Project Archaeologist – Cultural Resources

Socket.dev; Tualatin (OR); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

AKS is seeking a Project Archaeologist to lead field crews and deliver high‑quality cultural resources services across the western United States. The role emphasizes regulatory expertise, project management, and strong client service.

You will coordinate with agencies, Tribal representatives, and multidisciplinary teams while advancing archaeological investigations from desktop reviews through fieldwork and reporting. This is a Pacific Northwest‑based opportunity with travel across the West.

Qualifications

• Graduate degree in archaeology, anthropology, or a closely related field.
• Meets the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualification Standards for Archaeology and/or History or related field.
• CRM experience directing archaeological investigations and producing agency‑ready technical documentation.
• Strong knowledge of NHPA Section 106, NEPA, SEPA, CEQA, and applicable federal/state requirements.
• Strong archaeological field, artifact identification/analysis, research, and technical writing skills.
• Experience supervising field crews and independently making sound field decisions.
• Meeting and exceeding productivity goals and KPIs; managing competing priorities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Willingness and ability to travel regularly across the western U.S.
• Valid driver's license and ability to operate field vehicles.

Responsibilities

• Plan, lead, and document archaeological investigations (surveys, testing, monitoring, data recovery).
• Direct field crews ensuring safe, efficient, and standards‑compliant fieldwork.
• Identify and analyze archaeological materials; synthesize diverse data sources.
• Prepare reports, site records, designs, treatments, and eligibility evaluations.
• Apply NHPA 106, NEPA, and related laws to real‑world projects.
• Coordinate with agencies, tribes, landowners, and multidisciplinary teams.
• Manage scopes, schedules, budgets, staffing, and deliverables; flag issues early.
• Support proposals, scopes of work, and growth of Cultural Resources practice.
• Travel and perform fieldwork across the West, including remote locations.

Skills

CRM experience

Technical writing

Archaeology field work

Project coordination

Communication skills

Willingness to travel

Driver's license

Education

Graduate degree in archaeology/anthropology

Tools

GIS

GPS data collection

Archaeological databases

Digital field methods

Job description

At AKS, we are growing and building for the future. We bring together multidisciplined experts across the land development, energy, and infrastructure markets to take on bigger challenges and deliver solutions that make a real difference. Our teams combine creativity, technical excellence, and a collaborative, hands‑on approach to solve complex problems and deliver results our clients and communities can count on. We take pride in our work and our ability to provide opportunities for our teams, support each other’s growth, and look ahead to what’s next. When you join AKS, you will find opportunities to take ownership of meaningful projects, learn, lead, and make an impact from day one.

AKS is seeking a Project Archaeologist to join our growing Cultural Resources practice and help deliver thoughtful, technically excellent, and highly responsive cultural resources consulting throughout the western United States. We are looking for more than a capable field archaeologist. The right person understands that successful cultural resources consulting requires a combination of sound archaeological practices, regulatory expertise, project management, communication, and exceptional client service. This individual will work across the full project lifecycle, from desktop review and regulatory strategy through field investigations, analysis, reporting, agency coordination, and project closeout. The Project Archaeologist will lead field crews, prepare high-quality technical products, support project managers and clients, and collaborate closely with environmental planners, engineers, biologists, GIS professionals, construction teams, agencies, Tribal representatives, and other stakeholders.

Location: This role is intended to be based out of one of our Pacific Northwest offices in Oregon or Washington, and we are seeking candidates who can work from one of these locations.

What You’ll Do

• Plan, lead, and document archaeological investigations, including records reviews, pedestrian survey, subsurface testing, monitoring, site evaluation, and data recovery.
• Direct archaeological field crews and ensure fieldwork is safe, efficient, technically exceptional, and consistent with applicable agency standards and project requirements.
• Identify and analyze prehistoric and historic archaeological materials, features, sites, and landscapes and synthesize field, laboratory, archival, GIS, and environmental information.
• Prepare clear, defensible technical reports, site records, research designs, treatment plans, eligibility evaluations, effects analyses, and other cultural resources documentation.
• Apply federal, state, local, and agency‑specific cultural resources laws, regulations, standards, and guidance to real‑world projects, particularly Section 106 of the NHPA and its relationship to NEPA and project permitting.
• Understand archaeological sensitivity in the context of North American archaeology, landform history, geomorphology, depositional environments, and buried‑site potential.
• Coordinate effectively and respectfully with clients, agencies, Tribal representatives and monitors, landowners, contractors, construction personnel, and multidisciplinary project teams.
• Manage assigned scopes, schedules, budgets, staffing, and deliverables; anticipate problems and communicate emerging issues before they become project problems.
• Support proposals, scopes of work, cost estimates, project planning, and broader growth of the Cultural Resources practice.
• Travel and conduct fieldwork throughout the West, including work in remote locations, difficult terrain, and variable or inclement weather.

Who You Are

• Graduate degree in archaeology, anthropology, or a closely related field.
• Meets the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualification Standards for Archaeology and/or History or related field.
• Demonstrated CRM experience directing archaeological investigations and producing agency‑ready technical documentation.
• Strong knowledge of NHPA Section 106, NEPA, SEPA, CEQA, and applicable federal and state cultural resources requirements and the ability to translate those requirements into practical project strategies.
• Strong archaeological field, artifact identification/analysis, research, and technical writing skills.
• Experience supervising field crews and independently making sound field decisions.
• Meeting and exceeding productivity goals and KPIs
• Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities while maintaining responsiveness, quality, schedule, and budget.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Willingness and ability to travel regularly and perform fieldwork throughout the western U.S.
• Valid driver's license and ability to safely operate field vehicles as required.

Nice to Have

• RPA or ability to obtain it promptly.
• Existing or readily attainable archaeological permit/PI/Field Director qualifications in multiple western states and federal jurisdictions.
• Professional experience in the Pacific Northwest, Great Basin, Intermountain West, and/or Southwest.
• Residence in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, or elsewhere in the Pacific Northwest.
• Experience with energy, transmission, transportation, land development, water, infrastructure, or other multidisciplinary environmental projects.
• Experience with proposals, budgeting, forecasting, client management, and business development.
• Working proficiency with GIS, GPS/mobile data collection, archaeological databases, and contemporary digital field methods.

Why AKS?

At AKS, we believe your work should support your life, not the other way around. Here's what you can count on when you join our team:

• Meaningful Growth: Whether you're just starting out or looking to advance, we offer hands‑on training, mentorship, and clear paths for professional development so you can grow with purpose.
• Real Collaboration: Join a team that brings diverse perspectives together to solve complex challenges with creativity, curiosity, and a shared commitment to quality.
• Respect for Your Time: We value work‑life balance and offer generous PTO and a supportive environment that helps you manage both personal and professional responsibilities.
• Benefits That Care: You’ll have access to health coverage that supports your total well‑being, plus a 401(k) match, paid holidays, and more resources to help you thrive.
• Weekly Team Lunches: Take a break and recharge with your teammates, we believe food brings people together.
• Culture That Connects: We invest in experiences that build strong teams and strong communities.
• A Place People Love to Work: We’ve been named one of the Top Workplaces year after year.

Join us and be part of a team that values your contributions, celebrates initiative, and is committed to doing things the right way for our employees, clients, and communities.