Project Architectural Historian 2 (Senior Level)

Why DOWL?

DOWL is a top-ranked, multi-disciplined consulting firm with over 60 years of experience in civil engineering and related services. Our in-house expertise spans Civil and Land Development, Construction-Related Services, Transportation and Structures, and Water and Environmental Services. At DOWL, you're valued. We support your growth, offer great benefits, and foster a culture of integrity, professionalism, and teamwork.

We are seeking a seasoned Project Architectural Historian to lead complex cultural resource projects across the western United States. Our work spans diverse landscapes and industries, with a primary focus on transportation infrastructure and compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. From Alaska's rugged highways to Arizona's desert corridors, you'll oversee architectural history efforts for projects that shape our nation's future while honoring its past. This role offers the opportunity to work on iconic sites within national parks, along major transportation routes, and for both public and private development initiatives. Someone with experience working on linear projects and evaluating all types of resources from railroads and bridges to individual homes and larger historic districts will fit right in. If you thrive on managing large-scale projects, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, and ensuring historic integrity in dynamic environments, we'd love to hear from you.

Summary

The Project Architectural Historian 2 position is an upper-level position and is supervised and directed by senior-level cultural resources management (CRM) staff and will serve as one of DOWL's subject matter experts in the field of CRM. The person in this position should have a Master's Degree in architectural history and must have specialized training and experience working in in CRM. This position provides upper-level cultural resources support to DOWL's internal and external clients, including a full spectrum of proposal writing, research, documentation, report preparation, public involvement, and agency and tribal coordination services as required by the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The person in this position synthesizes the results of background research and data assembly, conducts cultural resource identification and documentation, carries out monitoring, survey, and testing cultural resource sites, performs lab work, and manages field data. They also produce moderate to large-scale cultural resource reports, draft complete CRM reports, assemble lists of stakeholders and consulting parties (including tribal governments and entities), arrange, participate, and lead cultural resources consultation meetings, and prepare correspondence specific to cultural resource investigations and other CRM activities. They are responsible for managing project schedules and deliverables, field survey crews and field data, and the production of reports. A Project Architectural Historian 2 should have a progressively responsible 10- to 15-year track record as a CRM professional.

Job Responsibilities and Duties

To be successful in this position, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Software

• Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel) - Advanced
• Market Sector Software - Advanced

Technical Expertise

• Advanced understanding of technical fundamentals
• Demonstrates expertise to others within and beyond market sector
• Provides unique solutions to complex technical challenges
• Leads internal mentoring
• Performs quality control of complex deliverables

Teamwork

Team player and team leader with the ability to follow on large or complex projects. Provides clear communication and direction, sets expectations, and takes responsibility for results of the team.

Project Delivery

Leads the production of and provides quality control for the following:

• Technical reports and memos
• Cultural Resource Baseline Reports
• Phase 1 and Phase 2 reports
• Section 106 documentation (minimally including findings of effect)
• Field studies and investigations

Understanding Budget and Schedule

Strong understanding of scopes, scheduled, and budgets. Able to predict and deliver individual tasks within a set level of effort. Able to consistently meet budget and schedule expectations on projects. Develops budgets and schedules for complex tasks. Breaks down complex projects into logical tasks. Able to prioritize multiple assignments to successfully deliver all assigned projects on time and on budget. Mentors others on above.

Industry Standards and Regulations

Demonstrates practical application of the following laws and regulations:

• NHPA, NAGPRA, NEPA, ARPA
• Relevant state laws (e.g., SEPA, ORS, CEQA)

Client Interaction

Frequent direct communications with clients on large/complex projects. Leads technical client project meetings. Understands appropriate messaging and legal risks. Participates in project interviews.

Other

Other duties as assigned.

Level of Work/Accountability

Primarily performs advanced technical tasks on complex, demanding projects for the market sector. Operates with a high level of autonomy. Reviews the work of others. Mentors others with less experience. May provide some project management services.

Supervisory Duties

May be a supervisor:

• Oversees team operations and the daily workflow of the team
• Organizes workflow and ensures that employees understand their duties or delegated tasks
• Recruits and hires new employees
• Implements training for new hires and identifies training opportunities for current staff
• Communicates information from leadership to employees and vice versa
• Monitors employee productivity and provides constructive feedback and coaching
• Sets goals for performance and deadlines in ways that comply with company's plans and vision and communicates them to employees
• Provides constructive and timely performance evaluations
• Decides on reward and promotion based on performance
• Handles discipline and termination of employees as needed and in accordance with company policy

Education and/or Experience

• Master's Degree required (architectural history, historic preservation, or art history)
• Years of experience required: 10 years
• Years of experience required with advanced degree: 9 years

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

• Must meet Secretary of the Interior's Professional Qualification Standards and client-specific standards and requirements
• Driving is an essential job function or a valid driver's license is required to support legitimate business purposes

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to sit. The employee is required to talk and hear. The employee is regularly required to stand, walk, and use hands. The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision and ability to adjust focus.

Ability to cut brush using chain saw or machete; ability to walk and hike through rough terrain, snow, and ice; ability to dig with shovel and hand tools; ability to screen dirt and sediment; routinely lift and carry between 30 and 50 pounds; ability to work on uneven ground surfaces and within small excavations. May need to work at rural and remote sites and travel by small fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work may be split between the field and office. Field work is performed outdoors during year-round weather conditions. Work ranges from high-density urban to extremely remote settings. Individuals must be prepared to adapt quickly from one extreme to the other.

In the field: The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to moderately loud due to the proximity to construction sites and related equipment.

In the office: The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.