Archaeologist​/Archaeological Monitor; Texas

Title

Archaeologist

Southwestern Texas

SEARCH has immediate openings for Archaeologists to join our team on a Texas border monitoring project. This is a full‑time project hire expected to run 2 years unless the contract is extended. The role is salaried with benefits and involves monitoring construction sites along the southwestern border, identifying and marking sensitive cultural resources, conducting surveys, and submitting daily reports to the project lead.

Candidates must be based in southwestern Texas, eligible to work on federal government projects, and meet the stated experience qualifications.

• Use experience, education from a degreed program, and professional judgment to identify and target locations of sensitive cultural resources, mark avoidance and buffer zones, and assess site probability based on cultural, geological, and other environmental features.
• Adhere to the project health and safety plan and participate in, or lead, office and field training and meetings. Offer recommendations for improvement to the Health & Safety Manager.
• Prepare daily and weekly cultural resource monitoring summaries, photo documentation, and maps; input data into electronic devices.
• Conduct archaeological monitoring and, when required, surveys in accordance with the research design.
• Recognize archaeological signatures and evaluate resources with informed reasoning.
• Record accurate, organized, and clear field notes, maps, drawings, logs, forms, tables, databases, artifact bags, box labels, and other project documentation.
• Field‑identify artifacts and cultural features.
• Perform quality control of field data (hand‑written and electronic) daily to ensure accuracy and completeness.
• Use electronic and traditional navigation 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, historical structures, unique environmental features, specialized equipment or techniques, and work‑in‑progress.
• Procure and maintain field equipment, supplies, technology, and vehicles in a clean, working, and safe manner.
• Work closely with other project staff such as environmental monitors and construction crews.
• Maintain organized and clear written and oral communication.
• Other duties as assigned.

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

• Minimum two (2) years of southwestern archaeology border project experience on government projects (federal, state, municipal) within Texas or another southwestern border state.
• Meet the Secretary of the Interior's professional qualifications standards for archaeology and be an RPA or eligible to become an RPA.
• Located in El Paso, San Antonio, or a closer city to the southwestern border.
• Experience using stop‑work authority on monitoring sites.
• Strong experience working on federal government projects at the Texas‑Mexico border.

• Competitive Salary
• Per Diem (for overnight travel)
• SEARCH‑subsidized Group Health Insurance (including medical, dental, and vision coverage)
• SEARCH‑provided Short‑Term and Long‑Term Disability Insurance
• SEARCH‑provided Group Term Life Insurance
• Voluntary Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Emergency Travel Assistance
• Generous 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Paid Holidays (11)
• Paid Time Off
• Merit‑Based Raises, Bonuses, and Promotions

• This position requires flexible availability outside of standard working hours.
• Applicants must be eligible to be employed in the United States.
• SEARCH is strongly committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment where a variety of backgrounds, cultures, orientations, ideas, and talents can flourish.
• SEARCH is an equal‑opportunity employer; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
• SEARCH is an affirmative action employer and a drug‑free workplace.
• Employment offers are contingent upon satisfactory verification of criminal, education, driving, and/or employment background checks as well as passing results from a pre‑employment drug screen.
• SEARCH will endeavor to make reasonable accommodations for qualified applicants with a disability unless such accommodations would impose an undue hardship on the operation of the business.