Technical Lead Cultural Resources

Verdantas•Blue Ash, OH

About The Position

The Technical Lead Cultural Resources provides senior technical direction for archaeological investigations and cultural resources compliance, including Phase I, II, and III investigations and Section 106 work. The role establishes and maintains technical standards, field protocols, and QA/QC practices across the Cultural Resources practice, reviews complex technical documentation, and leads resolution of challenging cultural resources issues. The position interprets and applies federal and state historic preservation and environmental requirements, and leads engagement with state and tribal historic preservation offices, tribal nations, federal agencies, clients, and multidisciplinary teams. It supports regulatory negotiations and consultation, advises clients on complex engagements, represents Verdantas in agency and industry settings, and contributes to major pursuits and client development. The Technical Lead also mentors cultural resources professionals and contributes to recruiting, onboarding, training, and succession planning. A bachelor’s degree in a related discipline and progressive cultural resources consulting experience are required. A graduate degree, RPA membership, and additional consultation, testimony, stakeholder, and multi-state experience are preferred.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology, Archaeology, History, or a closely related discipline.
Progressive experience in cultural resources consulting, including senior technical or practice-level responsibilities.
Demonstrated experience serving as a Principal Investigator on federal undertakings.
Strong knowledge of Section 106, NHPA, NEPA, and historic preservation compliance.
Experience leading archaeological investigations and preparing technically defensible cultural resources documentation.
Demonstrated ability to collaborate with regulatory agencies, tribal partners, clients, and multidisciplinary technical teams.
Strong technical writing, communication, leadership, problem-solving, and client-management skills.
Ability to establish technical standards, oversee QA/QC, and mentor developing professionals.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree or Ph.D. in Anthropology, Archaeology, or a related discipline.
Membership in the Register of Professional Archaeologists.
Experience leading tribal consultation and complex agency coordination.
Experience providing expert testimony or regulatory testimony.
Established relationships with federal, state, and tribal regulatory stakeholders.
Experience supporting cultural resources work across multiple states or nationally.
Valid driver’s license.

Responsibilities

Provide senior technical direction for Phase I, II, and III archaeological investigations and Section 106 compliance.
Establish and maintain technical standards, field protocols, and QA/QC practices across the Cultural Resources practice.
Review complex technical reports, determinations of eligibility, and National Register nominations.
Lead resolution of challenging cultural resources issues, including contested site eligibility, inadvertent discoveries, and multi-agency coordination.
Interpret and apply requirements associated with the National Historic Preservation Act, Section 106, NEPA, CEQA, Secretary of the Interior’s Standards, and applicable state historic preservation requirements.
Lead engagement with SHPOs, THPOs, tribal nations, and federal agencies, including USACE, FHWA, USEPA, USFS, and BLM.
Support regulatory negotiations, tribal consultation, Programmatic Agreements, and Memoranda of Agreement.
Coordinate cultural resources work across engineering, environmental, planning, and GIS project teams.
Serve as a trusted technical advisor to clients on complex, high-profile, and program-scale engagements.
Represent Verdantas during agency meetings, regulatory hearings, client presentations, and industry conferences.
Lead or support technical strategy for major pursuits and client-development opportunities.
Build relationships with public agencies, tribal nations, and private-sector clients.
Mentor cultural resources professionals and support their progression toward RPA eligibility, increased project independence, and broader technical capabilities.
Contribute to recruiting, onboarding, technical training, and succession planning for the practice.