City Jobs
Historic Preservation Specialist
Description
Duties:
The Historic Preservation Specialist will primarily serve as the City of New Orleans (CNO) liaison to FEMA, regarding all assigned FEMA-funded projects stemming from current and future declared disasters and to include projects such as FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) and the Sandy Recovery Improvement Act/Joint Infrastructure Recovery Request (JIRR), which involves the repair or replacement of roads and appurtenant structures, and the repair or replacement of water and sewer utility lines throughout Orleans Parish. The Specialist will coordinate with FEMA, SHPO, GOHSEP, and Tribes, and other consulting parties throughout the course of these projects. The position may also be responsible for historic preservation investigations as required for other locally, state, or federally funded projects undertaken by CNO.
The Specialist will be responsible for implementing and fulfilling CNO responsibilities under agreement documents and consultations as required under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act; as well as other historic preservation laws and regulations, as necessary for compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act and applicable public preservation law for protecting the historic built environments through-out the City. These duties will include conducting all aspects of historic property investigations such as identifying historic properties and character-defining features; conducting historic properties surveys; conducting historical research and evaluating significance using National Register of Historic Places criteria; assessing the effects of federal undertakings on historic properties; and completing mitigation of adverse effects to historic properties, including photographic documentation and development of interpretative materials.
Education:
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in History, Architectural History, Art History, Historic Preservation, Preservation Planning with a focus on preserving architectural integrity and built environments plus a minimum of 5 (five) years of full-time professional experience in historic preservation or a closely related field. A master’s degree is preferred.
General Experience/Requirements:
- Working knowledge of federal undertakings and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, and its implementing regulations, 36 CFR Part 800 Protection of Historic Properties, and other governmental regulatory compliance.
- Knowledge and understanding of FEMA Public Assistance and HMGP laws, regulations, and policies.
- Experience implementing and fulfilling stipulations of agreement documents such as Memoranda of Agreement and/or Programmatic Agreements.
- Experience performing detailed investigations of historic properties including identification, evaluation, assessment and resolution of adverse effects, photographic documentation and interpretation and other mitigation measures under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended.
Specific Job Requirements:
- Experience and ability for evaluating architectural history and conducting background research to support historic preservation goals inclusive of buildings, houses, cemetery structures and urban street-scape views.
- Experience and ability to interpret historic data into meaningful public outreach material or technical reports.
- Excellent writing skills to enable publication of reports, briefs, brochures, public outreach through presentations.
- Knowledge of Geographic Information System (GIS) with the ability to support GIS mapping projects using Global Positioning System (GPS) and/or other field mapping techniques.
- Willingness to conduct project site visits and collect data in the field.
- Ability to read and understand construction plans and specifications.
- Ability to speak in public and periodically attend community meetings.
- Experience with digital photo-editing software.
- Must be computer literate and proficient with MS Office Suite applications (Word, Excel).
- Must be able to work both independently and in a team environment under stressful conditions.
- Valid driver’s license required.
All interested candidates should provide copies of their resume to LaNitrah Hasan at lbhasan@nola.gov.