Archaeologist; California

Title: Archaeologist
Location: Southern California
Job Code: _2026
Job Link: SEARCH Job Postings - Direct Applications

SEARCH has immediate openings for Archaeologists to join our team on a California border monitoring project. This is a Full-Time project hire position expected to run 2 years until the contract ends or is extended. Selected candidates are paid hourly and will work 10-hour days on a 4-on/3-off day schedule for the duration of the project. Work includes monitoring construction sites along the southwestern border, identifying sensitive cultural resources, marking areas of avoidances, conducting surveys, and submitting daily reports to the project lead.

Selected candidates must be based in Southern California, eligible to work on federal government projects, and meet the project experience qualifications.

SEARCH provides a flexible work environment, a professional and collaborative atmosphere, and a wide range of projects and opportunities for our staff. SEARCH offers a competitive total compensation package with strong health and wellness and retirement plans. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance, group term life insurance, 401(k) plan with match, 11 paid holidays per year, and Vacation/Sick leave. Pay range for this position is $30 - $33 per hour, commensurate with education and experience.

• Use experience, education from a degreed program, and professional judgment to identify and target locations of sensitive cultural resources, mark areas for avoidance and buffer zones, and identify site probability based on cultural, geological, and other environmental features.
• Adhere to project health and safety plan and participate, and/or lead when necessary, in office and field training and meetings. Offer recommendations for improvement to Health & Safety Manager.
• Prepare daily and weekly cultural resource monitoring summaries, photo-documentation, and maps; input data into electronic devices.
• Conduct archaeological monitoring, and potentially survey, in accordance with the research design.
• Recognize archaeological signatures and apply reasoning to evaluate resources.
• Evaluate and record accurate, organized, and clear field notes, maps, drawings, logs, forms, tables, databases, artifact bags, box labels, and other project documentation.
• Field identification of artifacts and cultural features.
• Perform quality control of field data (hand-written and electronic) on a daily basis to ensure information is accurate and complete.
• Use electronic and traditional navigational equipment (GPS, iPad/Arc Collector/Survey 123, compass, transit, etc.) to determine project limits, record fieldwork, document findings, and communicate progress.
• Photo-document artifacts, features, land use, landscapes, historic structures, archaeology sites, and other relevant elements.
• Procure and maintain field equipment and supplies, technology, and vehicles, in a clean, working, and safe manner.
• Work closely with other project staff such as environmental monitors and construction crews.
• Organized and clear written and oral communication.
• Other duties, as assigned.

• Degree in Anthropology or related field.
• Based in Southern California.
• Knowledge of California cultural resources.
• Archaeological monitoring experience on construction sites.
• Archaeological survey experience.
• Demonstrated ability to work remotely with limited supervision.
• Reliable transportation with clean driving record.
• Eligible for federal projects (i.e. U.S. citizen with no felonies).

• Minimum two (2) years of southwestern archaeology border project experience on government projects (i.e., federal, state, municipal) within California or other southwestern border state.
• Meet the Secretary of the Interior’s professional qualifications standards for archaeology and be an RPA or be eligible to become an RPA.
• Located in San Diego.
• Demonstrated experience using stop work authority on monitoring sites.
• Strong experience working on federal government projects at the California-Mexico border.

• Cover letter
• Resume
• References
• Writing Sample

• This…