Archaeological Field Director

Archaeological Field Director – California

Piñon Heritage Solutions, LLC (Piñon) (Sacramento, CA) seeks a full-time Field Director with demonstrated experience leading a team of six or more people. Responsibilities will include conducting pedestrian surveys to identify and document archaeological resources. This is an hourly, primarily field-based position for cultural resource management projects throughout California, which are anticipated to start in the Spring of 2026. Work will likely be ongoing, and this position offers the potential for promotion to regular, full-time status.

Are you looking for a change in work atmosphere? Do you wish you were in a more supportive, collaborative, and fun workplace? Do you need a better balance of work, health, and play? Piñon is the right place to look! Visit us at https://pinonheritage.com.

Pay: $35 to $38 per hour commensurate with experience, plus employer health insurance stipend when applicable.

Schedule: 40 hours, Monday–Friday: standard business hours; overtime and weekend work expected.

Location: Candidates local to California are strongly preferred and familiarity with California and Great Basin cultural resources is required. Office-based work is primarily remote.

How to Apply: Please send an e-mail to [email protected] with “Field Director” referenced in the subject line. It should include a resume of relevant experience and references (with contact information, including email addresses and telephone numbers).

Duties and Responsibilities:

Under the supervision of a Principal Investigator and Project Managers, the Field Director will be responsible for the following duties:

• Oversee and lead archaeological crews in all manner of fieldwork, including construction monitoring, pedestrian surveys, and testing projects
• Provide training for new staff, especially for fieldwork
• Develop fieldwork strategies and select suitable methods and techniques for the assigned project location
• Prepare and implement work plans and schedules, as well as day-to-day management of the work crew assigned
• Assist staff with permit compliance and other agency/regulatory stipulations
• Accurately and efficiently record cultural resources in the field, operate GPS satellite-enabled tablets, prepare site records, and conduct quality control/quality assurance reviews of all digital and paper field data
• Drive and supervise staff driving on remote and rugged roads, as well as on mountain residential roads
• Maintain polite, professional behavior when speaking with the public, private landowners, coworkers, Native American visitors, and agency staff
• Communicate project updates, field conditions, and personnel morale to Project Managers and Principal Investigators
• Work closely under the direction of Principal Investigators to complete fieldwork and reporting needs on highly variable projects
• Observe and uphold Piñon Health and Safety requirements and other company policies.
• Assist Principal Investigators with preparation of cultural resources reports, research designs, treatment plans, and other technical documents
• Maintain quality assurance/quality control protocols to ensure delivery of high quality technical documents.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in archaeology, anthropology, or related field. Graduate degree considered a plus.
• Ability to be permitted as a Field Director on BLM and USFS land in California.
• At least 3-5 years of field experience identifying and recording prehistoric and historic-era resources.
• At least 2 years of supervisory experience including a demonstrated ability to lead a team of six or more people.
• Experience must include work as a field archeologist in California or the western U.S.
• Well-developed GPS/GIS skills including the use of Geode, Arrow, or similar devices, and GPS-enabled tablets using Field Maps, Survey123 or similar.
• Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid California Class C Driver’s License with a good driving record.
• Possession of regular access to a reliable vehicle.
• Willingness to travel for both short- and long-term projects.
• Strong writing skills.
• Knowledge of NEPA, NHPA Section 106, and CEQA.

 Physical Requirements

The work may be physically demanding and aspects of the work environment described here are representative of those that a Field Director will encounter and must be able to meet to perform the essential functions of this job.

• Use of electronic standard desktop and portable office equipment.
• The ability to walk or hike 10+ miles per day on rough and/or hazardous terrain and occasional climbing, crouching, kneeling, balancing on rough terrain. Fieldwork may involve exposure to conditions of rain, sun, heat, wind, dust, etc., with exposure to animals, plants, wet conditions, biting insects, poison ivy, allergens, etc.
• Must be able to carry up to 40 lbs. of equipment/materials while walking across terrain.
• Intermittent squatting, leaning, twisting, and bending.
• Use of hand equipment or tools.

About Us

Piñon Heritage Solutions, LLC (Piñon) is a quickly growing cultural resources firm providing Archaeology, History, Architectural History, Historic Preservation, Ethnography, and Native American support services as part of the larger environmental consulting field. We are a certified small, woman-owned business focused on supporting private landowners, companies, and public agencies in complying with cultural resources laws and regulations while also assisting Native American tribes with mitigation and protection of sensitive tribal and cultural resources. Our headquarters is in Sacramento, California, but we have staff who work remotely across the state.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Piñon is an equal opportunity employer. We have zero tolerance for discrimination or harassment of any type. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to age, ancestry, national origin, race, color, disability status, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, pregnancy, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic that is unrelated to the position role and responsibilities. We encourage women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and members of the LBGTQIA2S+ communities to apply.