Cultural Resources - GIS Team Lead

Kleinfelder•Chicago, IL

14h

About The Position

The Central Division Cultural Resources Program seeks a senior GIS professional to lead geospatial strategy, data management, and GIS production for cultural resources projects throughout the western United States. The role serves as the program’s technical GIS lead, supporting archaeological investigations, cultural resource inventories, environmental planning, permitting, construction monitoring, and agency coordination. Working with project managers, principal investigators, environmental planners, and clients, the GIS Team Lead develops geospatial solutions that improve project delivery and data quality. The position combines senior technical specialization and project leadership, including management of complex geospatial projects, business development support, staff mentorship, and advancement of GIS capabilities across the division. The role also supports cultural resources permitting and Section 106 compliance, field data collection, project deliverable quality assurance, and standardized GIS practices. Following an offer, candidates must satisfactorily complete employment reference checks, verification of professional licensure and/or educational credentials, a motor vehicle report, and a comprehensive background check.

Requirements

Master’s degree or higher in Anthropology, Geography, GIS, Geospatial Sciences, Archaeology, or a related field.
At least 15 years of progressively responsible GIS and project management experience.
Demonstrated expertise with ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, and Enterprise GIS environments.
Experience designing and managing enterprise geodatabases.
Advanced knowledge of spatial analysis, GIS modeling, and cartographic production.
Experience supporting environmental and cultural resource projects.
Strong technical writing and communication skills.
Proven project management experience involving budgets, schedules, staffing, and client coordination.
Experience leading multidisciplinary technical teams.
Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects in a fast-paced consulting environment.

Nice To Haves

More than 20 years of GIS and geospatial experience supporting cultural resource and environmental projects.
Experience supporting more than 100 energy, transportation, communication, mining, land development, and government projects.
Expertise with ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Field Maps, PostgreSQL/PostGIS, remote sensing, GNSS survey, photogrammetry, and geospatial database management.
Experience leading GIS production for more than 110 cultural resource projects in a consulting environment.
Demonstrated success developing and standardizing enterprise GIS workflows and QA/QC processes.
Experience integrating GIS technologies with cultural resources compliance programs.
Business development and proposal support experience.
PhD-level education demonstrating advanced analytical, research, and technical communication skills.
Register of Professional Archaeologists (RPA) certification.

Responsibilities

Serve as GIS technical lead for the Central Division Cultural Resources Program.
Manage geospatial support for cultural resources, environmental planning, renewable energy, transportation, and utility projects.
Develop and maintain enterprise geodatabases and GIS data management systems.
Design and implement ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Enterprise, and ArcGIS Field Maps workflows.
Perform advanced spatial analysis supporting environmental and cultural resource compliance.
Produce cartographic products, maps, exhibits, and agency submittals.
Manage field data collection applications and support field personnel.
Provide GIS quality assurance and quality control review of project deliverables.
Support cultural resources permitting and Section 106 compliance through geospatial analysis.
Develop standardized GIS procedures and best practices.
Coordinate with clients, regulatory agencies, project managers, and technical teams.
Mentor and train cultural resources staff.
Support proposal preparation, business development, and strategic pursuits.
Evaluate and implement emerging GIS technologies, automation tools, and AI-assisted geospatial workflows.
Manage complex geospatial projects and contribute to project leadership.
Advance GIS capabilities across the division.