Senior Archaeologist

ESA seeks a highly motivated Senior Archaeologist in the Seattle area with 10+ years of experience managing cultural resources projects, including surveys, testing, data recovery, monitoring, recordation of archaeological resources, and preparing environmental permit applications and supporting documentation. Candidates must be located in and/or around the Seattle, Washington Metropolitan area for on-site fieldwork for further consideration.  The ideal candidate will be available to work a hybrid schedule from ESA’s Seattle office.

Who You Are 

• You are an experienced Senior Archaeologist with a demonstrated track record of managing cultural resources projects with a minimum of 10 years of experience or 20 years of experience for a higher-level role.
• You have the skills and desire to plan and carry out investigations and technical document preparation on a wide range of interesting projects throughout the region, and the ability to work on interdisciplinary teams with Water, Energy, Community Development, Transportation, Airports, Natural Resources, and Environmental Hydrology experts.
• You have excellent technical skills, writing, time/budget management, and organizational capabilities; agency coordination and client service experience; proficiency in the management of archaeological and tribal resources within the context of NEPA/SEPA, Section 106, and Executive Order 21-02; experience conducting WISAARD and OARRA records searches; experience with leading archaeological survey and testing projects, documentation, evaluation, and treatment of Native American and historic-period archaeological resources. GIS experience is a plus.
• You hold a graduate degree in archaeology, geoarchaeology, or a closely related field and are SOI (Secretary of Interior) qualified in Archaeology. 
• You have a clear understanding of project management principles and practices and be responsible for the delivery of high-quality work products; we may request a writing sample as part of the interview process
• You are able to perform occasional fieldwork in a variety of settings.  
• You possess a valid driver’s license and have experience driving 4WD vehicles off-road.

What You Will Do for ESA

• Independently manage cultural resources projects.
• Plan and manage archaeological resources surveys, testing, and data recovery.
• Lead cultural resources portions of multi-disciplinary projects engaged as part of a larger team of varied experts.
• Manage and conduct archival research, development of historic and cultural contexts, archaeological survey and resource documentation, resource evaluations, and impacts analysis meeting NEPA/SEPA, Section 106, and Executive Order 21-02 requirements.
• Serve as primary author of archaeological resource assessment reports.
• Obtain and hold state and federal archaeological resources permits.
• Provide guidance and mentoring to junior staff.
• Supervision of project teams.
• Lead client meetings, prepare draft scopes of work and budgets, maintain budgets and invoicing.
• Communicate with staff and teaming partners to support environmental analyses and permit compliance.
• Collaborate with architectural historians, paleontologists, and other specialists and incorporate work products into technical reports.

What’s Special About Our Team

Our Cultural Resources Team includes pre-contact and historical archaeologists, geoarchaeological specialists, tribal consultation specialists, architectural historians, historians, and paleontologists that provide expertise for many local, state, and federal agencies throughout the Northwest. Our work matters because we assist agencies in ensuring that our nation’s history and that of the tribal communities with whom we work are protected where possible and treated with respect. We value creative thinking, teamwork, and multi-disciplinary and cross-disciplinary engagement and integration.

What’s Special About ESA

Joining ESA means becoming part of a close-knit team of environmental professionals who contribute to outstanding projects, improve environmental stewardship, and advance a more sustainable and resilient future for our communities and wild places.

At ESA, we provide benefits such as medical, dental, and vision insurance (paid at 70% for you AND your family), annual allocations of company share through our ESOP, a 401(k) plan with company match, and paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays, to name a few.

We also provide specific programs whether you want to further your technical expertise, sharpen your business acumen, or help lead the next generation of employee-owners. We want to support you in reaching your career goals through tuition reimbursement, professional development bonuses, and attendance at conferences.

Who We Are 

We are a 100% employee-owned environmental consulting firm who values diversity and inclusion and celebrate the differences that make each of us unique. Our culture is built on mutual respect, recognizing that our variety of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives leads to better solutions, which fosters our continued success for our employee-owners and clients. 

In accordance with ESA’s duty and responsibility to provide and maintain a safe workplace that is free of known hazards and to minimize the exposure to potential hazards, any employee who works from an ESA office or conducts any other in-person ESA work-related activity is required to submit their proof of vaccination status or have received an approved exemption and accommodation in states which this applies. 

ESA is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment. (EOE M/V/F/D)