Amtrak | Lead Historic Preservation Specialist

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As we move America’s workforce toward the future, Amtrak connects businesses and communities across the country. We employ more than 20,000 diverse, energetic professionals in a variety of career fields throughout the United States. The safety of our passengers, our employees, the public and our operating environment is our priority, and the success of our railroad is due to our employees.

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Our values of ‘Do the Right Thing, Excel Together and Put Customers First’ are at the heart of what matters most to us, and our Core Capabilities, ‘Building Trust, Accountability, Effective Communication, Customer Focus, and Proactive Safety & Security’ are what every employee needs to know and do to be most impactful at Amtrak. By living the Amtrak values, focusing on our capabilities, and actively embracing and fostering diverse ideas, backgrounds, and perspectives, together we will honor our past and make Amtrak a company of the future.

SUMMARY OF DUTIES:

The Lead Historic Preservation Specialist position serves as a subject matter expert regarding historic preservation regulatory compliance for Amtrak’s federally funded, permitted, licensed, or otherwise federally involved projects. This position provides technical expertise to support fulfillment of requirements under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended, and its implementing regulations under 36 CFR 800 (Section 106), and related historic preservation regulations, as required for Amtrak’s nationwide capital program and other company initiatives. This includes facilitating and tracking historic preservation approvals; providing historic preservation technical support and guidance to Amtrak’s staff and design/technical consultants regarding regulatory procedures and application of the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties; coordinating directly and functioning as an external point of contact on historic preservation regulatory matters for the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), State Historic Preservation Officers (SHPO), and other external stakeholders; and collaborates with the Amtrak National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) staff to coordinate historic preservation compliance with NEPA processes. The position may also evaluate resources for eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places and effects under Section 106, and contribute to expanding and maintaining an inventory of Amtrak’s historic assets.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Evaluates regulatory pathways and guides Section 106 compliance for projects in Amtrak’s capital program, from screening through construction
• Coordinates directly with Amtrak staff and design consultants to provide procedural direction and technical review of Section 106 analyses and communications, as well as advising architects, engineers, and others on design strategies to meet the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation.
• Collaborates and maintains relationships as day-to-day point of contact between Amtrak and the FRA with respect to Section 106 and related compliance for projects
• Serves as Amtrak’s project point of contact for SHPOs related to Section 106 consultation
• Maintains and expands a database of Amtrak’s historic assets in asset management software in coordination with supervisor and Amtrak asset management team
• Manages internal/external consultants on Section 106 and related matters; provides direction to consultants on the unique requirements of Amtrak’s federal regulatory obligations, procedures, application of streamlining tools, expectations for deliverables; and conveys information specific to Amtrak’s historic assets.
• Reviews Section 106 agreement documents to which Amtrak is a signatory or consulting party, develops mitigation stipulations commensurate to project effects, advises Amtrak staff regarding Amtrak’s roles and responsibilities, negotiates with agencies on Amtrak’s behalf, and vets agreements with appropriate internal staff prior to signature Stays current on changes to Section 106 and related historic preservation regulations as they relate to Amtrak projects.
• Stays current on changes to Section 106 and related historic preservation regulations as they relate to Amtrak projects.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s Degree in historic preservation, architectural history, or closely related discipline
• Minimum 8 years of relevant Section 106 and other historic preservation regulatory compliance experience
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication, and relationship building skills, with demonstrated experience closely coordinating with environmental and archaeological colleagues, project managers, and varied technical disciplines
• Strong organizational skills, including ability to track and remain engaged with multiple projects
• Demonstrated experience providing direction and technical support to internal colleagues and leadership, as well as consultants
• Demonstrated experience working on multiple projects that interface with multiple internal and external departments and stakeholders, with competing schedules and priorities, using a collaborative approach; exemplary time management skills and attention to detail
• Demonstrated experience negotiating/interacting with regulators and consulting parties
• Demonstrated experience successfully leading the Section 106 consultation process for projects of varying types and complexity
• Demonstrated experience evaluating properties for National Register eligibility resulting in agency concurrence
• Comprehensive familiarity with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation, and demonstrated experience successfully applying the Standards.
• Experience preparing and/or technical review of evaluations under Section 4(f) of the U.S. Department of Transportation Act
• Familiarity with archaeological aspects of Section 106 consultation
• Strong experience with standard PC-based productivity software (e.g. Outlook, Teams, Excel, Word, etc.), and ability to use data management systems.
• Ability to consider conflicting project constraints and contribute to creative problem-solving in accordance with the regulations to achieve project goals
• Previous project management experience with emphasis on developing, reviewing, and adhering to project scopes, schedules, and budgets.
• Self-sufficient and able to work independently, prioritize tasks, and work well as part of multiple teams

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s degree in Historic Preservation, Architectural History, or closely related discipline
• More than 10 years of relevant experience
• Prior experience supporting historic preservation aspects of all phases of project development and delivery including planning, scoping, design, and construction in a fast-paced environment with projects ranging in size and complexity.
• Familiarity with historic railroad stations, bridges, and other rail infrastructure
• Familiarity with the ACHP’s Program Comment to Exempt Consideration of Effects to Rail Properties Within Rail Rights-of-Way, as amended.
• Familiarity with USDOT agency NEPA procedures and experience with document preparation and technical review under NEPA, with particular emphasis on cultural resources

WORK ENVRIORNMENT:

• Amtrak is functionally a weak-matrix organization requiring broad outreach to and coordination with various disciplines and departments.
• Work is office-based with periodic travel to project sites at stations, facilities, or along the railroad right-of-way.
• The preferred candidate would have at least a hybrid in-office/remote schedule.

COMMUNICATIONS AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS:

• Must have excellent oral and written communication skills.

The salary/hourly range is $94,300-$122,256, Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to education, work experience, certifications, internal equity, etc. Depending on an employee’s assigned worksite or location, Amtrak may consider a geo-pay differential to be applied to the employee’s base salary. Amtrak may offer additional incentive and pay programs to recognize and reward our employees, including a short-term incentive bonus based upon factors such as individual and company performance that is commensurate with the level of the position and/or long-term incentive plan compensation. In addition to your salary, Amtrak offers a comprehensive benefit package that includes health, dental, and vision plans; health savings accounts; wellness programs; flexible spending accounts; 401K retirement plan with employer match; life insurance; short and long term disability insurance; paid time off; back-up care; adoption assistance; surrogacy assistance; reimbursement of education expenses; Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility; Railroad Retirement sickness and retirement benefits; and rail pass privileges. Learn more about our benefits offerings here.

Requisition ID:163394
Posting Location(s):Pennsylvania
Work Arrangement:04-Hybrid Weekly
Job Family/Function:Engineering
Relocation Offered:No
Travel Requirements:0 – 5%
You power our progress through your performance.

We want your work at Amtrak to be more than a job. We want your career at Amtrak to be a fulfilling experience where you find challenging work, rewarding opportunities, respect among colleagues, and attractive compensation. Amtrak maintains a culture that values high performance and recognizes individual employee contributions.

Amtrak is committed to a safe workplace free of drugs and alcohol. All Amtrak positions requires a pre-employment background check that includes prior employment verification, a criminal history check and a pre-employment drug screen.

Candidates who test positive for marijuana will be disqualified, regardless of any state or local statute, ordinance, regulation, or other law that legalizes or decriminalizes the use or possession of marijuana, whether for medical, recreational, or other use. Amtrak’s pre-employment drug testing program is administered in accordance with DOT regulations and applicable law.

In accordance with DOT regulations (49 CFR § 40.25), Amtrak is required to obtain prior drug and alcohol testing records for applicants/employees intending to perform safety-sensitive duties for covered Department of Transportation positions. If an applicant/employee refuses to provide written consent for Amtrak to obtain these records, the individual will not be permitted to perform safety-sensitive functions.

In accordance with federal law governing security checks of covered individuals for providers of public transportation (Title 6 U.S.C. §1143), Amtrak is required to screen applicants for any permanent or interim disqualifying criminal offenses.

Note that any education requirement listed above may be deemed satisfied if you have an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Amtrak is an EOE/Affirmative Action Minority/Female employer, and we welcome all to apply. We consider candidates regardless of race/color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related conditions), national origin/ethnicity, age, disability (intellectual, mental and physical), veteran status, marital status, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, genetic information, citizenship or any other personal characteristics protected by law.