Archaeology Crew Member (NPS, Death Valley National Park)

GREAT BASIN INSTITUTE; California; On-site; USD 39,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and dental insurance

Life insurance

401(k) with match

Housing provided

Camping per diem

Job summary

Great Basin Institute (GBI) in collaboration with Death Valley National Park seeks Archaeology Crew Members for a 51-week, 40-hour field season. You will support field surveys, site records, and monitoring within Death Valley National Park to document and assess cultural resources.

The role requires a bachelor’s degree in anthropology/archaeology (or related) and field experience, plus trained field methods. Housing is provided; start anticipated November 2026.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in anthropology, archaeology or related discipline (by position start date).
• One year of professional fieldwork experience.
• An accredited archaeological field school and/or relevant field methods training coursework.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Archaeologist and agency staff to support field safety, communication, planning, logistics, quality assurance, field implementation and reporting efforts.
• Complete field surveys, condition assessments, site recordation, or monitoring to document, assess and characterize the status of new and known cultural resources.
• Conduct pre-field searches to learn what resources may be present and what was previously recorded.
• Monitor existing sites and complete site updates and condition assessments.
• Assess sites for stabilization needs and stabilize sites with waddles, mats and other means.
• Prepare California DPR site records, GIS maps, and photographic records and update the NPS heritage database.
• Utilize GPS tablets in the field to collect data and map updates in geodatabases.
• Prepare portions of reports, or assessments of effect documentation for archaeological compliance.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in anthropology/archaeology or related discipline

One year of professional fieldwork

Accredited archaeological field school / field methods training

Job description

Job Details: Job Location: Death Valley, CA, Position Type: Seasonal, Salary Range: $23.00 - $23.00 Hourly, Job Category: Cultural Resources Services, The Cultural Resource Services Program (CRS) at the Great Basin Institute (GBI), in cooperation with the National Park Service at Death Valley National Park, is recruiting two (2) Archaeology Crew Members to become part of the Flood Response Team. These positions will complete condition assessments, Section 106 Cultural Resource surveys, site recording, and monitoring for various projects within Death Valley National Park. These projects all serve the Cultural Resources program’s greater mission of improving the quality of public lands to ensure they continue to thrive for generations to come.

These positions will be a part of a unique group with a unique mission. In 2022 and 2023 Death Valley National Park (DEVA) experienced two 1000-year level floods. This led to impacts ranging from mild to profound in all corners of the park. Roads are still being repaired from these floods. In response, the Park brought in over 80 archaeologists of all skill levels to survey along roadsides as a part of their cleanup. This has resulted in a massive amount of data that still needs to be verified, cleaned up and written into reports. Additionally, the emergency actions taken were to open roads, so sites and structures across the park away from roads still need to be visited and documented. This position will be a part of the DEVA cultural resource team which consists of historians, archaeologists, physical scientists and historic preservationists. This work will help document flood impacts to sites throughout the park, stabilize or create plans to stabilize affected sites, and prepare inventories that will help with future flooding events.

The Cultural Resource Program at Death Valley National Park works closely with the local tribe and there will be opportunities for the selected candidate to participate in tribal consultation meetings and potentially field visits with tribal elders and heritage preservationists.

Archaeology technicians perform a variety of activities to support all stages of project implementation. Crew size will range between 2-3 people.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with Archaeologist and agency staff to support field safety, communication, planning, logistics, quality assurance, field implementation and reporting efforts;
• Complete field surveys, condition assessments, site recordation, or monitoring either alone or as a part of a team to document, assess and characterize the status of new and known cultural resources;
• Conducts pre-field searches to learn what resources may be present and what was previously recorded;
• Monitor existing sites and complete site updates and condition assessments;
• Assess sites for stabilization needs and stabilize sites with waddles, mats and other means;
• Prepare California DPR site records, GIS maps, and photographic records in addition to adding data to the NPS heritage database;
• Utilize GPS tablets in the field to collect data and use that data to make maps and update geodatabases.
• Prepare portions of reports, or assessments of effect documentation for archaeological compliance.

Timeline:

• Desired start date in November 2026
• Full time (40 hours/week);
• This project is expected to last for approximately 51 weeks, with the potential to extend, pending the successful completion of a Department of Interior (DOI) Background Investigation (BI).

Location:

Death Valley National Park is located in Nevada and California and boasts some of the hottest and driest climates, and lowest elevation in North America. The park includes a superlative desert of streaming sand dunes, snow-capped mountains, multicolored rock layers, water-fluted canyons and three million acres of wilderness. Death Valley is home to the Timbisha Shoshone people and to plants and animals unique to the harshest desert environment. The closest cities are Pahrump and Beatty, Nevada (both approximately 1 hour away).

Field conditions include hot, arid days with high exposure to the sun, as well as cold, winter weather. Resources of the region include threatened and/or endangered species habitat, big game habitats, abandoned mine lands, and historic and precontact cultural sites.

Compensation and Benefits:

Wage: $23.00/hour (overtime is infrequent, paid at 1.5 times wage rate);

Benefits:

• Company-paid comprehensive medical, dental (with option to upgrade in coverage), and vision insurance;
• $25,000 Basic Life & AD&D insurance at no cost;
• Competitive PTO accrual and paid federal holidays;
• Eligible for 401(k) retirement savings with up to 4% GBI match;
• Access to Pro Deals;
• Housing: Shared housing will be provided to the selected participants at no additional costs;
• Per diem: Camping per diem provided per night in the field

Qualifications: Required:

• At least one of the following:
• Bachelor’s degree in anthropology, archaeology or related discipline (by position start date);
• One year of professional fieldwork experience;
• An accredited archaeological field school and/or relevant field methods training coursework.

Other required:

• Be a U.S. Citizen (required to access US government computer networks)
• Possess a clean, valid, state-issued driver’s license;
• Ability to work effectively and positively in a team setting with NPS staff, GBI staff, interns, volunteers, academic, state, and federal partners;
• Ability to work safely and productively in remote field settings under adverse conditions. This includes occasionally overnight camping in remote areas for consecutive nights;
• Strong organizational skills and ability to work cooperatively as well as independently;
• Proficiency in navigation using GPS, topographic map and compass.

Preferred:

• Fieldwork experience and familiarity with the cultural history of the Mojave region;
• Familiarity with Section 106/110 NHPA and California and/or Nevada SHPO compliance procedures;
• Advanced skill using specialized software such as Microsoft Office Suite, ArcMap GIS, and Google Earth;
• Ability to safely operate and maintain a 4WD vehicle on and off paved roads.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

This physically demanding work, often in remote locations, will provide crew members with rewarding exposure to some of America’s backcountry landscapes. These positions require extensive hiking in sometimes steep terrain at altitudes ranging from 300 feet below sea level to 11,000 ft AMSL. Archaeology crew members will be expected to carry their own personal gear and water on a daily basis, possibly during extreme or inclement weather conditions such as heat, snow, or rain. Work schedules, generally four 10-hour days with 3 days off each week, are subject to change depending on weather and project needs. Camping near a work site for several days may be required to meet project objectives. Death Valley National Park follows a heat safety policy that limits fieldwork to certain temperatures or elevations as heat rises.

Archaeology crew members must be able to work in harsh and rapidly changing environments, camp in the backcountry for consecutive days, work in all types of weather conditions, traverse uneven terrain, carry a heavy pack in excess of 40lbs, and be in overall good physical condition. Prior experience working in similar backcountry settings is preferred.

Successful applicants must complete a Department of the Interior (DOI) Background Investigation (BI) or submit paperwork to NPS human resources indicating an active and fully adjudicated BI has already been completed prior to beginning the position. If you already have a fully adjudicated BI, please let us know in your application.

NOTE:

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employees may perform other related duties as negotiated to meet the organization's ongoing needs. All offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment background check.

Disclaimer:

Although the organization has attempted to accurately and thoroughly describe this position, GBI reserves the right to change the same, including to change, add to or subtract from the duties outlined, within the sole discretion of the organization, at any time, with or without advance notice