Job Listing
 🔗Archaeology Crew Member (NPS, Death Valley National Park)

  • Full Time
  • Death Valley, CA
  • $23.00/- USD / Hour
  • Department: Cultural Resources Program
  • Job Summary: The Cultural Resource Services Program (CRS) at the Great Basin Institute (GBI), in cooperation with the National Park Service at Death Valley National Park, is recruiting two (2) Archaeology Crew Members to become part of the Flood Response Team.
  • Job Qualifications:

    Required:

    At least one of the following:

    • Bachelor’s degree in anthropology, archaeology or related discipline (by position start date);
    • One year of professional fieldwork experience;
    • An accredited archaeological field school and/or relevant field methods training coursework.

    Other required:

    • Be a U.S. Citizen (required to access US government computer networks)
    • Possess a clean, valid, state-issued driver’s license;
    • Ability to work effectively and positively in a team setting with NPS staff, GBI staff, interns, volunteers, academic, state, and federal partners;
    • Ability to work safely and productively in remote field settings under adverse conditions. This includes occasionally overnight camping in remote areas for consecutive nights;
    • Strong organizational skills and ability to work cooperatively as well as independently;
    • Proficiency in navigation using GPS, topographic map and compass.

    Preferred:

    • Fieldwork experience and familiarity with the cultural history of the Mojave region;
    • Familiarity with Section 106/110 NHPA and California and/or Nevada SHPO compliance procedures;
    • Advanced skill using specialized software such as Microsoft Office Suite, ArcMap GIS, and Google Earth;
    • Ability to safely operate and maintain a 4WD vehicle on and off paved roads.

     

    Successful applicants must complete a Department of the Interior (DOI) Background Investigation (BI) or submit paperwork to NPS human resources indicating an active and fully adjudicated BI has already been completed prior to beginning the position. If you already have a fully adjudicated BI, please let us know in your application.

    NOTE:  This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employees may perform other related

    duties as negotiated to meet the organization’s ongoing needs. All offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment background check.

    Disclaimer: Although the organization has attempted to accurately and thoroughly describe this position, GBI reserves the right to change the same, including to change, add to or subtract from the duties outlined, within the sole discretion of the organization, at any time, with or without advance notice

  • How to Apply:

    Please apply online through this application link by submitting an up-to-date resume, one-page cover letter that details your interest in the position, and any qualifications not fully described in your resume, contact information for nine professional and/or academic references. Be sure to complete any preliminary questions prompted in the application and sign your application.

    For questions regarding this position, please contact isengupta@gbinstitute.org

  • Job benefits: Wage: $Wage: $23.00/hour (overtime is infrequent, paid at 1.5 times wage rate); Benefits: Company-paid comprehensive medical, dental (with option to upgrade in coverage), and vision insurance; $25,000 Basic Life & AD&D insurance at no cost; Competitive PTO accrual and paid federal holidays; Eligible for 401(k) retirement savings with up to 4% GBI match; Access to Pro Deals; Housing: Shared housing will be provided to the selected participants at no additional costs; Per diem: Camping per diem provided per night in the field.
  • Physical Demands / Work Environment: This physically demanding work, often in remote locations, will provide crew members with rewarding exposure to some of America's backcountry landscapes. These positions require extensive hiking in sometimes steep terrain at altitudes ranging from 300 feet below sea level to 11,000 ft AMSL. Archaeology crew members will be expected to carry their own personal gear and water on a daily basis, possibly during extreme or inclement weather conditions such as heat, snow, or rain. Work schedules, generally four 10-hour days with 3 days off each week, are subject to change depending on weather and project needs. Camping near a work site for several days may be required to meet project objectives. Death Valley National Park follows a heat safety policy that limits fieldwork to certain temperatures or elevations as heat rises. Archaeology crew members must be able to work in harsh and rapidly changing environments, camp in the backcountry for consecutive days, work in all types of weather conditions, traverse uneven terrain, carry a heavy pack in excess of 40lbs, and be in overall good physical condition. Prior experience working in similar backcountry settings is preferred.
  • Contact Name: Isabelle Sengupta
  • Application Email: isengupta@gbinstitute.org
  • Application URL: https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/portal/A1ADEF5691B02D64E998539442696918/jobs/431709
  • Application Address: 16750 Mt Rose Hwy Reno, NV 89511

Website Great Basin Institute

The Great Basin Institute is an interdisciplinary field studies organization that promotes environmental research, education, and service throughout the West. Founded in 1998 at the University of Nevada, GBI advances applied research to support science-based adaptive management of public lands. The Institute is dedicated to the promotion of science through field studies programs, conservation practices, and public outreach.

These positions will complete condition assessments, Section 106 Cultural Resource surveys, site recording, and monitoring for various projects within Death Valley National Park. These projects all serve the Cultural Resources program’s greater mission of improving the quality of public lands to ensure they continue to thrive for generations to come.

These positions will be a part of a unique group with a unique mission. In 2022 and 2023 Death Valley National Park (DEVA) experienced two 1000-year level floods. This led to impacts ranging from mild to profound in all corners of the park. Roads are still being repaired from these floods. In response, the Park brought in over 80 archaeologists of all skill levels to survey along roadsides as a part of their cleanup. This has resulted in a massive amount of data that still needs to be verified, cleaned up and written into reports. Additionally, the emergency actions taken were to open roads, so sites and structures across the park away from roads still need to be visited and documented. This position will be a part of the DEVA cultural resource team which consists of historians, archaeologists, physical scientists and historic preservationists. This work will help document flood impacts to sites throughout the park, stabilize or create plans to stabilize affected sites, and prepare inventories that will help with future flooding events.

The Cultural Resource Program at Death Valley National Park works closely with the local tribe and there will be opportunities for the selected candidate to participate in tribal consultation meetings and potentially field visits with tribal elders and heritage preservationists.

Archaeology technicians perform a variety of activities to support all stages of project implementation. Crew size will range between 2-3 people.

Primary Responsibilities:

  • Collaborate with Archaeologist and agency staff to support field safety, communication, planning, logistics, quality assurance, field implementation and reporting efforts;
  • Complete field surveys, condition assessments, site recordation, or monitoring either alone or as a part of a team to document, assess and characterize the status of new and known cultural resources;
  • Conducts pre-field searches to learn what resources may be present and what was previously recorded;
  • Monitor existing sites and complete site updates and condition assessments;
  • Assess sites for stabilization needs and stabilize sites with waddles, mats and other means;
  • Prepare California DPR site records, GIS maps, and photographic records in addition to adding data to the NPS heritage database;
  • Utilize GPS tablets in the field to collect data and use that data to make maps and update geodatabases.
  • Prepare portions of reports, or assessments of effect documentation for archaeological compliance.

Timeline:

  • Desired start date in November 2026
  • Full time (40 hours/week);
  • This project is expected to last for approximately 51 weeks, with the potential to extend, pending the successful completion of a Department of Interior (DOI) Background Investigation (BI).

Location:

Death Valley National Park is located in Nevada and California and boasts some of the hottest and driest climates, and lowest elevation in North America. The park includes a superlative desert of streaming sand dunes, snow-capped mountains, multicolored rock layers, water-fluted canyons and three million acres of wilderness. Death Valley is home to the Timbisha Shoshone people and to plants and animals unique to the harshest desert environment. The closest cities are Pahrump and Beatty, Nevada (both approximately 1 hour away).

Field conditions include hot, arid days with high exposure to the sun, as well as cold, winter weather. Resources of the region include threatened and/or endangered species habitat, big game habitats, abandoned mine lands, and historic and precontact cultural sites.

Benefits

All NCPE interns received an hourly stipend, the rate is listed at each position description. Additionally, interns receive paid time off (PTO), paid Federal holidays if working full-time, and access to NCPE's Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for career and personal counseling, coaching, and referrals. Project sites may also offer a housing allowance and/or commuting stipend; this information is also listed in the description or offered during the interview.

Eligible NCPE interns who successfully complete their internships may count their position towards earning a Public Land Corps (PLC) Non-Competitive Hiring Authority certificate. To be eligible to earn a PLC certificate, an intern must be 30 years old or younger (or 35 if a veteran). Once earned, the PLC hiring authority certificate may be used to apply for eligible Federal temporary, term, or permanent positions. Successful completion of a NCPE internship does not guarantee Federal employment. Contact manager@preservenet.org for more details.

Eligibility

To be eligible, applicants must be
*at least 18 years old;
*no older than 30 years of age (or 35 years if a Veteran) when beginning the internship; applicants who are 31 or older (or 36 or older if a Veteran) are not eligible;
*currently enrolled in a degree-seeking academic program at the college level (or recently graduated within the past 12 months)
*be a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident.

Interns are not allowed to work more than 1200 hours total in the program; previous interns must stay within this overall limit. The length of an internship can vary from 10 to 30 weeks if full-time (40 hours per week) or longer if on a part-time schedule. If selected, the exact starting date will be determined by you and the NPS supervisor. The stipend rate is $17.00 per hour unless otherwise listed.

The successful candidate is responsible for finding and paying for travel to and housing at the internship location; some exceptions apply. The supervising office may be able to assist in locating housing but it is ultimately up to the individual accepting the internship to find accommodation.

The National Council requires all interns working in-person at Federal facilities and/or with Federal employees receive the Covid-19 vaccination. Please be advised that you may also be required to wear a mask, depending on the protocols adopted by your work site. Also be aware that, due to Government-wide security requirements, a background check will be required if you are selected for a position. This will include providing information about recent housing and employment history. The position supervisor will have more information about these requirements and procedures at the time of hiring. You may direct any questions to NCPE's Internship Program Director, Julee Johnson, at manager@preservenet.org.

Please note that interns are not NCPE or NPS employees. Stipends are academic awards and taxes are not withheld, nor are social security contributions made on your behalf. These funds may be taxable, however, so consult a tax preparation professional if you have questions.

How to Apply

You may review NCPE's internship opportunities anytime without registering. Use the search function to find listings by location, keyword, or area of interest/category. Once you identify one or more positions of interest, there is a 3-step application process.

Step 1: Click on the Apply for Job button, then select Universal Application. Click on Register to create a User Account, which requires a username and email. A link will be sent to you from manager@preservenet.org to create a password. We suggest that you add this email to your safe senders list so you don't miss receiving this important link. You will be instructed to Log In to Preservenet using your username or email and password, which will take you back to the Universal Application.

Step 2: The Universal Application is required to apply for all NCPE internships. You fill out this form only once. In addition to contact information, educational status, work history, and experience, it requires two attachments: (1) the 2 most recent years of academic transcripts. These may be unofficial transcripts if official versions are unavailable. A PDF is preferred, labeled Your Your Last Name_Your First Name_Transcript. (2) a resume or CV (curriculum vitae). Please limit to a maximum of 4 pages; 2 pages are preferred. A PDF is preferred but jpg, png, doc, or docx file types are accepted. Label Your Last Name_Your First Name_Resume. This form may be saved as a draft and completed later. Use the link provided to return to the form.

Step 3: Once you submit the Universal Application, you may browse and apply for NCPE internships using the link provided. Complete the application process by clicking on the Apply for job button found at each internship listing and upload the required Essay. Use the essay to explain why you are applying for an internship, including how your interest areas will benefit the National Park Service (NPS) and how the internship will further your studies and career goals. Be as specific as possible; there is a 400-word maximum length. Submit the essay to finish the application for that position. You may apply for a maximum of 6 internships during an application round; there is no limit at other times of the year. DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP!



Logging in with a Registered User Account and completing the Universal Application is required to apply for NCPE Internships. Please visit the Universal Application page to register for an account and complete the form. After logging in and completing the form, refreshing this listing will display the Job Application to apply online.