The Director of Cultural Resources will lead a diverse team of archaeologists, paleontologists, Native American monitors, historians, and architectural historians, overseeing the development and management of cultural resource programs within our environmental consulting firm. This pivotal role focuses on business development, strategic planning, project management, and operational oversight while ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local regulations governing cultural resource management. The ideal candidate will have a robust background in cultural resources management and compliance, coupled with a proven track-record in business development to foster growth in this sector. The Director will ensure that all projects are completed on schedule, within budget, and meet all regulatory and client requirements. In addition to project oversight, the Director will assist management in recruiting high-level talent as needed, provide guidance and mentorship to Project Managers, and help develop standardized reporting templates, field techniques, and project management systems to enhance team continuity. Regular communication with the executive team will be essential to track progress toward quarterly goals and key performance indicators.

Essential Duties 

Leadership and Team Development

• Team Oversight:

o Oversee the cultural resources team, providing direction and support in project execution and compliance.
o Direct, manage, and mentor an internal team of Pax staff with diverse levels of experience and expertise.

• Strategic Planning:

o Develop and implement strategic plans to expand cultural resources services in line with company goals.
o Collaborate with senior management to integrate cultural resources strategies into the firm's overall business development efforts.

• Mentorship and Training:

o Mentor, advise, and support Senior Project Managers and Project Managers throughout the project cycle.
o Actively support Chief of Staff and HR in the interviewing, hiring, and training of new Project Managers and Senior Cultural staff.
o Identify courses, trainings, and certifications to facilitate ongoing staff education and qualifications.
o Lead internal project management and discipline-specific trainings.
o Conduct performance reviews and support professional development for team members.
o Assist in identifying, interviewing, and training new talent.

• Conflict Resolution:

o Provide guidance on technical and project-related issues, fostering a collaborative and productive work environment.
o Daily conflict resolution as needed.

2. Business Development

• Proposal Management:

o Lead proposals and presentations for new projects, highlighting the firm's expertise in cultural resource management and compliance.
o Support the Business Development Lead with project feasibility, staff/qualification requirements, and preparation of other business development materials.
o Facilitate the business development team with proposal creation.

• Client Relationship Management:

o Foster new client relationships and strengthen existing client relationships.
o Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, government agencies, and stakeholders.

• Opportunity Identification:

o Identify and pursue new business opportunities within the cultural resources sector.
o Identify new work opportunities as other opportunities wane or wax within a contract.
o Identify opportunities to grow current projects and the need for new staff.

3. Project Management and Execution

• Project Coordination:

o Lead the proposals, coordination, planning, and administering of complex multidisciplinary environmental studies.
o Oversee multiple high-stakes projects simultaneously.
o Manage project cycle from setup to breakdown (developing cost estimates, managing field staff, tracking project budgets and deliverables).

• Quality Assurance and Documentation:

o Ensure the integrity and completeness of all documents with strong QA/QC procedures.
o Review and edit reports, correspondence, and permit applications.
o Ensure that projects meet quality, schedule, and budget objectives.
o Edit reports, correspondence, permit applications, and business development materials.
o Author technical reports, archaeological reports, and educational reports.
o Edit and review complex paleontology reports.

• Regulatory and Technical Guidance:

o Provide strategic environmental regulatory support on multidisciplinary projects.
o Lead Cultural Resources team in technical reports and provide guidance for various regulatory requirements.
o Demonstrate competence of archaeological theories in reports.

• Client Interaction:

o Develop and execute client and public presentations to governmental agencies, boards, commissions, and stakeholders.

4. Safety and Risk Management

• Safety Oversight:

o Ensure the safety of all supporting staff through safety systems and procedures.
o Familiarity with internal Health and Safety Plan as well as OSHA regulations and requirements.

• Risk Assessment and Mitigation:

o Identify potential project risks and develop mitigation strategies.
o Resolve issues and conflicts that arise during the project, ensuring minimal impact on project timelines and objectives.
o Implement contingency plans as necessary to address unforeseen challenges.

Competencies

• Ability to understand the ‘big picture’ related to projects and client relationships, while also having a strong understanding of the details, science, and how the results relate to the outcome of the project.

• Ability to quickly and efficiently develop project scopes of work and generate rough order of magnitude (ROM) budget estimates during the initial scoping and project intake phase.

• Experience working alongside local Indigenous populations and various government agencies.

• Initiative-taking and collaborative.

• Effective and concise communication.

• Strong leadership and relationship building skills.

• Ability to delegate effectively.

• In-depth knowledge of legislation (e.g., OSHA/EPA) and procedures.

• Experience in writing reports and policies for health and safety.

• Strong aptitude for independently coordinating and accomplishing difficult tasks.

• Must have a satisfactory driving record.

• Must provide declaration of auto insurance (CA state-minimum required) upon hire.

• Must complete a background check.

Desired Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years of experience managing environmental projects and programs.

• Minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in environmental consulting.

• Master’s degree in archaeology, anthropology, historic preservation, or related field. A PhD is preferred.

• Certification in Project Management (e.g., PMP, PgMP) is highly preferred.

• Proven track-record in business development and securing large value contracts.

• Expertise in Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.

• Expertise in regulatory permits including Section 404, Section 401 and ARPA.

• Meet the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Archaeology and History

• Qualified under multiple agencies as Principal Investigator for Archaeology

• In-depth understanding of cultural resource regulations (e.g., NHPA, NEPA) and compliance processes.

• Ability to navigate complex paleontology projects and ensure all SVP guidelines are followed.

• High-level competency in Office 365 and other computer and browser-based software

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Physical Requirements

• Required to sit or stand at an office workstation, sometimes for extended periods.
• Required to work on keyboard, using a mouse while looking at computer screens/monitors, sometimes for extended periods.
• Comfortable working physically challenging outdoor situations in all types of weather and traveling on a regular basis to project sites which may require overnight stays.
• Able to perform field work on uneven terrain.
• Required to work with tools.
• Be able to lift up to 25 lbs.

Equal Employment Opportunity
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other factors prohibited by law.