Mid-Career Archaeologist
🔍 Pasadena, California, United States
Grounded in safety, quality, and ethics, our experts lead their fields and guide our work with rigor, a creative spirit, and vision for growth. We draw from more than 20 technical specialties around the globe and are committed to fostering an inclusive community of diverse talents, backgrounds, and expertise. We’re a place to apply your passion and collaborate with top environmental talents on work that’s critical to our clients and the communities they support. Join a team that has the environment down to a science.
Your Opportunity
Stantec is seeking a skilled and motivated mid-career Staff Archaeologist with 3–7 years of CRM field experience in California to join our Environmental Services Cultural Resources Team. This full-time position offers opportunities to lead field efforts, mentor junior archaeologists, and contribute to all phases of cultural resource management (CRM), including survey, testing, data recovery, and construction monitoring. Our program supports a diverse range of projects, including: Statewide utility compliance programs; Emergency fire response projects, Hydroelectric relicensing studies; as well as CEQA and Section 106 compliance projects. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and collaborative work environment where team members gain experience and mentorship to support career growth.
Your Responsibilities
- Lead and participate in pedestrian surveys, test excavations, data recovery, and construction monitoring.
- Identify and record precontact and historic-era cultural resources, including built-environment features.
- Assist in project planning, scheduling, and logistics for field efforts.
- Oversee and mentor junior field staff, ensuring work meets professional standards.
- Maintain detailed field documentation, including notes, sketches, maps, and digital data.
- Prepare site records (DPR 523 forms), field summaries, and technical reports under the direction of senior archaeologists.
- Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local cultural resource regulations (Section 106, CEQA, NHPA, ARPA, NAGPRA).
- Coordinate with project managers, agency representatives, tribal monitors, and construction crews as needed.
- Follow health and safety protocols for field operations.
General Qualifications
- Must reside in Southern California and be available for regional travel.
- Ability to conduct physically demanding fieldwork in remote areas and extreme weather conditions.
- Strong technical writing skills for DPR forms, field summaries, and technical reports.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in fast-paced, interdisciplinary teams.
- Proficient in MS Word, Excel, and GIS-based tools for data collection and reporting.
- Strong attention to detail, problem-solving abilities, and organizational skills.
Professional Qualifications
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Anthropology, Archaeology, or a related field.
- 3–7 years of CRM field experience in California
- Experience leading small field teams and mentoring junior staff.
- Experience conducting survey, construction monitoring, excavation, and artifact analysis.
- Proficiency with GPS and digital mapping and data collection tools (e.g., Arrow, ArcGIS, Survey123).
- Experience recording archaeological sites and completing DPR 523 forms.
- Knowledge of California precontact and historic material culture.
- Valid driver’s license with a good driving record.
- Experience in utility sector projects (preferred but not required).
If this sounds like you, consider joining our growing team! With more than 40 archaeologists in southern California, Stantec is a place where the best and brightest come together to build on each other’s talents, do exciting work, and make an impact on the world around us. Join us and redefine your personal best!
This description is not a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that may be required of the employee and other duties, responsibilities, and activities may be assigned or may be changed at any time with or without notice.