Principal Investigator-Archaeology

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We believe that the way we work can add meaning and value to the world. That ideas inspire positive change. That coloring outside the lines can illuminate fresh perspectives. And that small details yield important realizations. Above all, we believe that collaboration is the best way forward.

To support the continued growth of HDR’s cultural resources program in the Gulf Coast region, HDR is seeking an experienced Principal Investigator based in our Metairie, Louisiana office. This career-level role will provide technical and project leadership for archaeological investigations throughout Louisiana, southeastern Texas, Mississippi, and the broader Gulf Coast. The successful candidate will independently lead projects, develop regulatory strategies, manage scope, schedule, budget, staffing, and risk, and deliver defensible, high-quality work products. The Principal Investigator will also serve as a trusted client and agency contact, mentor archaeological staff, support proposals and business development, and help expand HDR’s regional cultural resources capabilities.

Primary Responsibilities

In the role of Principal Investigator, we'll count on you to\:

• Serve as Principal Investigator for Phase I survey, Phase II testing, Phase III data recovery, monitoring, and other cultural resources investigations in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualification Standards and applicable federal, state, and local requirements

• Lead compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, and applicable state antiquities, cemetery, and environmental review requirements

• Develop project approaches and regulatory strategies; conduct background research; and prepare scopes of work, research designs, work plans, permit applications, and agency submittals

• Manage project scope, schedule, budget, staffing, subconsultants, deliverables, safety, quality, and risk from project initiation through closeout

• Direct field investigations and oversee logistics, crew performance, health and safety, site documentation, artifact and feature identification, GIS data, and photographic and field records

• Evaluate archaeological resources and prepare well-supported recommendations regarding National Register of Historic Places eligibility, project effects, avoidance, and mitigation

• Lead consultation and coordination with clients, federal and state agencies, SHPOs, THPOs, Tribes, local governments, landowners, and other project stakeholders

• Serve as primary author or senior technical reviewer for cultural resources reports, technical memoranda, consultation materials, and other regulatory deliverables, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and defensibility

• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams supporting power, transportation, water, industrial, and other infrastructure projects across the Gulf Coast region

• Supervise, mentor, and develop field technicians, crew chiefs, project archaeologists, and other cultural resources staff in field and office settings

• Support proposal development, cost estimating, client interviews, relationship management, and strategic initiatives that expand HDR’s regional cultural resources program

• Perform other duties as needed

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to record cultural resources in the field without any physical assistance (this could include hiking short distances in scrub and native vegetation)
• Must be able to lift up to 20 pounds without assistance
• Must be able to effectively communicate in person, by telephone and email
• Must be able to effectively work in minimally supervised and/or unsupervised environments
• Work hours other than 8 to 5 which may include weekends and/or night shifts
• Must have a valid Driver’s License
• Be able to operate a vehicle day or night
• Approximately 25% travel required

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Archaeology, Anthropology, or a related field and experience managing junior staff in field and office settings
• Registered Professional Archaeologist certification or eligibility
• Meets the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualification Standards for archaeology and is eligible to serve as Principal Investigator under applicable Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, and federal requirements
• Demonstrated experience serving as Principal Investigator for Phase I survey, Phase II testing, Phase III data recovery, monitoring, and related cultural resources investigations
• Strong applied knowledge of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, National Register of Historic Places criteria, and applicable state antiquities, cemetery, and environmental review requirements
• Experience leading consultation and coordination with federal and state agencies, SHPOs, THPOs, Tribes, clients, local governments, landowners, and other stakeholders
• Proven project-management experience, including development and control of scope, schedule, budget, staffing, subconsultants, quality, deliverables, and project risk
• Strong technical writing, report authorship, and senior review capabilities, with experience preparing defensible eligibility, effects, avoidance, and mitigation recommendations
• Experience supervising and mentoring archaeological staff and assembling and managing multidisciplinary technical teams for testing, data recovery, specialized analyses, and curation
• Strong knowledge of the archaeology, cultural history, and regulatory environment of Louisiana, southeastern Texas, Mississippi, and the broader Gulf Coast region
• Experience supporting energy, transportation, water, industrial, or other infrastructure projects in a consulting environment
• Demonstrated success supporting proposals, cost estimates, client interviews, relationship development, and growth of a regional cultural resources program
• Technical specialization in one or more areas such as ceramic or lithic analysis, geoarchaeology, remote sensing, historic materials analysis, cemetery investigations, GIS, or related methods

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