Senior Consultant, Archaeologist

Help preserve the past while shaping responsible development for the future.

ERM is seeking a highly motivated Senior Consultant, Archaeologist to join our Cultural Resources Services team at a global consulting firm recognized for delivering sustainable solutions. This full-time, salary-based role is ideally based out of Austin, Dallas, or Houston, supporting projects across the region. In this role, you will serve as a trusted technical contributor throughout the entire project lifecycle—leading fieldwork, guiding evaluations, and ensuring compliance while working at the intersection of cultural heritage, environmental stewardship, and infrastructure development.

Why This Role Matters?

Cultural resources play a critical role in responsible project development. As a Consultant, Archaeologist at ERM, your work ensures that archaeological and historic resources are identified, evaluated, and thoughtfully considered in compliance with federal, state, and municipal regulations. Your work enables projects to move forward ethically, responsibly, and in alignment with regulatory and community expectations.

What Your Impact Is:

• Lead and support archaeological field investigations that inform complex development decisions
• Evaluate archaeological sites for eligibility under the National and State Registers of Historic Places
• Produce defensible findings that stand up to regulatory review and client scrutiny
• Serve as a field leader who upholds ERM’s safety, quality, and scientific standards
• Contribute directly to ERM’s mission of sustainable and responsible development

What You’ll Bring:

• Proven archaeological field expertise with regional knowledge of Gulf Coast archaeology
• A collaborative and safety-first approach to project execution
• Strong organizational, communication, and technical documentation skills
• The ability to work independently in field conditions while supporting multidisciplinary teams

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology, Archaeology, or a closely related field plus 3–4 years of related paid experience
• Demonstrated experience completing inventory, survey, testing, and/or data recovery
• Experience contributing to technical reports
• Strong attention to detail in documentation
• Excellent verbal, written, and computer communication skills
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team
• Knowledge of Gulf Coast archaeology, including artifacts and survey standards
• Experience using mapping and field equipment (e.g., tablets, GPS)
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
• Must be locally available for projects
• Ability and willingness to travel to field sites in and out of the region
• Travel expected to comprise approximately 70% of the role, including weekend deployments
• Ability to walk long distances (up to 10 miles per day) in varying terrain and adverse conditions, including inclement weather and wildlife encounters
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds
• Ability to excavate shovel tests and archaeological units, including trench walls
• 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
• This position is not eligible for immigration sponsorship

Preferred:

• Graduate degree in Archaeology, Anthropology, or a closely related field
• Registered Professional Archaeologist (RPA)
• Ability to be listed on archaeological permits
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Detail-oriented and resourceful approach to problem solving
• Positive, energetic attitude with strong initiative and self-motivation

Key Responsibilities:

• Complete online and in-person records searches in preparation for fieldwork
• Assist with coordinating field preparations, including health and safety planning, logistics, and survey protocols
• Lead field crews conducting pedestrian Phase I and Phase II archaeological surveys
• Supervise the recording of artifacts, features, and sites using tablets and GPS equipment
• Follow all field safety procedures and conduct daily morning safety tailgates
• Evaluate archaeological sites for eligibility to the National Register of Historic Places and State Registers of Historic Places
• Assess potential project impacts to cultural resources
• Maintain detailed daily field logs
• Assist with managing report production to meet project deadlines
• Maintain complete and accurate field records in both hard copy and digital formats