Technical Consulting Director, Cultural Heritage

ERM•Houston, TX

23h•Hybrid

About The Position

ERM is seeking a Consulting Director, Cultural Heritage, based in Houston, Texas, to serve as a regional leader within our Impact Assessment and Planning (IAP) Practice, supporting projects throughout the Gulf region while helping advance best practices across North America. Based in the Gulf region, with a focus on Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Oklahoma, you will play a pivotal role in leading cultural heritage initiatives for key clients while advancing best practices across ERM's North America Cultural Heritage team. This position combines technical leadership, client relationship management, business growth, and talent development, providing a unique opportunity to influence both project outcomes and the future direction of the practice. We are looking for a collaborative leader who is passionate about delivering excellence and mentoring the next generation of professionals. Cultural heritage considerations are increasingly critical to the successful development of energy, infrastructure, and capital projects. As a Consulting Director, you will play a pivotal role in helping clients navigate complex regulatory requirements while protecting cultural resources and advancing responsible development. In this leadership position, you will guide high-profile projects, build trusted client relationships, contribute to business growth, and strengthen ERM's Cultural Heritage practice nationally. Your expertise will directly influence project outcomes, regulatory compliance, and the long-term success of clients operating across the Gulf region and beyond.

Requirements

Master's degree or higher in Anthropology or related field, or equivalent experience.
Must meet the Secretary of the Interior's Professional Standards for Archaeology to perform duties for NHPA Section 106 and NEPA compliance, pertaining especially to undertakings by multiple Federal agencies.
Member of the Register of Professional Archaeologists (RPA).
8+ years (15+ years preferred) of related experience.
Familiarity with state and federal regulatory processes.
Technical expertise and practical experience with environmental permitting for large-scale capital projects.
Required familiarity with the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
Competency advising on State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPOs), Tribal Historic Preservation Offices (THPOs), Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), and other agency involvement.
Excellent technical report writing skills and demonstrated authorship for Phase I, II, and III projects, including treatment plans, MOUs, resource reports, and related documentation.
Ability to advise on artifact analysis and archaeological site NRHP recommendations, including identification of the need for additional studies.
Demonstrated ability to carry research through to completion.
Strong attention to detail in documentation and technical deliverables.
Excellent communication and computer skills.
Demonstrated business development abilities and the ability to maintain long-term client relationships.
Ability to manage and work effectively both independently and within multidisciplinary teams.
Well-developed team-building and influencing skills, unquestioned integrity, and the experience, confidence, and stature to effectively address client and business challenges.
Positive outlook, collaborative approach, and commitment to the success of ERM as a global company.
Flexibility and responsiveness in a dynamic consulting environment where project needs and schedules may evolve.
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

Solid grasp of key impact assessment and management issues within the Power/Renewables sector.
Experience interacting with regulatory agency personnel.
Experience leading large multidisciplinary consulting teams and managing multiple projects simultaneously.
Proven track record of expanding client relationships and growing market share within cultural heritage and archaeology consulting.
Experience collaborating across multiple technical disciplines and geographic regions.

Responsibilities

Serve as a regional leader for ERM's North America Cultural Heritage team, sharing best practices and advancing technical excellence.
Provide program management and leadership support for key energy-sector clients throughout the Gulf region.
Lead complex Cultural Heritage, NHPA, and NEPA compliance projects for major capital development initiatives.
Drive the growth of ERM's archaeology and cultural heritage services through technical leadership and business development.
Mentor, inspire, and develop multidisciplinary teams while fostering collaboration across ERM practices.
Strengthen and expand client relationships, contributing to significant revenue growth and market presence.
Represent ERM with clients, regulatory agencies, industry stakeholders, and professional organizations.
Program management and leadership in support of key energy-sector clients in the Gulf region.
Conduct research and writing for cultural heritage resource components of NHPA Section 106 and NEPA documents for private-sector projects.
Oversee teams conducting literature reviews, field reconnaissance, field surveys, and archaeological excavations.
Be responsible for the technical content and quality of project deliverables.
Interact with state and federal regulators and collaborate with project teams to analyze information using regional databases.
Provide technical consulting expertise to support the growth of ERM's archaeology and cultural heritage business.
Collaborate with other ERM practice areas to share multidisciplinary resources and best practices across the country.
Represent ERM through communications and meetings with state, federal, and local agencies.
Communicate regularly with clients through meetings, email, and conference calls.
Oversee and manage subcontractors.
Assist with proposal preparation and development to meet client needs.
Manage multiple projects within scope, budget, and schedule expectations.
Lead, hire, retain, mentor, inspire, and manage the performance of team members.
Capitalize on existing ERM client relationships to expand ERM's profile and market share in the IAP Cultural Heritage market through technical excellence and business development.
Partner with ERM colleagues to deepen existing client relationships and develop new client relationships that drive significant net revenue growth.