Program Manager – Cultural Resources

SALARY RANGE: $80K-130K

GENERAL PURPOSE:
Under general direction, performs a variety of senior professional level environmental planning functions and analysis in assigned functional areas. Manages cultural resource (archaeological and historic resources) compliance for Sound Transit projects and provides technical analysis for complex projects related to the identification, documentation, evaluation, treatment, and preservation of cultural resources. This includes screening of capital and maintenance projects for potential cultural resources and developing recommendations to avoid or mitigate any impacts, preparing schedules and scopes of work for cultural resources regulatory compliance activities, conducting cultural resources surveys and writing associated reports, monitoring project sites during excavation/construction, and responding to call outs when potential resources are discovered on project sites.

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 Sound Transit projects for Sounder Commuter Rail, Bus Regional Express, Link Light Rail, and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) to ensure that Sound Transit complies with local, state, and federal environmental regulations including the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Washington State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), and associated environmental regulations; coordinates with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP), and other agencies, tribes, and jurisdictions to obtain cultural resource approvals for Sound Transit projects and plans; coordinates with agency project managers, other agency staff, consultants, and other groups to initiate and complete work; ensures that the cultural resource documentation and processes meet legal requirements; participates in public outreach activities with ability to communicate technical information to laypersons.
• Conduct archaeological fieldwork and/or monitoring associated with environmental studies, project construction, and maintenance projects; or oversee work of consultants.
• Makes 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.
• Develops cultural resource mitigation strategies for Sound Transit Projects; identifies mitigation opportunities and needs for all projects; tracks changes to mitigation regulations; negotiates with federal, state, and local agencies, interested parties, and tribes on project mitigation requirements; negotiate memoranda of agreements or similar agreements pertinent to cultural resources impacts associated with capital and/or maintenance projects.
• Ensures implementation of cultural resource mitigation commitments based on environmental review; reviews contract documents (drawings and specifications) to ensure project is complying with environmental commitments, coordinates with project managers and other agencies and local jurisdictions.
• Develops curriculum and leads contractor trainings for inadvertent discovery procedures and communication protocols. Works closely with Sound Transit construction management teams to ensure compliance during construction.
• Manages consultants and consultant contracts for environmental and cultural resource services such as preparing large and complex cultural resource studies, archaeological surveys and monitoring during construction, historic property surveys, and interpretive displays; procures consultants; develops and manages scopes, schedules, and budgets; oversees contracts and assures contract compliance on assigned projects; develops recommendations on consultant services and other project needs; advises project managers of project conflicts and proposes resolution; contract management includes reviewing and approving invoices; secures contract change orders as required; and coordinates communications among agency staff and contractor.
• 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. Lead or coordinate inter-jurisdictional or multi-agency cultural resource policy development and training.
• Evaluates 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 with the NEPA, SEPA, NHPA, and other cultural resource regulations.
• Manages environmental permitting and approvals for Sound Transit projects beginning with critical input during project development; reviews planning documents; assists with early screening of alternatives; determines potential environmental consequences of proposed projects; provides input on preliminary project schedules; coordinates with, resolves issues, and provides necessary information to federal, state, and local agencies and officials granting environmental permits and approvals; conducts environmental review of project plans and contract specifications to ensure permit requirements have been adequately incorporated and coordinates plan and specification review by other environmental specialty staff as needed; oversees the maintenance and refinement project environmental commitment lists beginning with commitments made during environmental review process through environmental permitting and into the construction and operation of transit systems; oversees environmental consultant support for the environmental permitting effort including negotiating scopes and budgets, leading regular coordination meetings, tracking schedules and spending, and reviewing work products.
• 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), which may entail participation through the Steering Committee or other technical working groups; researches and assists in the management of the various ESMS initiatives; develops and helps to achieve annual sustainability targets and helps to educate staff about the ESMS.
• Provides support to the Office/Department on matters as directed; serves as staff on a variety of boards, commissions, and committees; prepares and presents staff reports and other necessary correspondence; attends and participates in professional group meetings; maintains awareness of new trends and developments in the fields related to area of assignment; incorporates new developments as appropriate; ensures processes, policies, and practices are interpreted and applied consistently and effectively; ensures accountability and compliance with all current and applicable state and federal laws, Agency policies and procedures, rules and regulations.
• 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: Master’s Degree in archaeology, anthropology, or closely related field. Six 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: 

• Meet the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualifications Standards for Archaeologists.
• Valid state driver’s license.

Required Knowledge of:

• 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.
• Knowledge of current archaeological research methods.
• Knowledge of other relevant agencies and governments, including Tribal governments and local, state, and federal agencies.
• Operations, services, and activities of a cultural resources program.
• Current trends and professional literature in the area of cultural resources.
• Federal, state, and local transportation planning requirements.
• Environmental impact analysis methods and issues.
• Project management techniques and principles.
• Principles and practices of governmental budget preparation and administration.
• Principles of business letter writing and basic report preparation.
• Principles and procedures of record keeping.
• English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• Modern office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and computer applications such as word processing and spreadsheets.

Required Skills:

• Utilizing personal computer software programs affecting assigned work and in compiling and preparing spreadsheets and reports.
• Establishing and maintaining 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.
• Communicating environmental and technical issues to the public in community outreach settings.
• Analyzing problems and identifying alternative solutions.
• Resolving a variety of environmental issues.
• Contract management and administration.
• Preparing and analyzing complex data and comprehensive reports.
• Responding to inquiries in effective oral and written communication.
• Researching, analyzing, and evaluating new service delivery methods and techniques.
• Applying project management techniques and principles.
• Working cooperatively with other departments, Agency officials, and outside agencies.
• Preparing and reviewing consultant scopes, budget, and schedules. 

Physical Demands / Work Environment: 

• Work is performed in a standard office environment and on active construction project sites.
• Subject to standing, walking, bending, reaching, and stooping. Ability to conduct archaeological fieldwork, including, but not limited to: Walking over rough terrain, digging holes with a shovel, and lifting/carrying equipment up to 50 pounds. Depending on area of assignment, may occasionally be exposed to dangerous machinery, extreme weather conditions, hazardous chemicals, and extreme noise when working in the field.
• 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.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.