Senior Cultural Resources Specialist

Salary range is $81k to $170k with a midpoint of $118k. New hires typically receive between minimum and midpoint, however, we may go slightly higher based on experience, internal equity and market.

Sound Transit also offers a competitive benefits package with a wide range of offerings, including:

• Health Benefits: We offer two choices of medical plans, a dental plan, and a vision plan all at no cost for employee coverage; comprehensive benefits for employees and eligible dependents, including a spouse or domestic partner.
• Long-Term Disability and Life Insurance.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Retirement Plans: 401a – 10% of employee contribution with a 12% match by Sound Transit; 457b – up to IRS maximum (employee only contribution).
• Paid Time Off: Employees accrue 25 days of paid time off annually with increases at four, eight and twelve years of service. Employees at the director level and up accrue additional days. We also observe 12 paid holidays and provide up to 2 paid floating holidays and up to 2 paid volunteer days per year.
• Parental Leave: 12 weeks of parental leave for new parents.
• Pet Insurance discount.
• ORCA Card: All full-time employees will receive an ORCA card at no cost.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Sound Transit will pay up to $5,000 annually for approved tuition expenses.
• Inclusive Reproductive Health Support Services.
• Compensation Practices: We offer competitive salaries based on market rates and internal equity. In addition to compensation and benefits, you’ll find that we provide work-life balance, opportunities for professional development and recognition from your colleagues.

GENERAL PURPOSE:

The Senior Cultural Resources Specialist assists the Program Manager of Cultural Resources in overseeing all aspects of historic and archaeological resource compliance for Sound Transit projects. The successful candidate will manage a variety of compliance issues for complex projects related to the identification, documentation, evaluation, treatment, and preservation of cultural resources. This includes assisting with agency consultation with tribal governments and the state historic preservation officer in coordination with the Federal Transit Administration; evaluation of capital and maintenance projects for potential cultural resources and developing recommendations; managing cultural resource consultants; coordination with construction management teams; preparing schedules and scopes of work for cultural resource regulatory compliance; planning, coordination, and oversight of cultural resource surveys; development, implementation, and oversight of treatment plans; report preparation; and technical/quality control reviews.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

The following duties are a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.

• Prepares and/or manages preparation and completion of cultural resource and environmental documentation for a variety of projects to ensure that Sound Transit complies with all local, state, and federal environmental regulations related to cultural resources.
• Assists consultation efforts with environmental, historic, archaeological, transit and other agencies, tribes, and jurisdictions for cultural resource projects and plans.
• Monitor and oversee fieldwork associated with environmental studies, project construction and maintenance projects.
• Make recommendations on the ‘Area of Potential Effect’, eligibility of historic properties for federal, state, and local preservation registers and adverse effect determinations for Sound Transit projects.
• Develop cultural resource mitigation strategies and negotiate agreements to resolve adverse effects on cultural resources for Sound Transit projects.
• Ensures implementation of cultural resource mitigation commitments based on environmental review, such as review of contract documents to ensure project is environmentally compliant and through coordinating with project managers, other agencies and local jurisdictions.
• Assists with management consultants and consultant contracts for environmental and cultural resource services. Contract management includes participation in consultant procurement processes; reviewing and approving invoices; securing contract change orders, coordinating communications among agency staff and contractors to assure contract compliance on projects. Assists with management and development of scope of work, schedules, and budgets to develop recommendations on consultant services. Advises project managers of project conflicts and proposes resolution.
• Develop strong working relationships with federal, state, and local agencies, tribal governments, interested parties, and other governmental agencies and organizations.
• Represent the Agency in inter-jurisdictional meetings. Leads or coordinates inter-jurisdictional or multi-agency cultural resource policy development and training.
• Works with program manager to evaluate proposed agency actions and reviews actions by other agencies affecting Sound Transit facilities and determines the need and level of appropriate environmental review and documentation for compliance.
• Identifies opportunities for the agency to integrate sustainability principles into local, state, and federal environmental documentation and planning processes.
• Engagement with Sound Transit’s Environmental Sustainability Management System (ESMS) entailing participation with the Steering Committee or other technical working groups, management of various ESMS initiatives, developing and helping to achieve annual sustainability targets and educating staff about the ESMS.
• Provides support to the Office/Department and serves as staff on a variety of boards, commissions and committees, and attends and participates in professional group meetings. Prepares and presents staff reports and correspondence.
• Works with program manager to ensure processes, policies, and practices are interpreted and applied consistently and effectively and ensures accountability and compliance with all current and applicable state, federal laws and Agency policies and procedures, rules and regulations.
• Follow Agency safety rules, regulations, and procedures pertaining to their assigned duties and responsibilities, which could include systems, operations, and/or other employees.
• Champions and models Sound Transit’s core values and demonstrates values-based behaviors in everyday interactions across the agency.
• Contributes to a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion in alignment with Sound Transit’s Equity & Inclusion Policy.
• It is the responsibility of all employees to follow the Agency safety rules, regulations, and procedures pertaining to their assigned duties and responsibilities, which could include systems, operations, and/or other employees.
• It is the responsibility of all employees to integrate sustainability into everyday business practices.
• Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Architectural History, Art History, Historic Preservation, or closely related field. Four years of experience in area of assignment which includes cultural resource field work, analysis, and report writing, compliance with federal, state, and local environmental and cultural resource laws, regulations, policies, and procedures; preferably for large infrastructure or transportation projects and/or in public sector agencies; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Required Licenses or Certifications:

• Valid state driver’s license. This position is responsible for visiting active construction sites that might not be accessible by public transit.
• Meet the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualifications Standards for Archaeologist or Architectural History.

Required Knowledge and Skills:

• Federal, state, and local environmental laws, regulations, and industry practices, policies, and procedures as they relate to cultural resource issues most relevant in transportation planning such as compliance with NEPA, SEPA, Section 106 of the NHPA, Section 4(f)/6(f), and state and local cultural resource regulations.
• Other relevant agencies and governments, including tribal, local, state, and federal agencies.
• Federal, state, and local transportation planning requirements.
• Current practices in historic preservation.
• The operations, services, and activities of a cultural resources program.
• Current trends and professional literature in the area of cultural resources.
• Environmental impact analysis methods and issues.
• Project management techniques and principles.
• Principles and practices of governmental budget preparation and administration.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other department staff, management, vendors, outside agencies, community groups, and the general public.
• Interpreting and applying state and federal environmental laws, regulations, and industry practices, policies, and procedures as they relate to cultural resource issues.
• Analysis of problems and identifying alternative solutions.
• Ability to resolve a variety of environmental issues.
• Proficiency in contract management and administration.
• Ability to prepare and analyze complex data and comprehensive reports.
• Ability to research, analyze, and evaluate new service delivery methods and techniques.
• Proficiency in the preparation and review of consultant scopes, budget, and schedules.
• Effective use of the English language in both verbal and written communications.
• Use of computer software programs to compile and prepare reports, presentations and spreadsheets; MS Office.

Physical Demands / Work Environment:

• Work is performed in a hybrid office and field environment.
• This position is responsible for conducting archaeological fieldwork, photography in inclement weather, traversing over rough terrain, digging holes with a shovel, and lifting/carrying equipment; may be subject to bending, eye/hand coordination, grasping, hearing, pushing, pulling, reaching, repetitive motion, sitting, standing, talking seeing, walking, and carrying and lifting up to 50 pounds.
• Positions working in field may occasionally be exposed to dangerous machinery, extreme weather conditions, physical harm, hazardous chemicals, and/or extreme noise.
• The Agency promotes a safe and healthy work environment and provides appropriate safety and equipment training for all personnel as required.

Sound Transit is an equal employment opportunity employer. No person is unlawfully excluded from employment action based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status or other protected class.