Staff Archaeologist

Environmental Science Associates (ESA) is a 100% employee-owned environmental consulting firm. We plan, design, permit, mitigate, and restore for projects across our communities, infrastructure systems, open spaces, and wildlands. We are 50 years strong in 21 offices across California, the Pacific Northwest, and the Southeastern United States.

Environmental Science Associates (ESA) is seeking an Archaeologist in the Sacramento Area with 0-3 years of experience in with field work or relative academic field experience in Northern California, performing cultural resources monitoring, surveys, testing, and data recovery; recording archaeological resources and preparing DPR 523 Forms; and contributing to technical reports to support environmental review documents.  Preference given to candidates with 2-3 years of experience.  This is a remote role with the expectation of hybrid as needed from our Sacramento ESA Office.  This role requires field work and travel as needed for projects and in-person team collaboration. 

Who You Are

• You are an effective team member experienced in archaeological monitoring, surveys, and documentation of archaeological resources in accordance with applicable local, state, and federal guidelines and requirements.
• You live in Northern California to support local work and are open and willing to work in-person in our Sacramento office as needed . There is also the potential for travel to Southern California, Nevada, and Arizona.
• You hold a Bachelor’s degree or higher in archaeology/anthropology or related field.
• You have a demonstrated ability to use app-based software for field recordation and mapping.
• You are familiar with working on active construction sites, completing DPR forms, are knowledgeable of archaeological materials common to the region, and have 0-3 years of field experience or relative academic field experience in Northern California. The successful candidate will have proficiency in management of archaeological and tribal resources within the context of CEQA, NEPA, and Section 106; experience conducting CHRIS records searches, experience with leading archaeological survey and testing projects, documentation, evaluation, and treatment of Native American and historical period archaeological resources. This position requires an ability to work collaboratively with clients and interdisciplinary teams to deliver projects on time and within budget in a fast-paced work environment. Excellent organizational and strong problem-solving skills required.
• You enjoy working outside and can walk long distances carrying up to 50 lbs. of gear in a wide variety of conditions, including strenuous natural habitats and difficult weather. You can work some nights and/or weekends. Candidates should be confident working outside, in remote and rural settings, as well as in urban environments. Physical outdoor work may include, but may not be limited to, extensive field work and site visits in all types of weather, traversing uneven ground and sometimes steep terrain in forested environments, fields, arid lands, along stream banks, and in coastal/intertidal areas. Qualified candidates must be able and willing to do fieldwork which could be up to one week per month.
• You must possess a valid CA driver’s license and have experience driving 4 wheel-drive vehicles off-road.

What You Will Do for ESA

ESA is looking for a staff archaeologist to support field projects in Northern California. Qualified candidates can demonstrate the ability to perform all aspects of archaeological monitoring and familiarity working on construction sites, coordinating with construction personnel, and interacting with Native American monitors. Successful candidates will fulfill the following duties:

• Monitor construction activities and identify archaeological resources;
• Effectively communicate with construction crews and project personnel;
• Write and maintain written daily survey, monitoring, recordation, and cataloging logs, including utilizing electronic data collection tools and GIS mapping applications.
• Participate in archaeological resources surveys.
• Participate in archaeological resources portions of multi-disciplinary projects engaged as part of a larger team of varied experts.
• Conduct archival research, development of historic and cultural contexts, archaeological survey and resource documentation, resource evaluations, and impacts analysis meeting CEQA and Section 106 requirements.
• Serve as contributing author of archaeological resource assessment reports.
• Crew chief of small project teams.
• Communicate with senior 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.
• Other ad hoc tasks as needed

What’s Special About Our California Cultural Resources 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 California. 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 shares through our ESOP; a 401(k) plan with company match; and paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays, to name a few.

We also offer specific programs to support you when 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. 

If you are an applicant with a disability that requires a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process or are limited in the ability—or unable to use—the online application system and need an alternative method for applying, you may contact our Human Resources Department via email: humanresources@esassoc.com for assistance.

 Please include the following in your message so we can promptly address your request:

• Full name
• The best method to contact you (phone number and/or email address)
• Title of Job Position Applied
• Description of your accommodation request

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