Director, Center Archaeological Investigations

Southern Illinois University Carbondale; Carbondale (IL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Southern Illinois University Carbondale invites applications for the Director of the Center for Archaeological Investigations (CAI). The role provides leadership for one of the university’s premier research units, directing CRM and research programs across the Midwest and Southwest.

The Director serves as PI on externally funded projects and guides strategic growth and partnerships. The position manages CAI's multi-year projects and oversees a portfolio exceeding $1M annually, ensuring

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Anthropology with specialization in Bioarchaeology/Archaeology and at least 10 years in Cultural Resource Management archaeology.
• Minimum 5 years as principal investigator on federal/state projects with external funding success.
• Experience managing archaeological curation repositories compliant with NAGPRA and 36 CFR Part 79.
• Familiarity with archaeology in Illinois, Midwest, and southeastern U.S.; strong team leadership and mentoring.
• Active involvement in graduate committees and scholarly publication in archaeology.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership for CAI as Principal Investigator on external CRM and research projects.
• Oversee fiscal, compliance, and strategic growth, including new contracts and funding streams.
• Lead multi-year partnerships integrating compliance archaeology with academic research and training.
• Ensure delivery of high-quality technical reports and deliverables for clients.
• Supervise staff, graduate students, and interns, fostering professional development.

Skills

Leadership

Fundraising

Project management

Mentoring

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Ph.D. in Anthropology (Bioarchaeology/Archaeology) or related field

Job description

The Director of the Center for Archaeological Investigations (CAI) provides overall leadership for one of Southern Illinois University Carbondale's most productive and externally visible research units. The CAI is a cultural resource management-focused research center conducting archaeological work, curation, and compliance reporting across the Midwest and Southwestern United States. The Director serves as the Principal Investigator (PI) on most externally funded CRM and research projects, oversees all fiscal and compliance matters, and provides strategic leadership in developing new contracts, partnerships, and funding streams.

Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience, while also considering internal equity.

The Director manages all phases of cultural resource management projects, from proposal development through fieldwork, analysis, and reporting. This includes serving as PI on federal, state, and private CRM contracts and ensuring compliance with Section 106, NEPA, NAGPRA, and 36 CFR Part 79. The position develops and maintains relationships with clients such as the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, and private industry partners.

The Director leads multi-year partnerships that integrate compliance archaeology with academic research and student training and ensures timely preparation of technical reports and deliverables.

The Director oversees an externally funded portfolio that typically exceeds one million dollars annually and serves as fiscal officer for all Center accounts, including state, grant, and foundation funds. The position manages federal cost-share obligations, including use of the Director's salary as the institutional match, and plans for sustainable growth by expanding CAI's client base and external funding opportunities.

The Director supervises six full-time professional staff, two graduate assistants, four temporary employees, undergraduate student workers, and four interns. The position provides leadership and professional development for staff and mentoring for students involved in applied archaeology and compliance projects.

The Director oversees management of CAI's federally compliant curation repository, which houses more than 9,100 boxes of artifacts and 850 linear feet of documentation. The position ensures all curation operations meet 36 CFR Part 79 and NAGPRA requirements, coordinates consultation and repatriation through SIU's NAGPRA Program, and ensures ethical and legal stewardship of human remains and cultural items.

The Director maintains active research and publication in the archaeology of the Midwest and the Southeast United States, particularly Illinois and adjacent regions. The position serves as a regional expert and contact for federal, state, tribal, and local agencies on archaeological and cultural resource issues and represents the University and CAI at professional meetings, conferences, and public events. The Director also supports academic collaboration and outreach programs that provide experiential learning opportunities preparing students for careers in cultural resource management.

Minimum Qualifications:

The Director must hold a Ph.D. in Anthropology with a specialization in Bioarchaeology, Archaeology, or a closely related field and have at least ten years of professional experience in Cultural Resource Management archaeology, including a minimum of five years as a Principal Investigator on federal or state projects. The successful candidate will demonstrate a strong record of securing and managing external research funding, eligibility for Principal Investigator status under SIU's OSPA policy, and experience managing archaeological curation repositories in compliance with NAGPRA and 36 CFR Part 79. Familiarity with the archaeology of Illinois, the Midwest, and the southeastern United States is essential, as is experience supervising teams, mentoring students, and serving on graduate committees.

Required Documents:

Please submit a letter of application, CV, transcripts, evidence of professional qualifications and experiences, evidence of success in securing external funding and/or external contracts, and three professional references. Letters of recommendation and additional application materials may be requested at a later stage of the search process.

Contact:

Ulrich Reichard, [e-mail]