Historic Preservation Specialists perform professional cultural resource management activities in the form of statewide historic preservation efforts to ensure compliance with State and/or federal programs, laws, rules and regulations. This includes cooperating with other agencies and the public in conducting a comprehensive statewide survey of cultural resources and maintaining a paper, electronic, and/or GIS inventory of such properties; identifying and nominating eligible resources to the National and State Registers of Historic Places; preparing and implementing a comprehensive statewide historic preservation plan; assisting in the administration of the federal historic preservation assistance program within the State; advising and assisting as appropriate, federal and State agencies and local governments in carrying out their historic preservation responsibilities; cooperating with federal agencies, local governments and the public to ensure that cultural resources are taken into consideration at all levels of planning and development; providing public information, education, training and technical assistance relating to Federal and State Historic Preservation Programs; cooperating with local governments in the development of local historic preservation programs, and assisting local governments in becoming Certified Local Governments (CLGs); providing technical advice to the State of Nevada’s Commission for Cultural Centers and Historic Preservation (CCCHP); managing the statutorily-mandated Nevada Site Stewardship Program; administration of the Comstock Historic District for the State as per the requirements of NRS 384; management of the Comstock History Center in Virginia City; administration of Nevada’s Native American burial protection legislation.
Master's degree from an accredited university in archeology, anthropology, architectural history, art history, history, historic preservation, cultural geography or related field and one year of professional experience in research, writing, or teaching American architectural history, restoration architecture, history, art history, or historic preservation with an academic institution; working for a professional historic preservation consulting firm or a Federal, state, or local entity performing historic preservation work in archaeological research, architectural history, history, or historic preservation; or managing and/or maintaining cultural resource databases to include the digitization of GIS data, data validation and normalization, and resolution of duplicates; OR Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in architectural history, history, art history, anthropology, historic preservation or closely related field and two years of professional experience as described above; OR one year of experience as a Historic Preservation Specialist I level in Nevada State service; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience as described above.
Recommend and conduct surveys of areas deemed priority due to development activities or a need for data; conduct background literature searches to determine survey needs and properties anticipated, locating project areas, walking transects, identifying and recording cultural resource sites, developing plan maps of cultural resource sites, photographing buildings, sites and artifacts, describing the setting including geology, flora and fauna, landscape and streetscape; develop contexts and aid in evaluating properties discovered.

Evaluate resources for National or State Register listing; review for technical and substantive content nominations to the National and State Registers of Historic Places submitted by individuals and governmental agencies to ensure adequate documentation of resources and compliance with National and State Register standards; edit and revise National and State Register nominations involving research with primary and secondary source material, writing, photographing, developing accurate legal descriptions of boundaries, and plotting locations on U.S.G.S. topographical maps; provide recommendations regarding suitability of nominations to the State Board of Museums and History.

Recommend whether cultural resources surveys are necessary, and the type and level of intensity required; provide substantive review of cultural resources reports prepared by agencies, consultants or members of the public to ensure they meet established State and federal standards for incorporation into the statewide inventory; ensure properties identified in survey efforts are adequately documented and determinations of National Register eligibility (or non-eligibility) and determinations of project-related effects are justified; determine whether federal agencies have fulfilled their obligations under the National Historic Preservation Act; provide advice to federal, State and local agencies and members of the public on interpretations of historic preservation and archeological and burial site protection laws on the State and federal levels; review and prepare agreements with federal agencies regarding identification, evaluation and treatment of historic properties.

Assist in preparing elements of the State’s preservation plan, including establishing priorities and setting goals for completion each year; research and compile relevant material on elements, reviewing, editing and revising elements prepared by other staff members or contractors, assisting in the in-house publication of the plan, and incorporating new data on historic, architectural, and archaeological sites into the plan.

Assist in the administration of the Historic Preservation Fund subgrants and CCHP grants to governments and private non-profit corporations; provide assistance in the preparation of grant applications, assessing whether or not applications meet State and federal requirements for funding, setting priorities for grants and requirements for funding, developing and implementing funding agreements, monitoring progress of grants, reviewing final products and auditing financial documentation on grants.

Administer Nevada’s Native American burial protection law that requires notification of Native American descendants, negotiation with the property owner over disposition and coordination with archaeologists, Native Americans, and property owner leading to sensitive treatment of human remains.

Administer the CLG Program by which local governments participate in the historic preservation program established by the National Park Service; develop and implement guidelines; provide assistance in the preparation of local preservation ordinances; assist CLGs to develop suitable grant applications; monitor grant and CLG activities; review programs annually and provide the National Park Service with documentation of CLGs’ continued suitability for certification.

Participate in a wide variety of site inspections to determine adherence to covenants or conditions of development; negotiate with the property owner to remedy unsatisfactory work or implement legal proceedings.

Provide technical assistance, education and workshops on archaeology, architectural history, and historic preservation to federal agencies, other State agencies, local governments, tribal governments and the public; promote preservation through presentations, publications and meetings; assist property owners/managers to apply for funding or permits for construction in accordance with accepted standards; work with local, State, and federal agencies, organizations and elected officials to encourage and facilitate preservation projects in the State.

Oversee data process workflows including document scanning, digitization of GIS data, prevention, detection and resolution of duplicates; data validation and normalization; implementation, administration and maintenance of GIS software for internal and external use.

Perform related duties as assigned.

Under general direction, incumbents are assigned responsibility for a specific program area, and may supervise or direct lower level Historic Preservation Specialists. This is the journey level of the series.
This job specification lists the major knowledge, skills and abilities of the job and is not all inclusive. Incumbent(s) will be expected to have knowledge, skills and abilities from a previous level.

Working knowledge of: preservation and conservation technology to assess the condition of sites and structures and recommend appropriate action.

General knowledge of: regulations and laws affecting historic, architectural and archaeological sites; federal and other State agencies’ procedures as they relate to historic preservation laws and regulations; National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, particularly Section 106 and its implementing regulations 36 CFR 800; functions of federal and State agencies in relation to historic preservation laws and regulations.

Ability to: conduct and complete research as demonstrated by publications, professional and technical papers including graduate theses or dissertations; interact diplomatically with agency staff, State and federal agencies, professionals, and the public on a continuous basis; motivate others to effective action.

RECRUITER CONTACT INFORMATION: Jon Terrazas at j.terrazas@admin.nv.gov