Job Listing
 🔗Senior Archaeological Crew Lead (USFS, Eldorado NF)

  • Full Time
  • Placerville, CA
  • $38.00/- USD / Hour
  • May 27, 2026
  • Department: Cultural Resources Program
  • Job Summary: The Great Basin Institute, in cooperation with the USFS, is recruiting one Senior Archaeology Crew Lead to complete Section 106 cultural resource project planning, surveys, site recording, and monitoring for various projects.
  • Job Qualifications:

    Required:

    • Bachelor’s degree in anthropology, archaeology or related discipline, including relevant field methods training coursework AND at least two consecutive years of archaeology-related field work;
    • Experience leading crews in the field, including oversight of crew safety, communication, fidelity to methods and data quality;
    • Proficiency in navigation using GPS, topographic map and compass;
    • Ability to recognize and record prehistoric and historic artifacts, features, and architecture
    • Possess a clean, valid, state-issued driver’s license with the ability to safely operate and maintain a 4WD vehicle on and off paved roads;
    • Ability to work effectively in a team setting with USFS staff, GBI staff, interns, volunteers, academic, state, and federal partners;
    • Ability to work safely and productively in remote field settings under adverse conditions. This may include occasional overnight work & camping in remote areas for consecutive nights;
    • Ability to understand, implement and adhere to established data collection, inventory, assessment, and monitoring protocols;
    • Capacity to collect and maintain field data in an organized manner that is easily understood and accessible to other resources staff;
    • Strong communication skills with diverse audiences, both written and oral;
    • Willingness to work a variable schedule in response to project needs, possibly including some weekends, nights, or holidays;
    • Physically able to work outdoors, carry up to 50 pounds of personal and/or field equipment, and withstand the rigors of a forested and/or high desert environment in all seasons.

    Preferred:

    • Master’s degree in anthropology, archaeology or related discipline and at least three years of field leadership experience;
    • Familiarity with Section 106/110 NHPA, NAGPRA, and California SHPO compliance procedures;
    • Knowledge of cultural resource management issues in the Western United States;
    • Understanding of cultural history and forested habitat of the Sierra Nevada region;
    • Advanced skill using specialized software such as Microsoft Office Suite, ArcMap GIS, Avenza Pro, and Google Earth.

    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 submit an up-to-date resume, a one-page cover letter that details your interest in the position, and any qualifications not fully outlined in your resume, and contact information for three professional references. Qualified applicants will be contacted to schedule an interview. For questions regarding this position, please contact isengupta@gbinstitute.org

    Apply HERE

  • Job benefits: Wage: $38/hour with overtime at 1.5x hourly rate. Benefits: Health, Dental, Vision Insurance premiums are covered 100% by GBI. Available on the first day of the month following the start of employment. Sick Leave accrued at a rate of 0.05 hrs per hour worked (~4 hrs biweekly). Camping Per Diem. Uniform Stipend. $25,000 Basic Life & AD&D insurance. Paid federal holidays. Cell phone stipend.
  • Physical Demands / Work Environment: Physical Demands 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 750 - 10,000 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. 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/390221
  • 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.

The Great Basin Institute, in cooperation with the USFS, is recruiting one Senior Archaeology Crew Lead to complete Section 106 cultural resource project planning, surveys, site recording, and monitoring for various projects within the Eldorado National Forest at various Ranger District locations, including Amador, Georgetown, and Placerville. These projects all serve the Cultural Resources program’s greater mission of helping the USFS in their critical goal of improving forest resilience in the face of worsening climate conditions and increased wildfire threats. The work that you will do directly protects sensitive cultural resources, helping ensure the stories they tell are preserved for generations to come.

The Senior Archaeology Crew Lead position provides professional development and leadership opportunities in cultural resource management including increased exposure and responsibility enacting USFS processes, procedures, and compliance measures; reporting and data entry/quality assurance and control; and increased technical and project planning experience. The Senior Archaeology Lead will also act as liaison between USFS staff and archaeology crews in the field and will serve in a hybrid role that splits time between field and office duties. Expanded opportunities and exposure to additional disciplines (e.g., forestry, wildlife, hydrology, etc.) and projects may exist. These positions will serve USFS vegetation management and fuels reduction efforts, supporting initiatives for healthy, productive, and resilient forest landscapes and resources.

Senior Archaeology Crew Leads will perform a variety of activities to support all stages of project work. Senior Leads will be responsible for crew safety and Crew Lead oversight, provide or assist in training, and communicate with agency partners and GBI staff regularly. Crew size will range between 2-6 people. Primary archaeology field duties may include, but are not limited to:

  • Assisting with project planning and initial onboarding of other crew members.
  • Lead archaeology crew to conduct and complete field surveys to document, assess and characterize the status of new cultural resources.
  • Monitor existing sites and complete site updates and condition assessments.
  • Prepare California DPR site records, GIS maps, and photographic records in addition to inputting data to the USFS heritage database.
  • Lead and collaborate with agency personnel and all other crew members to support field safety, communication, planning, logistics, quality assurance, field implementation, and reporting efforts.

This physically demanding work, often in remote locations, will provide Archaeology Crew Leads with rewarding exposure to some of California’s backcountry forested landscapes. These positions may require extensive hiking in steep terrain at high altitudes (5,000-9,000 ft.) with heavy packs on a semi-regular 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.

Location: 

The Eldorado National Forest is located in the central Sierra Nevada within the ancestral territories of the Miwok, Washoe and Nisenan people. Portions of Alpine, Amador, El Dorado, and Placer counties lie within the forest boundary. The forest is bordered on the north by the Tahoe National Forest, on the east by the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, on the southeast by the Humboldt-Toiyabe, and to the south by the Stanislaus National Forest.

The forest is located within 3 – 4 hours driving time from the San Francisco Bay Area, a metropolitan complex of 4.5 million people. Sacramento is located within 1 – 1 1/2 hours driving time from the forest with a population of over 1,000,000 people. acres, or 9% of the total land area, is located within the Stanislaus National Forest.

Timeline: 

Full time, average 40 hours per week;
Anticipated project timeline of May-December 2026;
Projects are dependent on the local weather, and there is always a chance the season will end earlier if weather prevents safe field operations.

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.