Field Director (USFS, Sequoia NF)

The Great Basin Institute, in cooperation with the USFS, is recruiting a Field Director to complete Section 106 cultural resource project planning, surveys, site recording, monitoring, reporting, and subcontractor coordination for various projects within the Sequoia National Forest. 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 Field Director 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 Field Director will also act as liaison between USFS staff, archaeology crews, and subcontractors 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 ecosystem and fuels reduction efforts, supporting initiatives for healthy, productive, and resilient forest landscapes and resources.

The Field Director will perform a variety of activities to support all stages of project work. he The Field Director will be responsible for crew safety and crew lead oversight, provide or assist in training, and communicate with agency partners, cultural resource subcontractors, and GBI staff regularly. Primary archaeology field duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Assist with project planning and initial coordination with subcontractors and Tribal Monitors.
• Lead archaeology crews to conduct and complete field surveys to document, assess and characterize the status of new cultural resources.
• Strong leadership skills and ability to delegate tasks to crew lead and crew members.
• Monitor existing sites and complete site updates and condition assessments.
• Conduct monitoring of timber activities.
• 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, subcontractors, 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 Field Director with rewarding exposure to some of Sierra Nevada’s backcountry forested landscapes. These positions may require occasional 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. There will be possible overtime as needed. Camping near a work site for several days may be required to meet project objectives.

Project Timeline: 6-8 months with the possibility to extend, ideal start date March 2026

Compensation and Benefits:

• Wage: $39-42 based on experience with overtime at 1.5x hourly rate. Full time, 40 hours per week.
• Health, Dental, Vision Insurance premiums 100% paid by GBI. Available on the first day of the month following the start of employment.
• Shared housing provided through Airbnb or USFS barracks.
• Camping Per Diem
• Uniform Stipend: $200.

Location:

The Forest Service, a federal agency in the U.S. Department of Agriculture, administers the Sequoia National Forest which consists of three ranger districts. The Giant Sequoia National Monument has two separate sections; the northern portion located on the Hume Lake Ranger District near Dunlap, California, and the southern portion on the Western Divide Ranger District just east of Springville, California. The Kern River Ranger District lies at the southern end of the forest near Lake Isabella.

The Sequoia is one of nineteen National Forests in California. It takes its name from the giant sequoia, the world’s largest tree, which grows in more than 30 groves in the forest’s lower elevation slopes. The Sequoia’s landscape is as spectacular as its trees. Soaring granite monoliths, glacier-carved canyons, roaring whitewater, and more await your discovery at the Sierra Nevada’s southern end. Elevations range from 1,000 feet in the foothill region to peaks over 12,000 feet in the rugged high country, providing visitors with some of the most spectacular views of mountainous landscape in the entire west.

Qualifications

Required:

• SOI qualified AND three 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;
• Experience working with Tribal Communities and Tribal Monitors;
• 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, Google suite, and Google Earth.
• Qualified as a Harvest Inspector or interested in obtaining that qualification upon employment.

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.

NOTE: 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.