Principal Technical Consultant, Paleontology

What You'll Bring:

Required

• Graduate degree in Paleontology, Geology, Biology, Anthropology, or a closely related field of study.

• 6-8 years of related mitigation and environmental due diligence experience, or equivalent experience.

• Ability to be listed as Principal Investigator on BLM Paleontological Resources Use Permits, state permits, and similar authorizations within the Great Basin and/or Rocky Mountain subregions.

• Candidates who have served as a BLM Field Agent (Field Director) on permits are also encouraged to apply.

• Demonstrated field experience and principal-level project oversight within the Great Basin or Rocky Mountain subregions, including inventory, survey, salvage, and data recovery efforts.

• Experience serving as primary author and/or third-party reviewer of agency-reviewed technical reports, including paleontological resource reports, mitigation plans, and environmental review documents prepared to meet federal, state, and local regulatory requirements.

• Experience working directly with regulatory agency personnel while representing clients.

• Ability to work effectively within teams of cultural heritage specialists and multidisciplinary technical professionals.

• Ability and willingness to travel occasionally to project sites throughout Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, and other locations.

• Previous experience using mapping and field technologies, including GPS equipment, ArcGIS Field Maps, Survey123, and related applications.

• Driver's License Required: This position requires a valid driver's license and/or the ability to operate a company vehicle due to the nature of job duties, which include frequent travel to various client locations across a large geographical area.

Preferred

• Experience serving as Field Director or Principal Investigator on cultural resources federal and state permits throughout California and the Southwestern United States.

• Previous laboratory analysis, fossil screening, plaster jacketing, and curation processing experience.

• Previous experience supervising personnel and direct reports.

• Demonstrated business development experience and success growing client relationships and project portfolios.

• Experience managing complex, multi-disciplinary environmental consulting projects.

Key Responsibilities:

• Serve as Permit Administrator and/or Principal Investigator on BLM Paleontological Resources Use Permits and applicable state permits, and provide technical-level quality assurance and quality control of deliverables prepared by qualified paleontologists and resource specialists.

• Oversee a team of paleontologists conducting desktop studies and field investigations, including reconnaissance and pedestrian surveys, fossil salvage and collection efforts, and construction monitoring.

• Lead, manage, mentor, and develop mid-level and junior paleontologists and cultural resources specialists, including participation in hiring, mentorship, engagement initiatives, and coordination across the broader cultural and paleontological resources practice.

• Collaborate with Paleontology Principal Investigators, Regional Leads, the Consulting Director for Archaeology, Area Managers, and Managing Partners to drive technical excellence and team success.

• Serve as primary author, senior reviewer, or task manager for paleontological resource studies supporting large-scale capital projects, ensuring work is completed within scope, budget, schedule, and quality expectations.

• Manage projects ranging from multi-state linear infrastructure developments to smaller site-specific investigations.

• Strengthen existing client relationships and develop new client partnerships that contribute to significant revenue growth.

• Identify opportunities to cross-sell cultural and paleontological resources services to existing and prospective clients.

• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams including environmental planners, archaeologists, biologists, wetland specialists, GIS specialists, and engineers to deliver integrated solutions for energy-sector clients.

• Represent ERM in communications and meetings with clients, regulatory agencies, stakeholders, teaming partners, and subcontractors.

• Identify subcontractor needs and manage subcontractor quality, schedules, and deliverables supporting cultural and paleontological resource services.

Applications accepted through October 4, 2026.