Archaeology Crew Lead, Whiskeytown NRA

The Great Basin Institute, in cooperation with the National Park Service, is recruiting an Archaeology Crew Lead to complete Section 106 cultural resource surveys, site recording and monitoring for various projects within the Whiskeytown National Recreation Area (WHIS). This work provides professional development and leadership opportunities in cultural resource management including increased exposure and responsibility enacting NPS processes, procedures, and compliance measures; assisting in reporting and data entry/quality assurance and control; and increased technical experience.

The Archaeology Crew Lead will perform a variety of activities to support all stages of project work. The lead will be responsible for crew safety and oversight, provide or assist in training, and converse with agency and GBI staff as needed. Crew size will be 3 people. Primary archaeology field duties will include:

– 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;
– 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 the Archaeology Crew Lead with rewarding exposure to some of California’s backcountry forested landscapes. The position requires extensive hiking in steep terrain with heavy packs on a daily basis, possibly during extreme or inclement weather conditions such as heat or rain. Work schedules, generally four 10-hour days (Monday-Thursday) with 3 days off each week, are subject to change depending on weather and project needs. Camping in primitive campgrounds within the Park will be required to meet project objectives for some of the more remote project surveys. 

Contract Timeline:

16-week appointment beginning April or May 2024, depending on weather.
Full time; 40 hours per week.

Location:

Whiskeytown National Recreation Area (WHIS) is part of the Klamath Network that includes 6 parks: Crater Lake National Park (Crater Lake), Lava Beds National Monument (Lava Beds), Lassen Volcanic National Monument (Lassen), Oregon Caves National Monument and Reserve (Oregon Caves), Redwood National and State Parks (Redwood), and Whiskeytown National Recreation Area (Whiskeytown), located throughout northern California and southern Oregon. The parks span a land area of complex topography in the geologically ancient Klamath-Siskiyou Ecoregion in the west (Redwood, Oregon Caves, Whiskeytown), and the younger, volcanic Cascades-Modoc Ecoregion to the east (Crater Lake, Lassen, and Lava Beds). Vegetation of the two subregions ranges from temperate rainforests with enormous, world-record-height trees along the coast at Redwood, to barren shrublands on infertile soils and rock in the sagebrush desert of Lava Beds. Elevation extends from sea level at Redwood to about timberline in Crater Lake and Lassen.

Whiskeytown NRA was directly impacted by the 2018 Carr Fire. Work completed by the archaeology team will help to address the monitoring and recording of cultural resources post-fire and aid in the management of park cultural resources going forward. Read more about Whiskeytown NRA and the Carr Fire here: https://www.nps.gov/whis/carrfire.htm.

Opportunities are abundant in the area for recreation including boating, camping, hiking, bird watching, fishing. Whiskeytown is also near the town of Redding, CA which can provide access to all large town amenities.

Compensation and Benefits:

• Wage: $26.00/hour
• Camping Per Diem: $15.00/night as necessary
• Housing allowance provided or a shared Airbnb type housing facility will be paid for by GBI.
• Health Insurance: The Great Basin Institute will cover 100% of the premium for Health, Dental and Vision Insurance for each crew member effective on the first day of the month following the start of their employment.

Job Qualifications:

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in anthropology, archaeology or related discipline (including relevant field methods training coursework and/or an accredited archaeological field school);
• Two years of fieldwork experience including archaeological survey, site recording, monitoring, GPS data collection, and associated reporting;
• 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;
• Strong organizational skills and ability to work cooperatively as well as independently;
• Strong written and oral communication skills with diverse audiences;
• Ability to work effectively 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 overnight camping in remote areas for consecutive nights.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in anthropology, archaeology or related discipline and at least one year of field leadership experience;
• Completion of an accredited archaeological field school;
• At least six months of field leadership experience in Northern California;
• Familiarity with Section 106/110 NHPA and California compliance procedures;
• Knowledge of cultural resource management issues in the Western United States;
• Familiarity with cultural history and forested habitat of the Shasta-Cascades region;
• Proficiency in navigating using a GPS, topographic map and compass;
• Ability to exercise quality control in data collection and management;
• Advanced skill using specialized software such as Microsoft Office Suite, ArcMap GIS, and Google Earth.