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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Historic Preservation Specialist

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Cultural HeritageHistoric PreservationArchitecturePlanning

🎯 Role Definition

A Historic Preservation Specialist is an experienced professional who evaluates, documents, and protects cultural heritage assets. This role blends architectural history, field investigation, regulatory compliance, grant administration, and community engagement to support preservation of historic buildings, landscapes, and archaeological resources. The specialist prepares technical reports, leads survey and inventory projects, manages National Register nominations and Section 106 reviews, coordinates with state historic preservation offices (SHPO) and preserving agencies, and designs practical treatment and adaptive reuse recommendations that meet preservation standards and funding requirements.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Historic preservation technician / field surveyor
  • Architectural historian or architectural technician
  • Urban planner or cultural resource technician

Advancement To:

  • Senior Historic Preservation Specialist / Project Manager
  • Cultural Resources Program Manager or Preservation Planner
  • Preservation Director or SHPO staff leadership position

Lateral Moves:

  • Architectural conservator / materials specialist
  • Historic tax credit consultant or cultural heritage consultant

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Plan, lead, and execute architectural and cultural resource surveys, including reconnaissance and intensive-level fieldwork, to identify and document buildings, structures, objects, districts, and landscapes for state and local inventories.
  • Prepare comprehensive National Register of Historic Places nominations and supporting documentation—historical context, significance statements, architectural descriptions, maps, and photographic documentation—ensuring compliance with National Park Service guidelines.
  • Conduct Section 106 and other regulatory reviews for federal undertakings, develop finding of effects, coordinate consultation with agencies, tribes, municipalities, and stakeholders, and draft Memoranda of Agreement or other mitigation measures as required.
  • Evaluate existing conditions of historic properties through on-site condition assessments and materials analysis; produce prioritized treatment recommendations, cost estimates, and maintenance plans aligned with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards.
  • Lead preparation and review of preservation and rehabilitation specifications and construction documents, advising architects, contractors, and owners on appropriate restoration methods, materials conservation, and quality control.
  • Manage historic tax credit projects at the federal and state level: prepare eligibility documentation, oversee rehabilitation plans, liaise with tax credit agencies, and maintain compliance through project close-out.
  • Research primary and secondary archival sources such as deeds, maps, historic photographs, Sanborn maps, newspapers, and architectural drawings to establish chronology, ownership, and historical context for properties.
  • Prepare HABS/HAER/HALS level documentation, measured drawings, large-format photography, and narrative histories to a level meeting archival standards for permanent collections.
  • Coordinate and consult with State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPO), Tribal Historic Preservation Officers (THPO), local historic commissions, and regulatory agencies to secure permits, approvals, and funding.
  • Develop and administer preservation grant applications and program reports, including National Trust, state, and local funding, and manage grant budgets, deliverables, and compliance monitoring.
  • Supervise and train field crews and junior staff on survey methods, photographic documentation, field note standards, and safety protocols for site visits and access-sensitive environments.
  • Use GIS, CAD, and mapping tools to produce site plans, district maps, and spatial analyses that support preservation planning, impact assessments, and nominations.
  • Produce clear, concise technical reports, environmental assessments, and environmental impact statements that synthesize field findings, historical research, and regulatory analysis for public agencies and clients.
  • Develop adaptive reuse strategies and feasibility studies that reconcile historic preservation goals with contemporary building codes, accessibility requirements, energy efficiency, and community development objectives.
  • Monitor construction and rehabilitation projects to verify that preservation treatments, materials, and workmanship comply with approved plans and preservation standards; prepare punch lists and final compliance reports.
  • Implement archaeological sensitivities into project planning: coordinate shovel-test surveys or subsurface monitoring, consult with archaeologists, and integrate archaeological recommendations into overall cultural resource management.
  • Draft and help implement historic district design guidelines, local preservation ordinances, and conservation plans to guide long-term stewardship at the municipal or neighborhood level.
  • Facilitate stakeholder and public engagement processes: prepare outreach materials, lead public meetings, workshops, and presentations, and respond to inquiries to build local buy-in and awareness for preservation initiatives.
  • Provide technical support for easement establishment, covenant drafting, and long-term stewardship agreements; advise property owners on maintenance, tax incentives, and regulatory obligations.
  • Conduct risk and vulnerability assessments for historic resources, recommending resilience measures for climate impacts, fire prevention, and emergency preparedness that are sensitive to historic fabric.
  • Maintain project schedules, manage multi-disciplinary consultant teams, and control project budgets to ensure timely delivery of deliverables and compliance with contract requirements.
  • Develop interpretive materials, signage content, and educational programming that communicate the significance of historic properties to diverse audiences.
  • Stay current with preservation law, best practices, and emerging technologies (e.g., laser scanning, photogrammetry, digital archiving) and apply these tools to improve documentation, analysis, and reporting.

Secondary Functions

  • Assist with outreach and stewardship programs that promote community-based preservation and volunteer engagement.
  • Support pre-application meetings and provide technical guidance to applicants pursuing rehabilitation, grant, or tax incentive programs.
  • Collect and manage digital archives and metadata, ensuring that survey records, photographs, and reports are cataloged and accessible in line with archival standards.
  • Contribute to institutional data collection and quality improvement initiatives for preservation records and GIS inventories.
  • Participate in professional development activities, prepare training materials, and mentor interns and junior staff to build internal capacity.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • National Register preparation and nomination writing, including development of historic contexts and integrity analyses.
  • Regulatory compliance expertise with Section 106 (NHPA), NEPA coordination, state statutes, and local preservation ordinances.
  • Historic building condition assessment and materials diagnostics, including masonry, wood, fenestration, roofing, and site drainage issues.
  • Grant writing and grant management for preservation funding (federal, state, and private).
  • Knowledge of historic tax credit processes, application preparation, and compliance monitoring.
  • HABS/HAER/HALS documentation, measured drawing standards, and archival-quality photography practices.
  • GIS mapping and spatial analysis for cultural resource inventories; familiarity with ArcGIS or equivalent.
  • Proficiency with CAD (AutoCAD, Revit) or other drafting tools to review and produce preservation construction documents.
  • Photogrammetry and laser scanning (LiDAR) basics for 3D documentation of historic structures and landscapes.
  • Archival research techniques and use of primary-source repositories, historic maps, and property record systems.
  • Construction administration and project monitoring skills, including specification review and contractor coordination.
  • Basic archaeological field methods and familiarity with coordination procedures for sensitive sites.
  • Technical writing and report preparation for regulatory submissions and client deliverables.
  • Budgeting, scheduling, and project management competencies; experience using project management tools.

Soft Skills

  • Strong written communication skills with the ability to craft accessible technical narratives for both specialists and the public.
  • Clear oral presentation and public speaking skills for stakeholder meetings, workshops, and community outreach.
  • Proven ability to build collaborative relationships with government agencies, tribal representatives, property owners, and community groups.
  • Detail-oriented with exceptional organizational skills and a commitment to accuracy in documentation.
  • Critical thinking and problem-solving capacity to reconcile preservation standards with practical constraints.
  • Cultural sensitivity and capacity to engage with diverse communities and Indigenous stakeholders respectfully.
  • Time management skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
  • Leadership and mentorship abilities to supervise field crews and junior staff effectively.
  • Negotiation skills for coordinating mitigation measures, easements, and stakeholder agreements.
  • Adaptability and willingness to learn new tools, methods, and technologies in preservation practice.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Historic Preservation, Architectural History, Architecture, Cultural Resource Management, Anthropology, Planning, or a closely related field.

Preferred Education:

  • Master’s degree in Historic Preservation, Architectural History, Historic Preservation Planning, Conservation, or Cultural Resource Management.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Historic Preservation
  • Architectural History
  • Architecture or Architectural Technology
  • Cultural Resource Management / Anthropology
  • Urban Planning / Historic Urbanism

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 3–7 years of professional experience in historic preservation, cultural resource management, or architectural history for mid-level roles; 7+ years for senior roles.

Preferred:

  • Demonstrated experience preparing National Register nominations, conducting Section 106 reviews, administering historic tax credit projects, and managing multi-phase preservation projects. Experience working with SHPOs, THPOs, municipal preservation commissions, and federal/state grant programs is highly desirable.
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