About CPF and the Awards
Held in conjunction with CPF’s 2026 Annual Conference in Riverside, the 2026 Mission Inn Preservation Design Awards Ceremony and Reception will spotlight excellence in historic preservation in a setting that reflects the very spirit of the work being honored. This special evening brings together award recipients, conference participants, preservation leaders, and supporters from across California to celebrate outstanding preservation projects and leadership through the Preservation Design Awards and President’s Awards.
Founded in 1978, the California Preservation Foundation (CPF) is California’s statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection of historic places and cultural heritage. Through education, advocacy, and community-centered programs, CPF supports the people, projects, and policies that keep California’s historic resources vital and valued. We now support a national network of more than 36,000 members and supporters. Click here to learn how you can become a member.
Welcome to Our Team
Become a member today and join our team! We are a community of architects, designers, preservationists, and architecture fans who come together to support a singular mission: to save historic places. We can't do it without you! Click here to join us.
Get CPF updates
Sign up below to receive advocacy alerts and updates from CPF.
CPF is Hiring!
Type: Full Time
Sector: Nonprofit / Advocacy
Deadline: May 15, 2026
Search for Preservation Jobs
View preservation job listings in California and beyond. To add a new job listing, use the link at the bottom of the page or contact us at cpf@californiapreservation.org.
Architectural Historian / Preservation Planner
Position Description
This is a full-time position, with the expectation that the hired planner will work in the Portland office a minimum of three days per week. Part-time arrangements will also be considered.
Qualifications:
- Ability to conduct thorough, detail-oriented archival research using both physical and online repositories; experience with research using historical property records is preferred
- Outstanding writing, proofreading, and editing skills
- Ability to write clear, well-reasoned, and thorough historic contexts and assessments
- Ability to travel locally and regionally to complete site visits
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively, and to take on a wide variety of tasks both large and small
- Ability to work within established budgets and to plan work accordingly
- Experience with historic resource surveys, historic resource evaluations, historic structure reports, National Register nominations, the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards, and other applicable project types
- Familiarity with federal and state cultural resource management regulations and environmental review
- Ability to present project findings in a public setting
- Proficiency with the MS Office Suite (Word, Excel)
ARG offers a dynamic, energetic, and collaborative work environment. If full-time, this position is eligible for ARG’s competitive benefits package, which includes medical, dental, disability, a 401k plan, and paid time off. Salary range for this position (full-time) is $70,000-$85,000, depending on experience. ARG is a majority Women-Owned Business and an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are recognized as a JUST Organization through the International Living Future Institute.
Company/Organization Description
Architectural Resources Group (ARG) is a full-service architectural and historic preservation planning firm with offices in Portland, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. The firm seeks an Architectural Historian / Preservation Planner to support the Portland office, with intermittent support for projects based in other ARG offices also possible. This position requires an individual with a Master’s Degree in Historic Preservation or closely related field from an accredited institution, along with at least two years of post-graduate work experience in a similar position. Job responsibilities include site assessments, archival research, proposal development, and technical report writing in support of various historic resource project types. A self-starting individual who can work independently and has strong research and communication skills will do well in this position.
Pay Range (Annual): $70,000-$80,000
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Job Type: Full Time
How to Apply
Submit letter of interest, resume, and one writing sample to careers@argcreate.com, with “PNW Architectural Historian Position” in the subject line. If selected to interview, be prepared to submit three professional references and one professional writing sample (10 pages maximum) in advance.