Historian; Environmental Protection Specialist III - Greeley

Description of Job

The Region 4 (Northeast Colorado area) Planning & Environmental Section in Greeley ensures compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) policies, Federal Transit Administration, High-Performance Transportation Enterprise, CDOT's NEPA Manual, and state and local laws and regulations related to project development, construction, access and maintenance activities. It also facilitates environmental compliance in the project development, construction, access, maintenance, and operations activities of the Region 4 transportation system.

Throughout the Region 4 (R4) project life cycle, technical experience in NEPA analysis is provided by this unit through meticulous planning, effective use, and familiarity with federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

The Historian position will serve as the Region’s Staff Authority for historic resources and a lead Environmental Project Manager. This position will ensure organizational compliance with Section 106 of the NHPA, Section 4(f), the State Register Act, and NEPA for complex transportation projects. This position will manage the end‑to‑end environmental clearance process—from scoping and design through construction—by preparing NEPA documentation (Cat Ex, EA, EIS), determining assessment levels, and overseeing consultant work within budgetary constraints.

Serving as a technical expert and primary liaison, the position coordinates directly with the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), FHWA, and other regulatory stakeholders, providing critical guidance to CDOT engineers and local agencies to ensure all applicable federal, state, and local permits are seamlessly integrated into project plans.

• Define the Area of Potential Effect (APE), establishing survey methodologies, and conducting research to evaluate the National Register eligibility of sites, structures, and districts based on the seven aspects of integrity;
• Prepare detailed OAHP inventory forms and the full spectrum of Section 4(f) evaluations, determining project‑related effects and coordinating formal concurrence with the SHPO, FHWA, ACHP, and other stakeholders;
• Develop and negotiate mitigation strategies for adverse effects, review complex environmental documents such as EAs, EISs, and PEL reports, and advise project teams on avoiding resource impacts. Represent CDOT at public hearings and inter‑agency coordination meetings, ensuring all historical and environmental compliance mandates are met within project cost, scope, and schedule;
• Serve as the Staff Authority for fieldwork, research, and documentation, providing the specialized expertise necessary to meet Section 106 and Section 4(f) compliance standards;
• Conduct extensive archival research—analyzing deeds, maps, and oral histories—alongside physical fieldwork to evaluate the NRHP eligibility of resources based on architectural significance and the seven aspects of integrity;
• Utilize GIS software, satellite imagery, and GPS devices to develop, map, and analyze project data, effectively translating field observations into precise spatial layers;
• Leverage unmanned aerial vehicles and high‑resolution cameras to document landscapes, while employing geographic and geological knowledge to identify physical evidence of prior human land use;
• Develop and monitor complex research projects and geospatial datasets for recurring resource types—such as irrigation systems and bridges—to streamline future consultations, reduce project costs, and present findings at professional conferences;
• Assist in the day‑to‑day work of the Unit including preparation and review of reports, research efforts, and other functions to support the Region's goals and objectives;
• Serve as a primary regional Staff Authority, managing extensive stakeholder coordination and acting as the lead liaison between the SHPO, FHWA, ACHP, and local governments;
• Negotiate complex avoidance and mitigation strategies for historic properties—formalizing commitments through MOUs and Programmatic Agreements—and utilize GIS data to implement innovative “net…