Southeast cultural resources group’s development, operations, and financial performance. Initial priorities include winning work, recruiting key people, and establishing a dependable delivery team. The successful candidate will bring at least 15 years of relevant cultural resources consulting experience, a strong professional network in the Southeast, demonstrated business development and leadership capabilities, and qualifications meeting the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualification Standards for Archaeology.

Requirements

• At least 15 years of relevant cultural resources consulting experience.
• Demonstrated success winning and retaining clients, leading teams, managing complex projects, and managing business performance.
• Graduate degree in anthropology, archaeology, architectural history, cultural resources management, or a related field.
• Qualifications meeting the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualification Standards for Archaeology.
• Experience directing cultural resources work in the Southeast, including archaeological investigations, historic architectural studies, resource evaluation, and treatment or mitigation planning.
• Strong working knowledge of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, NEPA, and applicable state and local requirements.
• Experience integrating cultural resources analyses into environmental reviews and coordinating complex compliance efforts.
• Experience working with federal, state, and local agencies, State Historic Preservation Offices, Tribal representatives, and land managers, with a respectful approach to supporting agency-led Tribal consultation.
• Ability to develop business and capture plans, lead proposals, negotiate scopes and budgets, and guide project managers through delivery, quality review, and financial management.
• Ability to build a business, make hiring decisions, maintain involvement in project delivery, and balance growth with technical quality, staff development, and financial performance.
• Collaborative approach and a record of earning trust among clients, colleagues, tribes, and agency partners.

Nice To Haves

• Strong professional network in the Southeast, experience in Florida, and relationships across the Gulf or South Atlantic states.
• Track record of growing cultural resources services or expanding into new markets.
• Entrepreneurial leadership style, flexibility, creativity, and ability to build enduring client relationships.
• Ability to mentor future leaders, welcome different perspectives, and create a respectful workplace where people can contribute and advance.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a regional growth plan with client, market, staffing, and financial priorities.
• Work with regional and national leaders to align resources and hiring with the project pipeline.
• Partner with ESA client managers to pursue cultural resources work on existing contracts and with biological resources services for architecture and engineering partners.
• Build relationships with public agencies, infrastructure clients, and teaming partners; lead priority pursuits and grow a sustainable backlog.
• Identify and recruit key talent and build local field capacity and project management depth.
• Coordinate with ESA’s national cultural resources practice to access expertise and staff as the regional team grows.
• Mentor staff, align assignments with professional development goals, and foster collaboration, inclusion, and employee ownership.
• Develop future project managers and practice leaders.
• Serve as Project Director or senior technical advisor on strategic and complex assignments.
• Guide regulatory coordination and quality review, and help multidisciplinary teams address cultural resources early in project planning.
• Establish and manage the group’s annual business plan and budget.
• Monitor backlog, utilization, profitability, and project risk, and work with project managers to meet scope, schedule, and budget commitments.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance, paid at 70% for the employee and family.
• Annual allocations of company shares through the ESOP.
• 401(k) plan with company match.
• Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Professional development bonuses.
• Attendance at conferences.
• Programs supporting technical expertise, business acumen, and leadership development.

What This Job Offers

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