Principal Technical Consultant, Archaeologist

ERM•Houston, TX

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

ERM is seeking a highly motivated Principal Technical Consultant, Archaeologist to join our Cultural Resources Services team. This full-time, salaried position can be based out of a local ERM office in the Gulf region (Dallas, Austin, Houston, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, or Mobile). In this senior-level role, you will lead complex cultural resource investigations, drive regulatory compliance efforts, and support strategic growth across the region while contributing to projects throughout the United States. As a Principal Technical Consultant, you will play a critical leadership role in advancing ERM’s cultural resources capabilities in the Gulf region. Your expertise will ensure compliance with federal, state, and municipal regulations while supporting large-scale capital projects. You will influence both project delivery and business growth, helping ERM expand its impact in the cultural resource consulting space.

Requirements

Graduate degree in Anthropology, Archaeology, or closely related field of study, or equivalent experience.
6-8 years (10 or more years preferred) of related paid experience.
Ability to serve as Principal Investigator for ARPA permits, state permits, and similar regulatory requirements in the Gulf region.
Secretary of the Interior-qualified archaeologist listed as a Registered Professional Archaeologist (RPA).
Demonstrated field experience and principal-level oversight for projects in the Gulf region, including survey, testing, and/or data recovery.
Experience authoring or reviewing agency-reviewed technical reports (Phase I, II, III; NEPA documentation; data recovery and treatment plans).
Experience working with regulatory agencies as a consultant representing clients.
Ability to work collaboratively with archaeologists and multidisciplinary technical teams.
Willingness to travel occasionally to field locations and client meetings within the Gulf region.
Experience with mapping equipment and applications (e.g., total station, GPS, ArcGIS FieldMaps, Survey123).
Driver’s License Required: This position requires a valid driver's license and/or the ability to operate a company vehicle due to the nature of job duties, which include frequent travel to various client locations across a large geographical area.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with NEPA and regulatory processes at federal, state, and municipal levels in the Gulf region.
Experience participating directly in SHPO and Tribal consultations.
Demonstrated success in business development and client relationship management within the cultural resources sector.

Responsibilities

Serve as Principal Investigator for private land surveys as well as federal and other public lands.
Provide technical-level quality assurance/quality control of deliverables prepared by other qualified archaeologists.
Oversee a team of archaeologists leading desktop studies and field investigations, including reconnaissance- and pedestrian-level surveys, testing/excavations, and construction monitoring.
Lead and manage the performance of mid- to junior-level archaeologists, including hiring, mentorship, and engagement across the broader cultural resources team.
Serve as primary author or task manager for cultural resources technical studies, ensuring projects meet scope, budget, schedule, and quality expectations.
Support projects ranging from multi-state linear developments to localized initiatives.
Expand ERM’s cultural resources market presence through strong technical delivery and business development.
Build and maintain relationships with clients, managing partners, and key stakeholders to drive revenue growth.
Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams including environmental planners, biologists, wetland specialists, GIS professionals, and engineers.
Represent ERM in engagements with clients, subcontractors, stakeholders, and regulatory agencies.
Identify subcontractor needs and manage their performance and deliverables.