Experience Inc. Jobs

Senior Architectural Historian

Req ID 10633

Senior Architectural Historian

Who We Are

At WSP, we are driven by inspiring future-ready pioneers to innovate. We’re looking to grow our teams with people who are ready to collaborate in building communities and expanding our skylines. To do this, we hire candidates of all experiences, skillsets, backgrounds and walks of life. We actively foster a work environment and culture where inclusion and diversity is part of our fundamental structure. This is delivered behaviorally, through our policies, trainings, local partnerships with professional diverse organizations, internal networks and most importantly with the support and sponsorship of our leaders who help drive our commitment to an inclusive, diverse, welcoming and equitable work environment. Anything is within our reach and yours as a WSP employee. Come join us and help shape the future!

Our Business

We are a global leader in environmental consulting - made stronger with the recent acquisition of Wood’s Environment & Infrastructure business and Golder - with world-class expertise in environmental, social and governance (ESG), climate resiliency & sustainability (CRS), and earth sciences. Combined we have over 20,000 multidisciplinary professionals worldwide collaborating daily to protect and conserve natural landscapes, create firm foundations for communities to stand on, and champion sustainable development to combat climate change. As part of the team, you will have access to an unparalleled network of resources and endless opportunities to collaborate on exciting projects with diverse teammates from across the globe.

This Opportunity

Function as a project manager, principal investigator, field supervisor, and high-level technical support for National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) historic architecture survey fieldwork and report writing. Provides detailed archival research, with a focus on National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) Sections 106 and 110, NRHP nominations for historic properties, districts, and cultural landscapes, including NHPA and Department of Transportation Act Section 4(f) assessments, evaluations, and research. Supports project planning to help clients meet regulatory requirements and aiding consultation with state and federal regulatory agencies. Ensures that documentation and recommendations accurately describe the results of analyses and addresses impact and long-term risks on project areas by applying and integrating historical data and perspective to solve environmental challenges and prevent disruption to resources of cultural and scientific significance. Assists project leadership with overseeing environmental impact assessment, corrective/mitigation strategy development, permitting, and/or restoration activities. Ensures that responsibilities are delivered and adhered to with a level of quality that meets or exceeds acceptable industry standards. Must meet the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Archeology and Historic Preservation’s Professional Qualification Standards for Architectural History, History, or a related field.

WSP is currently initiating a search for a Senior Architectural Historian for our Louisville, KY office. Be involved in projects with our Heritage and Cultural Resources Earth & Environment Team and be a part of a growing organization that meets our client’s objectives and solves their challenges.Projects include a wide range of federal, state, and commercial clients with many new opportunities and interesting locations. This position is a full-time, salaried position with benefits. Salary is commensurate with education and experience.

Your Impact

• Lead, conduct, and review architectural surveys and reports from teams and field sites for project research and investigation.

• Oversee quality control standards and procedures for accurate and precise measurements, documentation, and analysis of historical data.

• Coordinate the use of topographic maps, aerial photographs, GPS, and other tools and data to determine exact locations of project areas, site impact, and associated physical and historical sensitivities.

• Perform professional work and oversee investigations, inspections, studies, and surveys to gain further information relating to historical records and structures, verify site conditions and characteristics, determining the authenticity of historical data, and review and signoff on DOE’sand National Register Section 106/110 assessment reports.

• Act as primary or lead researcher in uncovering, recovering, and analyzing historical artifacts, data, and structures to ensure that any project work done on or near affected sites complies with historical preservation laws.

• Analyze literature, data, archived records, and other sources of information to identify and articulate primary, secondary, and tertiary historical impact.

• Prepare and complete historical segments pertaining to impact assessment and/or permitting activities for assigned projects (e.g. CEQA, NEPA, etc.).

• Prepare data and visualizations such as tables, charts, reports, models, cross-sections, and other illustrations for the interpretation or presentation of more complex data, findings, or analyses.

• Prepare comprehensive technical reports and presentations that explain research, findings, and recommendations to address, prevent, control, or restore or remediate historical/architectural site issues on moderate to large-scale projects.

• Ensure regulatory requirement compliance pertaining to the data integrity, documentation, procedures, training, monitoring systems, and record compliance and retention.

• Provide risk identification and impact assessment of compiled historical data, offering input with developing action plans for moderate- to high-level threat mitigation and permitting activities projects to minimize or negate impacts to resources of historical, cultural, and scientific significance.

• Assist with development and scoping of medium-to large-sized projects.

• Oversee and monitor cross-functional teams in executing project work, including project budgets, tracking hours and expenses, and task completion.

• Review completed HABS/HAER (Historic American Buildings Survey/Historic American Engineering Records) documentation in multiple States.

• Coordinate with regulatory and historical preservation agencies, clients, communities, subcontractors, and technical staff in a confident and professional manner.

• Collaborate with professionals from a variety of disciplines to provide future ready solutions for clients.

• Actively engage in business development and proposal writing.

• Remain current in latest historian practices, methods, procedures, subject matter, and techniques.

• Exercise responsible and ethical decision-making regarding company funds, resources and conduct, and adhere to WSP’s Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures.

• Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs.

Who You Are

Required Qualifications

• Master’s Degreein Architectural History, Historic Preservation, or a related field.

• 7 to 10 years of relevant post-education experience working as an historian, architectural historian, or similar role.

• Full understanding of completing, reviewing, processing, and filing industry documentation (HABS/HAER/HALS).

• Demonstrated knowledge of Section 106 and the preparation of compliance documentation is essential.

• Experience supporting project managers and serving as deputy project manager.

• Strong background and expertise in research techniques, analytical skills, local/regional history and architecture with assigned projects required.

• Demonstrated experience leading and reviewing technical reports, historical impact evaluations, siting reports, and environmental permit applications for assigned project work.

• Expertise and experience with State and Federal protection regulations, historical preservation guidelines, and consulting processes pertaining to the specific project.

• Strong expertise with conducting assessments including fieldwork (survey), resource identification, resource evaluation and mitigation.

• Established experience coordinating with clients, regulatory permitting and resource agencies, communities, and technical staff required.

• Highly capable self-leadership and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to effectively, persuasively, and tactfully interact with employees at all levels of the organization.

• Ability to work independently and provide guidance and leadership to junior team or project members, with strict adherence to QA/QC.

• Proficiency with technical writing, office automation and communication software, technology, and tools.

• Well-developed critical thinking and problem-solving skills required to reach conclusions from research, testing results, data collation, and identifying the most effective solutions to accomplish objectives of assigned projects.

• Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP’s health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies.

• Ability to work schedules conducive to project-specific requirements that may extend beyond the typical workweek.

• Occasionaltravelmay be required depending on project-specific requirements.

• Must possess a valid driver’s license and pass a background check.

• Must successfully complete and pass WSP’s Motor Vehicle screening

Preferred Qualifications:

• Cultural Resource Management Experience#LI-JF2

Additional Requirements

• To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

Additional Details

• Travel Required: 50%

• Job Status: Regular

• Employee Type: Full

• Primary Location: LOUISVILLE - BLUEGRASS PKWY

• All locations: US-KY-Louisville

About WSP

WSP USA is the U.S. operating company of WSP, one of the world's leading engineering and professional services firms. Dedicated to serving local communities, we are engineers, planners, technical experts, strategic advisors and construction management professionals. WSP USA designs lasting solutions in the buildings, transportation, energy, water and environment markets. With more than 15,000 employees in over 300 offices across the U.S., we partner with our clients to help communities prosper. www.wsp.com

WSP provides a flexible, agile and hybrid workplace model while meeting client needs. Employees are also afforded a comprehensive suite of benefits including medical, dental, vision, disability, life, and retirement savings focused on providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career.

At WSP, we want to give our employees the challenges they seek to grow their careers and knowledge base. Your daily contributions to your team will be essential in meeting client objectives, goals and challenges. Are you ready to get started?

WSP USA (and all of its U.S. companies) is an Equal Opportunity Employer Race/Age/Color/Religion/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/National Origin/Disability or Protected Veteran Status.

The selected candidate must be authorized to work in the United States.