Historic Preservation Manager

BDO USA•Ridgeland, WI

22h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Historic Preservation Manager serves as part of an environmental team working on BDO’s Government Services projects/programs that support states, counties, and municipalities in navigating complex, often overlapping environmental regulations and requirements governing federal funding. Specifically, this position oversees Section 106 project activities and manages staff to ensure the timely, accurate, and compliant delivery of environmental reviews across multiple projects and jurisdictions. This incumbent focuses on desktop analysis to support consultation with State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPOs), Native American Tribal Organizations, and other stakeholders, in compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and 36 CFR Part 800 and works directly with clients/stakeholders to complete Section 105 compliance activities. These activities include developing treatment plans, Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs), Memoranda of Agreement (MOAs), and responding to client questions related to Section 106 compliance. The role is primarily office-based and does not involve regular fieldwork, although some travel and field work could be required.

Requirements

Master’s degree as required by the Secretary of Interior’s Professional Qualifications Standards (PQS) for Architectural History, Historic Architecture, History, or Archaeology
Eight (8) or more years of work experience in total
Minimum five (5) years’ professional experience in historic preservation or cultural resource management
Proficiency in MS Office applications (including Word and Excel)
Ability to identify compliance risks and provide practical, defensible solutions to maintain project schedules
Strong organizational and multitasking skills
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Attention to detail and ability to meet tight deadlines
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
Ability to work effectively with minimal supervision
Ability to communicate complex information clearly to diverse audiences
Ability to travel as required by client/business needs
Ability to learn quickly and adapt to new technologies
Ability to work independently and effectively in a remote team environment
Occasional overnight travel to conduct field investigations

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated experience leading and managing Section 106 compliance for federally funded projects in accordance with the NHPA and 36 CFR Part 800
Proven experience conducting and overseeing desktop-based architectural history and cultural resources analysis, including identification, evaluation, and effects determinations
Experience preparing, reviewing, and approving Section 106 documentation, such as APE justifications, findings of effect, consultation correspondence, and technical memoranda
Direct experience consulting with SHPOs, THPOs, and other consulting parties
Demonstrated experience developing, negotiating, and implementing MOAs, MOUs, treatment plans, and mitigation measures for adverse effects
Professional experience and demonstrated knowledge of Southeastern architectural styles
Experience managing multiple concurrent projects, schedules, and deliverables across different jurisdictions and funding programs
Prior experience supervising, mentoring, and providing technical oversight to architectural historians or cultural resources staff
Strong QA/QC experience, including technical review of cultural resources deliverables to ensure regulatory defensibility and consistency
Experience working in a consulting environment or supporting multi-client programs with varied stakeholders and timelines

Responsibilities

Leads and oversees Section 106 compliance activities for federally funded projects in accordance with the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and 36 CFR Part 800
Conducts and manages desktop cultural resource analyses, including identification and evaluation of historic properties and assessment of effects
Prepares and reviews Section 106 documentation, including APE justifications, findings of effect, consultation letters, and supporting technical memoranda
Develops and implements treatment measures for adverse effects, as applicable
Serves as a primary point of contact for State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPOs), Tribal Historic Preservation Offices (THPOs), and other consulting parties
Leads and documents consultation efforts, ensuring appropriate coordination, responsiveness, and regulatory compliance
Drafts, negotiates, and finalizes Section 106 agreements, including Memoranda of Agreement (MOAs), Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs), and treatment plans
Supports public notification efforts and participation in public meetings, as necessary
Supports government clients by responding to Section 106 compliance questions and providing clear, defensible technical guidance
Manages multiple Section 106 projects simultaneously across various jurisdictions and funding programs
Develops project schedules, tracks deliverables, and ensures milestones are met in support of broader environmental review timelines
Coordinates Section 106 activities with NEPA and HUD environmental review processes, as applicable
Identifies compliance risks and proactively recommends solutions to maintain project schedules and regulatory defensibility
Performs quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) reviews of Section 106 documentation prior to submission
Supervises, mentors, and reviews the work of technical staff
Assigns tasks, sets priorities, and provides technical direction to ensure consistency and quality across projects
Supports staff development through training, technical guidance, and performance feedback
Other duties as required