Archaeologist /Principal Investigator

ByZia

Department                 Environmental
Location                      Las Cruces, NM
Position Type:            Exempt/Full Time/Regular

Zia Engineering and Environmental Consultants, LLC (Zia) is growing our team and seeking an experienced Archaeological Principal Investigator for our Las Cruces, New Mexico office. The successful applicant will help lead cultural resources field investigations in New Mexico and the Southwest and work collaboratively with existing Zia personnel. Duties for this position will consist of project management, supervisory responsibilities, and fieldwork including but not limited to construction monitoring, linear and block surveys, National Register of Historic Places eligibility testing, and data recovery investigations. Additionally, the Archaeological Principal Investigator will participate in laboratory processing and curation preparation activities associated with projects, conduct of artifact analysis, and produce technical reports associated with each project. Other duties will include:

  • The applicant will implement archaeological survey, excavation, and monitoring projects responsibilities of which include:
    • direct in-person fieldwork and supervise field crews;
    • review the field crew’s daily logs and other field forms, notes, and collected GIS data for quality control;
    • assist with laboratory analysis for collected materials and coordinate with our laboratory manager for collections processing, analysis, and curation;
    • ensure field investigations stay on schedule and budget and follow methods outlined in the project’s scope of work/research design
    • author technical reports;
    • assist with pre-field research and logistics; and
    • assist with post-field data management and report preparation.
  • The applicant will have excellent written and oral communication skills and will use these skills to work collaboratively with existing Zia personnel, organize and manage field crews, and oversee productive, efficient field investigations.
  • The applicant must be qualified to be permitted as a Principal Investigator and Field Director in New Mexico on Bureau of Land Management and State of New Mexico lands.

Minimum requirements:

  • Bachelor’s degree in archaeology, anthropology, or related field (Masters preferred)
  • Ability to clearly define and follow federal, state and local regulatory requirements
  • Ability to operate field equipment, including GPS equipment, cameras, and tablets
  • Ability to manage field crews and to logistically support project decisions
  • Excellent writing skills (writing samples will be requested)
  • Willingness and ability to travel to a project location for several consecutive days
  • Team-oriented attitude and approach
  • Must possess a valid driver’s license and have active personal automobile liability insurance by first day of employment.

Preferred Skills:

  • Advanced degree in anthropology, archaeology, or a closely related field
  • Meet or exceed the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualification Standards for Archaeology
  • Listed on (or ability to be listed on) the Register of Professional Archaeologists
  • Qualified to be permitted as a Field Director in New Mexico
  • Demonstrable experience supervising field crews during archaeological studies
  • Experience writing cultural resource technical reports and letters
  • Prior experience with Trimble GPS
  • Familiarity with GPS and GIS data collection in the field
  • Familiarity with Section 106 processes and NRHP eligibility criteria for sites
  • Ability to endure adverse environmental conditions, including hot and cold temperatures, precipitation, and challenging terrain for sustained durations
  • Excellent attention to detail, a positive work ethic, reliability, and commitment to working both independently and in a team environment
  • Strong organizational skills with task and time management
  • Excellent leadership skills in the office/field

Preferred Skills:

  • Advanced degree in anthropology, archaeology, or a closely related field
  • Meet or exceed the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualification Standards for Archaeology
  • Listed on (or ability to be listed on) the Register of Professional Archaeologists
  • Qualified to be permitted as a Field Director in New Mexico
  • Demonstrable experience supervising field crews during archaeological studies
  • Experience writing cultural resource technical reports and letters
  • Prior experience with Trimble GPS
  • Familiarity with GPS and GIS data collection in the field
  • Familiarity with Section 106 processes and NRHP eligibility criteria for sites
  • Ability to endure adverse environmental conditions, including hot and cold temperatures, precipitation, and challenging terrain for sustained durations
  • Excellent attention to detail, a positive work ethic, reliability, and commitment to working both independently and in a team environment
  • Strong organizational skills with task and time management
  • Excellent leadership skills in the office/field

Physical Requirements:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met in order to successfully perform the essential functions of the job.

  • Regular fieldwork or on-site inspections are required, which necessitates ability to frequently travel/drive a vehicle (sight, hearing, and manual manipulation of driving mechanisms), cognitive ability to plan travel, use maps or GPS navigation systems.
  • May require ambulation and movement to enable walking or hiking 6-10 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 oak, etc. May require use of respiratory equipment.
  • Some fieldwork may require carrying loads up to 25 pounds and/or work around heavy construction equipment.
  • Vision is required to observe environmental phenomena and record and translate observations into text (either keyboard entry on a computer or dictation and audio translation of recording to Standard English scientific text).

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Special considerations:  Unofficial transcripts, will be requested upon interview. This position requires a valid driver’s license and ability to obtain security clearance up to and including secret, if required. Drug testing may be required.

Zia is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled and participates in E-Verify to ensure all staff are authorized to work in the United States. We provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Email resume, references, unofficial transcript and letter of interest to Human Resources at hr@ziaeec.com. Equal Opportunity Employer.