Historic Preservation Officer

Metro is hiring a Historic Preservation Officer to lead the creation of a new agency wide program that protects and honors the cultural, historic, and archaeological resources across our publicly owned lands and facilities. This is a rare opportunity to shape a preservation program from the ground up that reflects community priorities, supports legal and ethical stewardship, and strengthens relationships with tribal governments through meaningful consultation. Housed in the Capital Asset Management Department and working closely with Metro’s Tribal Affairs Program, this role will collaborate with staff across the agency to integrate preservation values and compliance activities into planning, capital projects, and land management. If you are passionate about cultural heritage and preservation, and ready to make a lasting impact in the region, we encourage you to apply.

As the Historic Preservation Officer, you will: 

• Lead the creation and implementation of Metro’s Historic and Cultural Resources Protection Program, shaping policies, procedures, and training that support long term stewardship and preservation of sensitive resources.
• Conduct and oversee contracted archeological surveys, fieldwork, monitoring, research and reporting as a qualified archaeologist, while ensuring compliance with relevant federal, state and local laws and policies; serve as Metro’s technical liaison for other archeological needs.
• Build and maintain a detailed internal inventory of archeological, historic, and cultural resources across Metro-owned lands and facilities, consistent with state policies protecting sensitive information.
• Serve as Metro’s lead for consultations with tribal governments, working directly with Metro’s Tribal Affairs Program and Tribal Historic Preservation Officers to support project planning, resource protection, and inadvertent discoveries.
• Manage project review and collaborates with Metro staff on due diligence efforts to steward cultural, archeological and historic resources during capital improvements, maintenance, and operational projects.
• Collaborate with federal, state, local and tribal partners, including the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office, to manage permits, reporting, and compliance.
• Oversee cultural resource management consultants, ensuring contracts meet regulatory standards and reflects professional best practices.
• Contribute to the development of an agency wide Historic Preservation Plan including leading and providing guidance on nominations of resources or sites to the National Register of Historic Places.
• Provide training to internal staff on archeological and cultural resource stewardship relevant state and federal laws and policies regarding archeological resources and when appropriate, collaborate with Tribes to share tribal perspectives.
• Contribute to regional efforts to increase jurisdictional partners’ and the public’s awareness of the importance of archeological resources stewardship, relevant state and federal laws and policies, and when appropriate, collaborate with Tribes to share tribal perspectives. Respond to urgent or sensitive situations, such as inadvertent discoveries of cultural materials or human remains with professionalism, care and cultural sensitivity. Function as a technical liaison for other archeological needs.

Attributes for success

• Demonstrated strong interpersonal and communication skills, including ability to effectively collaborate across cultures and municipalities.
• Deep commitment to the protection and preservation of archeological, historic, and cultural resources.
• Proven skill in consulting with tribal governments and interpreting complex regulatory frameworks.
• Ability to think strategically and solve problems while building programs in dynamic, multidisciplinary environments.
• Strong attention to detail, with the ability to manage sensitive information and ensuring legal compliance.
• Self-motivated and capable of working independently and leading agency-wide initiatives.
• Practical experience in conducting archeological fieldwork, field research and methods, including surveys, monitoring, testing and excavations, as well as completing site documentation with a variety of programs and tools such as ArcGIS.
• Practical experience with timely development and review of professional technical reports and documentation.
• Knowledgeable about pertinent federal cultural resource laws such as Section 106, NEPA, and Oregon’s cultural resource laws and procedures.
• Ability to analyze and interpret legal and technical cultural resources issues.
  Values ethical stewardship and approaches community engagement with cultural awareness and respect.
• Proficient in managing consultants, contracts, and preservation-related budgets with accountability and efficiency.
• Ability to integrate compliance and preservation priorities into strategic and long-use plans and policies.