Location
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Capabilities
Environmental
Office Setup
Hybrid
Job ID
#40397
Market
Environmental
At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.
Your impact
At Jacobs, you’ll work for a company that strives to provide opportunities for employees to learn, grow, and thrive. As Mid-Career Architectural Historian, you’ll work on a variety of projects throughout the United States, with a focus on the Great Lakes Region. This position involves providing cultural resources support for planning, engineering, and construction services to government, military, and commercial clients. The architectural historian career path provides the opportunity to work on projects that require compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and other federal, state, and local cultural resource regulations.
For this position, you’ll serve as a key team member working with scientists, engineers, project managers, and other project staff across business sectors and practices in the company. You will conduct literature reviews and background research; evaluate buildings, structures, objects, landscapes, and districts for eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) as well as for state and local registers; and provide analysis and cultural resources content for NEPA documents and cultural resources technical reports. You’ll also review undertakings for potential impacts to historic properties; coordinate consultation with State Historic Preservation Officers (SHPO), Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, Native American tribes, and multiple state and federal agencies; delineate areas of potential effects; complete primary and secondary-source research and develop historical contexts; identify periods of significance and character-defining features; complete architectural surveys and site forms; and prepare NEPA and NHPA technical reports. Mid-level architectural historians also work closely with senior staff to prepare proposals, provide technical reviews of deliverables, and give technical guidance to junior-level employees.
Here's what you'll need
Master’s degree in Architectural History, Historic Preservation, Public History, Architecture, or a related field
Minimum 6 years of professional experience in historic preservation or a related field
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Teams
Proficient reading architecture and engineering plans
Oral and written English communication skills
Excellent technical writing skills
Must be willing and able to travel, as needed, approximately 15 percent of time.
Expertise with every step of the Section 106 process, including but not limited to:
Delineating an Area of Potential Effect
Identifying potential consulting parties
Initiating consultation with project stakeholders
Literature reviews
Historical contexts
Organizing and conducting field surveys
NHRP eligibility determinations, including identifying character-defining features and periods of significance
Effects assessments
Developing and implementing agreement documents
Historic American Buildings Survey/Historic American Engineering Record/Historic American Landscape Study documentation
Record of delivering project on time and on budget
Experience working in the consulting environment, able to handle multiple projects simultaneously and be responsive to both internal and external clients.
Working knowledge of GIS and basic understanding of cultural resources mapping and data collection, such as ArcGIS Field Maps and ArcGIS Online.
Experience preparing proposals, providing technical reviews of deliverables, and mentoring junior staff.
Experience applying the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties as well as Advisory Council on Historic Preservation Program Comments.
Experience preparing reporting for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and working knowledge of the Architecture/History Survey Manual and Facilities Development Manual.
#LI-AW1
Posted Salary Range: Minimum
66,300.00
Posted Salary Range: Upper
103,575.00
Our health and welfare benefits are designed to invest in you, and in the things you care about. Your health. Your well-being. Your security. Your future. Employees have access to medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance, a 401(k) plan, and the ability to purchase company stock at a discount. Eligible employees may also enroll in a deferred compensation plan or the Executive Deferral Plan. Jacobs has an unlimited U.S. Personalized Paid Time Off (PPTO) policy for full-time salaried/exempt employees, seven paid holidays, and caregiver leave. And certain roles may be eligible for additional rewards, including merit increases, performance discretionary bonus, and stock.
The base salary range for this position is $66,300.00 to $103,575.00. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. Job posted on June 02, 2026. This position will be open for at least 3 days.
We value collaboration and believe that in-person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.
Your application experience is important to us, and we’re keen to adapt to make every interaction even better. If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process (for example, you require the application form in a different format), please contact the team via Careers Support .
