Historic Structures Senior Technical Specialist

BKF is a multi-service infrastructure consulting firm providing civil engineering, construction management, environmental, planning, and surveying services across California, the Pacific Northwest, and beyond. With offices throughout California and the Portland area, BKF has served transportation, water resources, land development, government, and federal clients for over 110 years.

At BKF, you’ll find a unique opportunity to grow your career with intention. Our culture values professional autonomy, innovation, and meaningful collaboration across offices. We are proud to be recognized with the Great Place to Work certification for the second year in a row.

BKF is hiring a Historic Structures Senior Technical Specialist to conduct research, evaluations, impact mitigation and documentation of historic buildings, structures, and landscapes as required by California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), National Environmental Quality Act (NEPA), and section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) for projects throughout California. This position is remote (with the ability to be in a BKF office when necessary) and there will also be limited fieldwork or site visits required.

Responsibilities

BKF is seeking a self-driven, results-oriented Historic Structures Senior Technical Specialist to work on architectural history projects and support the expansion of our Natural Resources Division in California. Job duties include:

• Archival Research: Review background literature and sources, including historic maps, historic aerial imagery, property deeds, construction designs, and tax records to establish historical contexts for historic built environment and landscape resources.
• On-site Documentation: Conduct on-site surveys and inspections of historic structures and landscapes, documenting architectural features with notes and photography.
• Compliance Documentation: Prepare technical reports and compliance documentation required for federal, state, and local preservation mandates (e.g., Section 106 of the NHPA, CEQA).
• Resource Evaluation: Apply standard historic evaluation criteria (e.g., California Register of Historical Resources and the National Register of Historic Places guidelines) to determine a building’s historical significance and eligibility for listing.
• Resource Impact Mitigation : Develop and enact strategies for the mitigation of impacts to historic structures and landscapes.
• Public Engagement and Planning: Consult with BKF clients, government agencies, nonprofits, and the general public, and advocate for historic preservation and landmark designations.
• Applying Cultural Resource Regulations : Understand and apply laws, regulations, policies, and procedures, for federal and local government projects including CEQA and Section 106 public consultation meetings, communication with clients and agencies, and documentation of all stages of review.
• Experience and technical knowledge managing environmental compliance related documents for a variety of projects and clients, including land development, municipal/local/regional government, transportation, water, energy, general plans, housing, and/or higher education.
• Coordinating with complex environmental projects and/or multi-agency/multi-jurisdictional planning efforts.
• Ability to strategize the environmental compliance needs of a given project, from exemptions and exclusions to EIRs and EISs.
• Planning and coordinating projects and developing scope of work and work plans including preparing environmental compliance documents, planning assessments, environmental research and assessment, data analysis functions, timelines, budget, and invoicing.
• Serving as a technical consultant and advisor to elected officials, citizen groups, and other stakeholders related to historic structures and landscapes.
• Coordinating the work of consultants/contractors and other professionals who are assigned to specific projects.

Requirements

• Meet Secretary of the Interior's Guidelines for professional qualifications in architectural history including possessing a graduate degree in architectural history, art history, historic preservation, or closely related field, with coursework in American architectural history,
• At least ten years of full-time experience in research, writing, or teaching in American architectural history or restoration architecture with an academic institution, historical organization or agency, museum, or other professional institution; or
• Substantial contribution through research and publication to the body of scholarly knowledge in the field of American architectural history.
• Possess a Master’s degree or Doctorate in architectural history or a related field
• An articulate and persuasive communicator, both one-on-one and in front of large groups.
• A high energy, passionate, forward-thinking, results-oriented, team player, and resourceful leader.
• Collaborative and highly skillful at building and maintaining effective working relationships throughout the organization.
• Ability to effectively wok with teams and communicate with clients.
• Ability to handle critical conversations with internal staff, managers, and leaders.
• Valid California Class C driver's license and an acceptable driver’s record are required.

Physical Demands: Must be able to regularly talk, hear and operate a computer, keyboard and mouse and occasionally lift, pull/push and carry up to 20 pounds with accommodations.

Work Conditions: Exposure to constant or intermittent sounds at a low or moderate level consistent with an office setting. Exposure to high-stress, fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment. Travel to other BKF locations and client sites may be required.

Benefits

• The typical base salary range for this position is $55.00-$90.00 per hour, as needed, depending upon skills, experience, education, and geographical location. This is an hourly position paid biweekly.

BKF provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

BKF does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the event a recruiter or agency submits a resume or candidate without a previously signed agreement and a specific solicitation for the position or other approved engagement request for the position with BKF, BKF reserves the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. Any unsolicited submittals are done at the risk of the recruiter.

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