Senior Archaeologist | Project Manager | California

Job summary

The Project Manager is responsible for the planning, execution, and financial performance of cultural resource management projects from inception to closeout. They serve as the primary point of contact for clients while coordinating with internal technical teams to ensure projects meet regulatory, safety, and quality standards.

Job details

Company Profile Chronicle Heritage is a solution-driven heritage consulting firm that prides itself on employing the best cultural resource management (CRM) professionals in the industry. We place an emphasis on supporting our clients’ needs, fostering new technologies that advance our industry, and leveraging those advancements toward the management of non-renewable cultural resources. Chronicle Heritage prioritizes professional development within the framework of innovation and forward thinking to encourage career advancement and research development. Job Description The Project Manager (PM) is responsible for the successful planning, execution, and financial performance of client-facing projects from inception through closeout. Working in close partnership with Principal Investigators (PIs), Field Directors (FDs), Lab/Permitting Personnel, Operations Leadership, clients, and regional and functional leaders. The PM ensures projects are delivered on time, on budget, and in full compliance with contractual, regulatory, safety, and quality requirements. The PM serves as the operational backbone of the project team, providing continuity for clients, financial and schedule discipline for the organization, and logistical and coordination support for technical staff. This role balances client-facing leadership with strong internal project controls and a commitment to high-quality cultural resource outcomes. Core Responsibilities 1. Project Delivery & Financial Stewardship * Manage project scope, budget, and schedule from authorization through completion using company-standard tools (Teamwork, Sage). * Execute projects in compliance with contract terms, regulatory requirements, and company policies. * Identify, document, and communicate project risks (budget, schedule, access, regulatory, safety, staffing) and communicate mitigation strategies to office leadership, PIs and other supervisory staff (e.g., Field Directors, Lab Directors). * Actively manage change orders, amendments, and cost augments to align scope, schedule, and budget and avoid overruns. 2. Proposal Development & Project Initiation (Sales to Operations Hand-Off) * Prepare proposals or support Proposal Leads with project budgeting, including: * Leveraging regional standards, templates and best practices to estimate project management and oversight hours, labor effort, subcontractor costs, and other direct expenses peer task. * Apply appropriate billing rates. * Partner with technical leaders and stakeholders during project initiation to: * Translate proposal scope and budget into a work breakdown and project management plan. * Confirm scope, assumptions, and delivery approach. * Formally launch projects, including coordinating staffing plans and logistical requirements. * Develop project information sheets outlining roles, responsibilities, and communication protocols. * Set up the project in Teamwork, including tasks that outline the full project lifecycle from initiation through closeout using templates and custom task break-outs. 3. Client & Stakeholder Management * Serve as a primary day-to-day point of contact for clients, maintaining clear, proactive, and professional communication. * Ensure client requests are documented and evaluated for scope/budget impact before execution, enforcing standards of data management and retention in approved repository (Egnyte). * Support PIs in guiding clients through applicable regulatory processes, in partnership with the Quality and Compliance division. * Manage internal and external communication protocols to ensure alignment across project teams, clients, and subcontractors. 4. Subcontractor, Schedule & Quality Management * Ensure subcontract agreements/POs are executed before work begins · Manage subcontractors, including scope alignment, scheduling, coordination, and invoice review. Escalate risks related to subcontractor performance and compliance. * Maintain and control project schedules, identify risks and mitigation strategies. * Conduct initial quality control reviews of deliverables for formatting, completeness, consistency, and compliance with contractual requirements prior to PI technical review. Ensure written deliverables are properly edited, formatted, and complete before submission. 5. Field Readiness, Safety & Compliance * Coordinate with PIs and FDs to ensure field readiness prior to mobilization, including: * Verification that all required permits and rights-of-entry are secured. * Confirmation that staffing and logistics are in place. · Ensure compliance with company safety protocols and that site-specific safety documentation is prepared, approved, and implemented for each project. 6. Invoicing, WIP & Project Closeout * Review invoices for accuracy and contractual compliance. * Manage accounts receivable and work-in-progress (WIP) to support timely invoicing and cash flow. * Ensure invoices are issued promptly per contract terms and follow up as needed to support on-time payment. * Lead project closeout activities, including: * Confirming completion of contractual requirements. * Preparing concise project descriptions for use in future proposals and marketing materials. * Supporting lessons-learned and continuous improvement efforts. Performance Metrics (KPIs) * Project Performance - On-time, on-budget delivery; effective change management * Financial Management - Budget adherence; timely invoicing; WIP and AR health; change orders prior to scope change/expansion * Client Success - Client satisfaction; repeat work; issue resolution effectiveness * Quality & Compliance - Deliverable quality; regulatory and safety compliance * Operational Discipline - Accuracy and timeliness of Teamwork and Sage project data Required Qualifications * Bachelor’s degree in archaeology, anthropology, environmental or cultural resource management, construction management, or a closely related field, or equivalent professional experience. * Demonstrated experience managing budgets, schedules, and deliverables for cultural resource management or environmental consulting projects. · Significant experience in client management regarding deliverable management, contract enforcement, SLA adherence, and frequent client-facing interactions. * Working knowledge of relevant compliance frameworks (e.g., Federal, local, foreign). * Strong organizational, financial, and communication skills. Preferred Qualifications * Master’s degree in a relevant discipline. * Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or demonstrated progress toward certification. * Experience working with public sector and private clients. * Familiarity with field operations, safety planning, and logistics. * Experience managing subcontractors and multidisciplinary teams. * Proficiency with Teamwork or other integrated project management systems. * Proficiency with Sage Intacct or other financial systems. Additional Information Chronicle Heritage is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided based on qualifications, merit, and business need. Chronicle Heritage complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and considers reasonable accommodation measures that may be necessary for eligible applicants/employees to perform essential functions. EEO/AA/M/F/Veteran/Disabled. If you require assistance with submitting the application, please contact accommodations@chronicleheritage.com.

What you’ll do

The Project Manager is responsible for the planning, execution, and financial performance of cultural resource management projects from inception to closeout. They serve as the primary point of contact for clients while coordinating with internal technical teams to ensure projects meet regulatory, safety, and quality standards.

Requirements

Candidates must have a bachelor's degree in archaeology, anthropology, or a related field and demonstrated experience managing budgets and schedules in consulting. Strong organizational and communication skills are required, with preference given to those holding a PMP certification or a master's degree.

Listed skills

• Budgeting · Preferred
• Regulatory Compliance · Preferred
• Quality Control · Preferred
• Logistics · Preferred
• Project management · Preferred

Other relevant skills

Identified from the job description. Confirm important requirements above.

• Project management
• Budgeting
• Cultural resource management
• Regulatory compliance
• Client management
• Proposal development
• Schedule management
• Risk mitigation
• Subcontractor management
• Quality control
• Financial stewardship
• Teamwork software
• Sage Intacct
• Field operations
• Safety planning
• Logistics
• Invoice Review
• Regulatory Process
• Business Metrics
• Cultural Resource Management
• Project Schedules
• Change Orders
• Proposal Development
• Project Controls
• Archaeology
• Project Performance
• Project Delivery
• Planning
• Marketing Materials
• Accounts Receivable
• Anthropology
• Billing
• Customer Relationship Management
• Management
• Change Management
• Communication
• Communications Protocols
• Construction Management
• Consulting
• Continuous Improvement Process
• Data Management
• Project Planning
• Environmental Consulting
• Sales
• Financial Management
• Financial Systems
• Leadership
• Innovation
• Sage Intacct (Financial Software)
• Invoicing

Job areas

• Consulting
• Science & Research
• Management & Leadership
• Environmental & Sustainability
• Construction
• Project Archaeologist
• Archeologist
• Sociologists, Anthropologists and Related Professionals
• Anthropologists and Archeologists