Archaeologist

Archaeologist (Project/Program Manager III)

This recruitment may be used to establish a pool of qualified candidates to fill future career service Archeologist (PPM III) positions within the Department of Natural Resources & Parks (DNRP) over the next six months. Protect Land. Advance Conservation. Shape, and Preserve King County's Future. Come Join our dynamic team leading innovative watershed planning & restoration efforts! The Capital Delivery/Management & Support Section of the Water and Land Resources Division is seeking an Archaeologist (Project/Program Manager III) to help our division protect and preserve cultural and historic resources while advancing projects and initiatives that improve water quality, restore and reconnect salmon habitat and help reduce flood hazards in our community.

About the Role:

The Archaeologist supports capital projects by identifying and protecting cultural resources through research, surveys, tribal consultation, and regulatory compliance. They integrate findings into design and permitting, monitor construction, manage consultant work, provide staff training, and coordinate countywide processes to ensure consistent, effective cultural resource protection. In this role, they will work closely with Capital Project teams, project sponsors, the KC Historic Preservation Program, tribes and resource agencies to help identify and protect cultural resources while restoring watershed health throughout the county.

About the Team:
The Capital Delivery Section (CDS) designs and delivers high-quality capital projects that use the best available science to protect and enhance King County's water and land resources. Our work improves water quality, restores and enhances fish habitat, strengthens community resilience to flooding and climate change, and deepens people's connection to the natural world.

Who We Are:

The Water and Land Resources Division (WLRD) is at the forefront of King County's efforts to protect and restore clean water and healthy habitat and strengthen the resilience of communities, environment, and infrastructure in the face of climate change. We are a dedicated workforce of more than 450 supported by an annual budget of $280 million. WLRD has a strong track record of developing innovative strategies to protect working farms and forests, restore habitat, improve water quality, and provide county residents with equitable access to green space.

We are a watershed utility.

Commitment To Equity and Social Justice:
King County, named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is a diverse and vibrant community that represents cultures from around the world. Our True North is to create a welcoming community where everyone can thrive. We prioritize equity, racial and social justice, making it a foundational and daily expectation for all employees. As an Archaeologist (Project/Program Manager III), you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work.

Job Duties

What You Will Be Doing:

• Cultural Resource Evaluations and Identification:
  Conduct archival research, field surveys and consultation with tribal and cultural resource experts to identify and characterize potential cultural and/or historic resources on capital project sites.
• Document findings and where necessary define appropriate protections and/or mitigation to avoid impacts to identified resources in compliance with federal, state, tribal, and local regulations (e.g., Section 106, NEPA, state statutes, KC Executive Cultural Resources Policy and Procedures).
• Design and Permitting Support:
  Integrate cultural resource considerations into project design by coordinating with project team members, the King County Historic Preservation Program, Tribal staff and regulatory agencies. Prepare technical reports, permit documentation, and avoidance or mitigation strategies to support timely approvals.
• Construction Monitoring and Resource Protection:
  Provide archaeological monitoring during ground-disturbing activities, implement inadvertent discovery protocols, coordinate with construction teams, and document findings to ensure resource protection while minimizing project delays.
• Provide training and support to WLRD…