Staff Archaeologist/ Cultural Resources Specialist

Arcadis; San Jose (CA); Hybrid; USD 77,000 - 131,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

401(k) plan

Paid holidays

Job summary

Arcadis seeks a mid-level Staff Archaeologist/Cultural Resources Specialist for California, with field and office roles across San Luis Obispo, Irvine, Los Angeles or San Jose. Travel 50–60% for field projects; lead, document and report investigations from shovel tests to data recovery.

You will collaborate with the cultural resources and permitting teams, delivering technical reports and supporting infrastructure projects under federal/state guidelines.

Qualifications

• Meets the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualifications Standards in archaeology.
• Master’s degree in archaeology or a related field.
• Minimum 4 years of experience in cultural resources management, with field- and office-based roles.
• Demonstrated experience supervising archaeological field crews and running field projects.
• Practical field experience in California, U.S. context.
• Working knowledge of GPS systems and field data collection.
• Experience supporting linear infrastructure projects and working with federal/state agencies.
• Knowledge of Section 106 NHPA and CA state laws.
• Preferred: knowledge of FERC procedures.

Responsibilities

• Lead California projects, including Classes I–III investigations and monitoring.
• Conduct fieldwork and supervise field crews and subcontractors.
• Perform or lead field assessments with GPS data collection and long walking/heavy lifting requirements.
• Prepare technical reports and communicate results to project teams as a technical writer.

Skills

Field supervision

GPS data collection

Technical communication

California-specific experience

Education

Master's degree in archaeology or related field

Tools

GPS systems

Job description

Arcadis is the world's leading company delivering sustainable design, engineering, and consultancy solutions for natural and built assets. We are more than 34,000 people, in over 30 countries, dedicated to improving quality of life. Everyone has an important role to play. With the power of many curious minds, together we can solve the world’s most complex challenges and deliver more impact together.

Role description

Arcadis is seeking a mid-level Staff Archaeologist/Cultural Resources Specialist within our cultural resources practice in California, in one of the following CA locations: San Luis Obispo, Irvine, Los Angeles or San Jose.

As part of this role, you will conduct archaeological field work for multiple projects and at all levels of investigation, from site identification to data recovery, and archaeological monitoring. You will work on projects that require shovel testing, pedestrian surveys, and site documentation. In this role, you will also be responsible for preparing technical reports and documents. The position requires someone with knowledge and experience working in California at a federal and state level.

This position will require a candidate to work collaboratively with the Arcadis cultural resources team and the overall environmental permitting team. Arcadis offers a flexible working environment and follows a hybrid work structure. However, this position will be both a field and office position, so the successful candidate can expect to work remotely and, in the office, as needed.

The ability to travel to various project sites, including overnight travel, will be required (field work expectations are approximately 50 to 60%).

This position sits within our Resilience Global Business Area. You will soon discover you can make a difference in our company by collaborating with staff and contributing to an interesting array of projects. You will be a key member to drive innovation and build strong technical communities within the Enviro Socio Permitting practice. This is a great opportunity to work with a dynamic team and gain experience in a wide variety of environmental projects for diverse market sectors. Your career growth will only be limited by your skills and your passion for success! You will also work with existing staff to support the growth of Cultural Resources Services.

Role accountabilities

The more technical aspects of your role will be serving as a project lead in California. You will be working on multiple projects including all levels of investigation (Classes I–III, archaeological monitoring).

Conducting your own fieldwork, as well as managing archaeological field staff and archaeological field crews (including subcontractors) will be required. You will need to conduct or lead field assessments related to archaeological projects. This will require a working knowledge of GPS systems and the ability to walk and conduct fieldwork for long hours, as well as carry supplies weighing up to 40 pounds.

This role will require the ability to travel up to 50%. Additionally, you will use your excellent technical writing and communications skills to author technical documents and provide survey details and results to project teams.

Qualifications & Experience

First and foremost, do you share our passion for preserving cultural resources? Do you want to be part of a growing cultural resources practice and help with growing that practice in California. If you are technically capable, with experience in cultural resources management, come join us!

• Meets the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualifications Standards in archaeology
• Master’s degree in archaeology or a related field
• Minimum 4 years of experience in cultural resources management, with a combination of field- and office-based experience and roles
• Demonstrated experience supervising archaeological field crews and running field projects
• Demonstrated practical field experience in the U.S. specifically California
• Working knowledge of GPS systems and the collection of field data
• Previous experience in cultural resources planning to support the construction, reconstruction or maintenance of electric and/or gas transmission facilities, or other similar type of linear infrastructures (i.e., water, sewer, oil and gas, etc.)
• Experience working with federal land management agencies (Bureau of Land Management, US Forest Service, National Park Service etc.), and state agencies
• Basic knowledge of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and relevant California state laws
• Preferred: Knowledge of Federal Energy Regulatory Commission procedures and guidelines

Preferred

• Qualified Principal Investigator (PI) in California, or the ability to become a PI in this state

Why Arcadis?

We can only achieve our goals when everyone is empowered to be their best. We believe everyone's contribution matters. It’s why we are pioneering a skills-based approach, where you can harness your unique experience and expertise to carve your career path and maximize the impact we can make together.

You’ll do meaningful work, and no matter what role, you’ll be helping to deliver sustainable solutions for a more prosperous planet. Make your mark, on your career, your colleagues, your clients, your life and the world around you.

Together, we can create a lasting legacy.

Join Arcadis. Create a Legacy.

Our Commitment to Equality, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging

We want you to be able to bring your best self to work every day. Our ambition is to be an employer of choice and provide a great place to work for all our people. We are an equal opportunity employer. We are dedicated to a policy of non-discrimination in employment on any basis including race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status, disability, veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by law.

Arcadis offers benefits for full time and part-time positions. These benefits include medical, dental, and vision, EAP, 401K, STD, LTD, AD&D, life insurance, paid parental leave, reward & recognition program and optional benefits including wellbeing benefits, adoption assistance and tuition reimbursement. We offer nine paid holidays and 15 days PTO that accrue per year. The salary range for this position is $76,800- $131,100.

Actual salaries will vary and are based on several factors, such as experience, education, budget, internal equity, project and location.