Public Historian Jobs (NOW HIRING)

The Office of Species, Minerals and Energy Coordination is currently recruiting for a Senior Compliance Architectural Historian for the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) located in Boise, ID.
The Project Coordinator with a working title of Senior Compliance Architectural Historian reports to the Compliance Manager and reviews federal projects under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. The incumbent evaluates historic built environment properties for eligibility to the National Register of Historic Places and project impacts, review reports, writes comment letters and technical documents, and provides technical assistance to agencies, tribes, consulting firms and the public. The Senior Compliance Architectural Historian may occasionally conduct field work and give public presentations on Section 106 and Idaho built environment history. This position is eligible for flexible work arrangements after 90 days, subject to the supervisor's discretion.
Job Responsibilities:
Compliance Review (typical responsibilities)
Project Review:
• Interpret and apply state and federal cultural resource laws and regulations.
• Represent the interests of the State of Idaho in Section 106 consultation with federal agencies.
• Coordinate project review with federal and state agencies, local governments, Tribal Historic Preservation Offices and staff, consulting parties, and consultant firms.
• Review project documents for sufficiency, technical accuracy, and compliance with federal law and regulations, and SHPO standards.
• Consults with federal agencies to identify scope of undertakings, area of potential effects, and survey methodologies.
• Conduct site visits to gather and analyze resource eligibility and project effect information.
• Make determinations of National Register of Historic Places eligibility and project effect on built environment properties.
• Determine and analyze impacts to cultural resources, including direct, visual, auditory, and indirect effects.
• Develop and negotiate measures to avoid, minimize, or mitigate adverse effects to cultural resources.
• Advise Compliance Manager and SHPO Administrator on issues of federal project compliance.
• Review and comment on NEPA documents as appropriate.
Process Efficiencies:
• Develop process improvement and/or streamlining tools.
• Work on both project- and program-level activities.
• Reviews, recommends, authors, and implements procedures, policies, and guidance.
• Develop and negotiate agreement documents-Memoranda of Agreements and Programmatic Agreements-between SHPO and federal agencies, and other interested parties.
• Implement and track performance measures and reporting.
Technical Support and Training:
• Provide technical support to federal and state agencies, and local government staff for Section 106 cultural and environmental resource areas.
• Develop and present training for federal and state agencies, local governments, and private consultants.
• Make recommendations and advise federal agencies regarding cultural resource managements issues.
• Assist and advise internal colleagues with plan and context document review and analysis.
Supervision
• Participates in the hiring and training of compliance staff.
• Establishes annual performance measures; conducts annual evaluation of compliance staff.
• Provides staff supervision and technical assistance.
• Monitors work to ensure accuracy and conformance with department and national standards.
Additional Responsibilities
• Seeks, interviews, and supervises interns and volunteers.
• May conduct research and/or perform built environment fieldwork.
• May assist with management of grants or budget components.
• Some weekend and/or evening hours will be scheduled.
• Some statewide travel will be required.
• Provide support to agency public programs and outreach efforts as assigned.
• Performs other duties as assigned
Minimum Qualifications (required)
Experience:
• Planning and implementing projects- This is typically gained through work experience involved in program or project planning and implementation as a team member or individual contributor.
• Developing, promoting, and gaining project support interpreting and explaining specialized or complex material into information usable by the public- Typically gained by at least one year of experience where the interpretation of laws, policies, procedures, rules, or similar levels of information were analyzed and communicated into information that was usable by the public in various communication methods (oral, written, graphic, web based, social media, texting, etc.).
MQ Specialties(required)
• Meets the Secretary of the Interior's Professional Qualifications Standards (36 CFR Part 61) require individuals working on historic preservation projects to meet specific educational and experience criteria for their respective fields, such as architectural history or historic preservation. The standards generally require a graduate degree or a bachelor's degree combined with a certain amount of professional experience in a relevant field, and in some cases, a state license; The minimum professional qualifications in architectural history are a graduate degree in architectural history, art history, historic preservation, or closely related field with coursework in American architectural history or a bachelor's degree in architectural history, art history, historic preservation or closely related field plus one of the following: At least two 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;
• Strong familiarity and working experience with Section 106 consultation of the National Historic Preservation Act and its associated regulations- Typically gained through at least five years' experience in a position that manages and administers Section 106 review and compliance programs AND course work or training courses in historic preservation/cultural resource management/environmental law
• Experience supervising or mentoring staff- Typically gained through at least one year of experience where responsible for interviewing and selecting staff, providing work direction and training, evaluating performance, and generating employer problem solving solutions.
Other Abilities
Good knowledge of:
• Federal cultural resource and environmental laws
• Built environment survey requirements and techniques.
• Built environment field methods including surveying and documentation procedures.
• Western United States History
Demonstrated ability to:
• Interpret and apply federal and state cultural resource laws and regulations.
• Assess the impacts of proposed projects on built environment sites and historic properties
• Negotiate and develop mitigation agreements
• Effectively communicate technical information orally and in writing to a range of audiences, including government agencies, certified local governments, tribal representatives, and the public
• Communicate effectively in speech and writing with cultural resource management professionals, agency staff, and the public.
• Describe technology to users who may not be familiar with databases and computer technology.
• Work under pressure to provide detailed information with efficiency, timeliness, and good spirits in a fast-paced work environment.
• Accurately track and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Demonstrate effective problem-solving and adaptability skills.
• Work with Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
• Work with stakeholder groups and organizations /agencies such as Certified Local Governments and Tribal Historic Preservation Offices.
Benefits
The State of Idaho offers a robust total compensation package, including medical, vision, and dental insurance; PERSI retirement benefits; paid sick, vacation, and parental leave; and 11 paid holidays per year. For additional information related to benefits and/or State programs, please visit https://dhr.idaho.gov/StateEmployees/Benefits.html.*
EEO/ADA/Veteran
The State of Idaho is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, political affiliation or belief, sex, national origin, genetics, or any other status protected under applicable federal, state, or local laws.
The State of Idaho is committed to access and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities, auxiliary aids and services are available upon request. If you require an accommodation at any step in our recruitment process, you are encouraged to contact (208) 334-2263 (TTY/TTD: 711), or email ada.coordinator@dhr.idaho.gov.
Preference may be given to veterans who qualify under state and federal laws and regulations.