Strategic Director of Archaeological Research Division

The Museum of Natural and Cultural History is searching for a Director of the Archaeological Research Division to lead a transdisciplinary team of archaeologists and historic preservationists. The director is responsible for strategic planning and all aspects of project management including sponsor development, project proposal development, research design, data analysis, reporting, and publication. This is an exciting opportunity for a strategic, relationship driven leader ready to make a statewide impact in the field.

If you are an organized, detail-driven leader we encourage you to apply!Director of Archaeological Research DivisionLink: (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below).-divisionJob no: 536599Work type: Faculty – CareerLocation: Eugene, ORDepartment: Museum of Natural and Cultural History ()Rank: Research Assistant, Research AssociateAnnual Basis: 12 MonthSalary: $100,000 - $115,000 per yearReview of Applications Begins: May 25, 2026; position open until filledSpecial Instructions to ApplicantsPlease submit a current CV and cover letter addressing your experience in archaeological research leadership, cultural resource management (CRM) and regulatory expertise, and project and financial management, along with a brief statement of your vision for the division.

Review of applications will begin on May 25, 2026. To ensure consideration, please submit application materials by that date.Department SummaryAs an essential partner in the University’s educational, research, and public service mission, the University of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History (MNCH) enhances knowledge of Earth’s environments and cultures, inspiring stewardship of our collective past, present, and future.

The museum is a center of interdisciplinary research and education, serving the State of Oregon, the University of Oregon, Native American Tribes, the research community, K-12 students and teachers, and the wider public in Oregon and beyond.

An established engine of archaeological research in the American West, the museum’s Archaeological Research Division works across the state on dozens of archaeological projects each year. The MNCH is also the State of Oregon’s official repository for publicly owned collections and home to hundreds of thousands of ethnographic and archaeological objects, fossils, and biological specimens from Oregon and around the world.

The museum annually welcomes more than 30,000 visitors and serves another 20,000 Oregonians through its statewide educational programs. A winner of the 2018 National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, distinguishing it as one of the very best museums in the nation.

The Museum employs a staff of approximately 40 faculty, researchers, classified, administrative, and student employees across several facilities on the University of Oregon, Eugene campus. Annual expenditures are about $3 million, from dozens of funding sources and allocated among a variety of projects across four museum divisions.Position SummaryThe Director of Archaeological Research leads a transdisciplinary team of archaeologists and historic preservationists who conduct survey, excavation, data analysis, and reporting for state and federal agencies and a variety of public entities and private firms.

The director is responsible for strategic planning and all aspects of project management including sponsor development, project proposal development, research design, data analysis, reporting, and publication. The Research Division’s sponsored project portfolio routinely includes sixty to eighty concurrent contracts, requiring careful prioritization, sponsor communication, and budgetary and capacity oversight.

The director actively participates in research dissemination and publication through peer reviewed journals, book chapters, professional conferences, university lectures, and other public presentations. The director collaborates with international, national, and regional research groups and universities; across multidisciplinary UO departments, and with other…