Field Archaeologist

SummitWest Environmental is hiring Field Archaeologists at all levels in California. Candidates must submit a cover letter detailing their archaeological field survey experience, particularly in California. The role involves conducting archaeological surveys, monitoring, excavations, and data collection across various project locations. The ideal candidate should have a Bachelor’s degree in Archaeology or a related field and be willing to travel for field assignments, which may involve physically demanding work.
• *Hiring Archaeologists at all levels. Salary is dependent upon experience and skills. Resumes submitted without the minimum qualifications will not be considered.**

Please read the following:
1. Your application MUST come with a cover letter telling us about your archaeological field survey experience. If you have experience within California, please elaborate. If you do not have California experience, please suggest how your current experience might translate.
2. Applications without a cover letter will be rejected for not following instructions
3. We are not relocating candidates from out of state; if you do not live in California please include your plans to relocate (to where, date) in your cover letter

About us

At SummitWest, we put people first. We are a place people want to work: caring, fun, and safety-oriented. Our success resides in our strong leadership, accountability, and transparency, which we extend to clients and team members alike. We are a team of environmental consulting specialists offering natural resource management services, such as wildlife and botanical surveys, construction monitoring, desktop analysis, climate change studies, GIS mapping, regulatory expertise, project management, permitting and urban planning. With 100 employees, we punch above our weight in depth of knowledge and diversity of projects across the western USA.

Our work environment includes:
• Growth opportunities
• On-the-job training
• Flexible working hours
• Safe work environment
• Work-from-home days

ROLE DESCRIPTION

The ideal candidate is a motivated and detail-oriented Associate Archaeologist, willing to provide a full range of archaeological services for diverse projects across California. In this role, you will do field based tasks, conducting archaeological surveys, monitoring, excavations, and data collection. The ideal candidate will be passionate about archaeology, have a strong work ethic, and be eager to expand their skills while working closely with seasoned professionals. This position offers the opportunity to contribute to exciting projects, travel to various field locations, and play an integral role in preserving and documenting cultural resources. Duties include but are not limited to:
• Conduct archaeological surveys, monitoring, excavations, and testing across diverse project locations.
• Record archaeological sites, analyze artifacts, and prepare documentation using mapping and data collection tools, such as GPS or tablets.
• Effectively communicate with construction personnel and staff as needed.
• Strong technical writing, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Familiar with CRM regulations, and best management practices.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with effective interpersonal skills for working within multidisciplinary teams.
• Maintain accurate field notes and photographs to ensure proper project documentation.
• Observational skills for data recording and reporting.
• Regularly travel for field assignments, potentially involving extended stays or camping when local lodging is unavailable.
• Ability to participate in physically demanding fieldwork, including hiking and working in rugged environments.

QUALIFICATIONS
• Bachelor’s degree in Archaeology, Anthropology, or a closely related discipline.
• Completion of an archaeology field school or equivalent field experience (preferred).
• 1+ years of field experience, focusing on archaeological monitoring, surveys, and excavation in California.
• Experience with pedestrian surveys, shovel test unit excavations, and data recovery projects.
• Familiarity with California-specific archaeology and cultural resource management (CRM) practices.
• Ability to perform physically demanding tasks in remote environments, including hiking, digging, carrying loads up to 25 pounds, and standing for extended periods in variable weather conditions.
• Proficiency in using Survey123, Collector/Field Maps apps, GPS devices, or similar data collection tools.
• Time-management skills and ability to juggle multiple tasks, ensuring timely project completion.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and other office tools.
• Ability to travel frequently for fieldwork throughout California, potentially with extended stays and occasional camping.
• Ability to work remotely with minimal supervision and follow instructions with high accuracy.
• Ability to work both independently and in team settings.
• Positive, energetic attitude; detail-oriented, resourceful, and self-motivated with strong initiative.
• Valid driver’s license and clean driving record (completion of a Motor Vehicle Records check).
• Must be based in California.
• Successful completion of SummitWest’s background check upon employment.
• Authorization to work in the U.S. without company sponsorship.
• Commitment to supporting and promoting SummitWest’s values of diversity, equality, and inclusion.

EXPECTATIONS
• Frequent travel and ability to drive to project sites.
• Observation skills to identify and document environmental and archaeological phenomena.
• Cognitive ability to plan travel, use maps or GPS systems, and perform accurate data entry.
• Professionalism, punctuality, and enthusiasm are essential.
• Must be proactive, self-directed, and able to work independently.
• A strong team player, willing to support and uplift fellow team members.
• Ability to adapt to a dynamic and challenging work environment.
• Responsible for completing work and meeting deliverables within designated working hours.
• All deliverables, reports, and requested changes must be submitted within specified deadlines.
• Must maintain clear and concise communication with team members.

WORKING CONDITIONS
• Must be willing to travel frequently, with overnight stays as required by project locations.
• Ability to hike up to 10+ miles per day on rugged terrain and perform physically demanding tasks such as climbing, crouching, and carrying loads up to 25 pounds.
• Capable of meeting the physical demands of fieldwork, with reasonable accommodations provided if necessary.
• Ability to perform fieldwork in rugged terrains and varying climates, including coastal, inland, and desert environments.
• Must be able to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Must be accepting of safety risks inherent in fieldwork, such as encounters with dangerous wildlife (e.g., ticks, bees, rattlesnakes, scorpions, mountain lions, bears), hostile individuals, hazardous driving conditions, and construction site risks.
• Ability to work in extreme weather conditions, including heat, cold, rain, wind, sleet, or snow.

LOCATION

Various locations throughout California.

SALARY

$22 - $42 per hour depending on experience.

STATUS

On-Call / Non-Exempt

BENEFITS
• Eligible for Paid Time Off and Sick Leave
• May become eligible for Health Insurance (Medical, Dental, and Vision)
• May become eligible for 401(k) with matching contribution
• May be eligible for cell phone stipend
• May become eligible for educational stipend
• Paid training opportunities
• Employee incentives and Employee Referral Program
• Eligibility is dependent on duration of work and workload (hours per week)

Please note: This is an environmental consulting job, not a conservation job. Unlike conservation roles, which strive to protect the environment at all costs, this position focuses on helping construction contractors remain in compliance with environmental laws and mitigation measures, ensuring the client avoids issues by advising contractors on where, when, and how work can take place to prevent delays in construction. These determinations are often made prior to deployment into the field, or sometimes in conjunction with the contractors on site. It is vital to ensure that they are not working without our knowledge and requires clear and concise communication with multiple team members, crews, and departments.

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: $22.00 - $42.00 per hour

Expected hours: 20 – 40 per week

Benefits:
• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Vision insurance

Schedule:
• Monday to Friday

Application Question(s):
• How many years of experience do you have monitoring in California?

Education:
• Bachelor's (Required)

Experience:
• Environmental consulting: 1 year (Required)

Ability to Relocate:
• California: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: On the road