Senior Project Historian

VHB • Raleigh, NC

11h • $90,000 - $115,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

VHB’s Environmental Planning Group in Raleigh is seeking a Senior Historian to join its expanding team. The role involves historic resource surveys and preparing environmental and planning-related documents for transportation, energy, and land development projects. It requires periodic outdoor work and limited travel, along with strong written and verbal communication, attention to detail, organization, and the ability to manage priorities, meet deadlines, and work collaboratively.

The Senior Historian conducts and manages cultural resource identification and evaluation surveys; coordinates historic preservation reviews; provides technical content for environmental and planning documents; and supports consultation, project delivery, proposals, and marketing. The position also supports VHB departments and regional offices with historic preservation planning, site history research, and compliance services.

Requirements

• Meet the Secretary of the Interior’s professional qualifications.
• Have 5–8+ years of planning and compliance experience.
• Have a bachelor’s degree in Architectural History, Historic Preservation Planning, or a closely related discipline.
• Have knowledge of federal and state cultural resources and historic preservation statutes and regulations, including Section 106 and National Register criteria.
• Have excellent research, writing, editing, and photographic abilities.
• Have experience with building research and knowledge of architectural styles, forms, building materials, and periods of development.
• Be proficient in MS Office, Google Earth, Adobe, and GIS software.
• Be able to read and interpret aerial photography and maps, including construction and right-of-way plans.
• Have strong written and verbal communication, organizational, prioritization, deadline-management, and teamwork skills.

Nice To Haves

• A master’s degree in Architectural History, Historic Preservation, or a related field; a master’s degree is preferred.
• Knowledge of the history and architecture of North Carolina.
• Experience preparing Section 106 documentation for the North Carolina SHPO and/or the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

Responsibilities

• Conduct and manage cultural resource identification and evaluation surveys for public- and private-sector clients.
• Coordinate Section 106 and other applicable federal, state, and local historic preservation reviews for transportation, energy, and land development projects.
• Provide technical content for cultural resource components of environmental and planning-related documents, including resource identification and assessment of project-related impacts.
• Assist the History Practice Leader with consultation and negotiation involving SHPOs, government officials, and consulting parties.
• Manage history-related tasks, including coordinating and completing surveys and assessments of effects.
• Support other VHB departments and regional offices with historic preservation planning, site history research, and compliance services.
• Assist with scoping, managing, and tracking projects, preparing proposals, and marketing group services within and outside VHB.

Benefits

• Eligibility to participate in the VHB 401(k) plan.
• Medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance.
• Wellness programs.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Recognition programs.
• Eligible employees may receive annual incentive compensation bonuses, spot bonuses, and merit-based salary increases.
• Flexible, hybrid work environment.

What This Job Offers

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