Principal Technical Consultant, Archaeologist - Portland, OR

If you're a seasoned Archaeologist ready to shape high‑impact cultural resources work across the Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies, this is your moment. At ERM, you won’t just manage projects—you’ll influence strategy, mentor emerging talent, and guide clients through some of the most meaningful regulatory and cultural landscapes in the region. Join a global consulting firm where your expertise directly drives legacy‑level outcomes.

Why This Role Matters

As a Principal Technical Consultant, Archaeologist, you play a critical role in ensuring that major capital projects honor cultural heritage and comply with complex federal, state, and local requirements. Your leadership helps clients navigate evolving regulatory environments while maintaining cultural integrity, building community trust, and advancing responsible development across the Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies.

What Your Impact Is

• Lead cultural resources strategy and execution for projects ranging from multi-state linear infrastructure to highly localized site studies.
• Serve as a senior technical authority—overseeing permit administration, ensuring rigorous QA/QC, and providing expert guidance on NEPA/SEPA and agency consultations.
• Build and strengthen client relationships that expand ERM’s presence and influence in the Cultural Resources market.
• Mentor and develop a diverse team of archaeologists, helping shape the next generation of technical leaders.
• Collaborate across ERM’s multidisciplinary teams to deliver integrated, high-quality solutions for clients in the energy sector and beyond.
  
  

Required

What You’ll Bring

• Graduate degree in Anthropology, Archaeology, or related field
• 10 years of paid professional experience.
• Ability to be listed as Principal Investigator on BLM Cultural Resources Use Permits, ARPA permits, and relevant state permits.
• Registered Professional Archaeologist (RPA) with qualifications that meet or exceed WA DAHP, OR SHPO, other regional SHPO standards, and Secretary of the Interior requirements.
• Demonstrated principal-level archaeological experience in the Pacific Northwest and/or Northern Rockies, including inventory, survey, testing, and data recovery.
• Knowledge of the Northwest Coast, Columbian Plateau, Northern Rockies, and Great Basin cultural areas.
• Experience authoring and reviewing agency-reviewed technical reports (Class I/III reports, NEPA/SEPA sections, Cultural Resources Treatment Plans, etc.).
• Experience consulting and coordinating with agency personnel, Tribal representatives, stakeholders, and clients.
• Ability to lead teams of archaeologists and collaborate with multidisciplinary technical specialists.
• Willingness to travel occasionally within WA, OR, ID, MT, and the broader Mountains and Pacific region.
• Proficiency with field and mapping tools (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.
  
  

Preferred

• Experience serving as Field Director or Principal Investigator for federal and state permits across the Great Basin and Southwestern U.S.
• Previous laboratory materials processing experience.
• Prior experience supervising teams and direct reports.
  
  

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as Permit Administrator/Principal Investigator on BLM, ARPA, and state permits while providing high-level QA/QC for deliverables.
• Lead and manage desktop studies, reconnaissance surveys, pedestrian surveys, testing/excavations, and construction monitoring efforts.
• Oversee the performance and development of mid-level and junior archaeologists, including involvement in hiring, mentoring, and engagement activities.
• Act as primary author or task manager for cultural resources technical studies, ensuring deliverables are on time, within scope, and aligned with client expectations.
• Strengthen ERM’s market presence by leveraging client relationships, identifying new opportunities, and contributing to business development strategies.
• Collaborate with ERM’s environmental planners, biologists, engineers, GIS specialists, and other technical teams to deliver integrated project solutions.
• Represent ERM in meetings and communications with clients, agency counterparts, stakeholders, and teaming partners.
• Identify, coordinate, and manage subcontractors contributing to cultural resources scopes of work.
  
  

Who We Are:

As the largest global pure play sustainability consultancy, we partner with the world’s leading organizations, creating innovative solutions to sustainability challenges and unlocking commercial opportunities that meet the needs of today while preserving opportunity for future generations.

At ERM we know that creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive work environment is an essential part of making our company a great place to build a career. We also see our diversity as a strength that helps us create better solutions for our clients. Our diverse team of world-class experts supports clients across the breadth of their organizations to operationalize sustainability, underpinned by our deep technical expertise in addressing their environmental, health, safety, risk and social issues. We call this capability our “boots to boardroom” approach for its comprehensive service model that allows ERM to develop strategic and technical solutions that advance objectives on the ground or at the executive level.

Please submit your resume and brief cover letter.

ERM does not accept recruiting agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to our jobs alias, ERM employees or any other company location. ERM is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.

ERM is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

Thank you for your interest in ERM!