Section 106 Professional

About the role

• Section 106 Compliance: Lead the Section 106 compliance process for USDA projects, programs, and activities, ensuring adherence to the requirements of the National Historic Preservation Act and related federal regulations.
• Cultural Resource Identification: Conduct cultural resource surveys and assessments to identify historic properties, archaeological sites, and other cultural resources potentially affected by USDA projects.
• Consultation Coordination: Coordinate with federal, state, tribal, and local agencies, as well as Native American tribes, preservation organizations, and other stakeholders, to facilitate consultation and collaboration in accordance with Section 106 requirements.
• Impact Assessment: Evaluate the potential effects of USDA projects on historic properties and cultural resources, including direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts.
• Mitigation Planning: Develop and implement strategies to avoid, minimize, or mitigate adverse effects on historic properties and cultural resources, in coordination with project teams, stakeholders, and regulatory agencies.
• Documentation and Reporting: Prepare documentation required for Section 106 compliance, including cultural resource surveys, reports, memoranda of agreement (MOAs), and other written materials, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and compliance with federal standards.
• Public Outreach: Engage with the public and stakeholders to solicit input, share information, and address concerns related to cultural resource management and historic preservation.
• Training and Education: Provide training and guidance to USDA staff, project proponents, and consultants on cultural resource laws, regulations, and best practices for compliance.
• Quality Assurance: Review cultural resource reports, plans, and studies prepared by consultants and contractors to ensure quality, consistency, and compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Policy Development: Stay informed about changes to cultural resource laws, regulations, and policies, and provide input to USDA leadership on emerging issues and best practices in historic preservation and cultural resource management.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Bachelor's or master's degree in anthropology, archaeology, historic preservation, cultural resource management, or a related field.
• At least 5 years of experience working in cultural resource management, historic preservation, or related fields, preferably with experience in federal agencies or regulatory compliance.
• Thorough knowledge of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, as well as other federal cultural resource laws and regulations.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, with the ability to assess complex cultural resource issues and develop practical solutions.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders and facilitate consensus-building.
• Experience conducting cultural resource surveys, assessments, and impact analyses, including familiarity with archaeological methods and techniques.
• Proficiency in project management, report writing, and documentation, with attention to detail and accuracy.
• Familiarity with GIS (geographic information systems) and other relevant software tools for cultural resource management.
• Professional certifications such as Registered Professional Archaeologist (RPA) or Professional Archaeologist (PA) are preferred but not required.

Additional Information: CORE COMPETENCIES

• Teamwork - ability to foster teamwork collaboratively as a participant, and effectively as a team leader
• Leadership - ability to guide and lead colleagues on projects and initiatives
• Business Acumen - understanding and insight into how organizations perform, including business processes, data, systems, and people
• Communication - ability to effectively communicate to stakeholders of all levels orally and in writing
• Motivation - persistent in pursuit of quality and optimal client and company solutions
• Agility - ability to quickly understand and transition between different projects, concepts, initiatives, or work streams
• Judgment - exercises prudence and insight in decision-making process while mindful of other stakeholders and long-term ramifications
• Organization - ability to manage projects and activity, and prioritize tasks

Other Requirements

• Business Tools - understanding and proficiency with business tools and technology, including Microsoft Office. The ideal candidate is advanced with Excel, Access, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Word, and proficient with Adobe Acrobat, data analytic tools, and Visio with the ability to quickly learn other tools as necessary.
• Commitment - to work with smart, interesting people with diverse backgrounds to solve the biggest challenges across private, public, and social sectors
• Curiosity - the ideal candidate exhibits an inquisitive nature and the ability to question the status quo among a community of people they enjoy and teams that work well together
• Humility - exhibits grace in success and failure while doing meaningful work where skills have an impact and make a difference
• Willingness - to constantly learn, share, and grow and to view the world as their classroom

Additional information

Risk Management | Compliance | Business Processes | IT Effectiveness | Engineering | Environmental | Sustainability | Human Capital