Archaeologist – Federal Lands

Federal Lands Archaeology, Natural Resource Scientist 2 (NRSci2)
Full-time, Non-permanent, Represented position (WPEA)
Anticipated Non-permanent employment is May – October 2026
Work Hours and Partial Telework flexibility may be available and considered
Salary: $4,632.00 – $6,227.00 Monthly

Review of applications is ongoing. We reserve the right to make a hiring decision or close this recruitment at any time after 2/12/26. It is in your best interest to submit materials as soon as possible.

Want to join something GREAT and make a difference?
The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is looking for qualified candidates for the Federal Lands Natural Resource Scientist position. This position works statewide across National Forest System Lands and Bureau of Land Management Lands to develop, support, and execute short and long-term environmental planning projects under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) pertaining to the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Deliverables contribute to decisions on Environmental Impact Statements, Environmental Assessments, and Categorical Exclusions. 

This position represents a unique opportunity to be part of an interdisciplinary team that works closely with a variety of state, federal, and Tribal partners. Your role, while primarily focused on providing wildlife and fisheries resource support, also offers opportunities to work with other disciplines, including archaeologists, geologists, and foresters.  
This position requires fieldwork that is state-wide and involves up to 75% travel. Duties likely include traversing steep and rugged terrain, many times in inclement weather, and potentially carrying up to 40 pounds of equipment. 

The federal government manages roughly 44 percent of Washington’s 22.4 million acres of forested land.  Through our Federal Lands Section, using the Department’s Good Neighbor Authority (GNA), we aim to bring state capacity and resources to achieve our shared goals for maintaining and restoring the health of forest ecosystems on national forest lands.

Responsibilities:

• Perform cultural resource surveys, identify and record cultural resources, and write reports in support of projects to meet current NEPA and Section 106 of the NHPA standards. This requires intensive field reconnaissance and sound background research.
• Willingness to work independently, or as a part of a team, conducting field reconnaissance in remote locations, often with no cell phone service. Demonstrates the capacity to solve problems.
• Participate on interdisciplinary teams to evaluate the impact of agency or non-agency activities on federal lands. This may include supporting/performing interdisciplinary scientific field surveys.
• Ability to work safely in challenging, rough terrain, adverse weather, and in swift-moving water. Responsible for maintaining field equipment and may be required to carry up to 40lbs.
• Support planning and executing administrative studies and surveys. Activities include the preparation of maps, surveys, ESA historic and sensitive data, and reports. Prevent or mitigate impacts associated with land management.
• Records field conditions, taking detailed notes, and filling out data forms in designated project unit boundaries in support of NEPA decisions for forest restoration and wildfire resilience activities.
• Work with a variety of resource specialists, including fish and wildlife biologists, geologists, engineers, and forest restoration specialists, to assess land management effects on cultural resources. Activities commonly relate to planning area access and resource protection during land management activities.
• Communicates orally and in writing to provide formal and informal briefings to technical experts. Helps communicate technical reports to the public in lay terms.
• Engage at the interagency level with partners to discuss project-related requests, address barriers, and recommend solutions.
• Coordinate closely with partner planning managers and specialists in activities conducted by the Federal Lands Environmental Planning Program.  Regularly engage in field, virtual, or in-person meetings to ensure projects meet or exceed expectations and requirements.
• Provide exceptional customer service when engaging with internal and external partners. Demonstrate mutual respect between agencies through professional and punctual response times.

Required Qualifications: 

• A bachelor’s degree or greater in Anthropology, Natural Resources, or a related field;
  OR an equivalent combination of education and/or experience assisting in archaeology surveys, recording archaeological sites, and recording survey findings on standard form,s progressively working towards a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology, Natural Resources, or related field qualifies.
• Experience with GIS and Microsoft Office Suites, field recording software/ applications (Field maps, Avenza Maps, etc.).
• Experience in data entry and management.
• History of positive, responsive, cooperative, collaborative interaction with the public and other professionals (both inter-organizational and interdisciplinary).
• Commitment to fostering and supporting an environment that honors diversity, equity, inclusion, and environmental justice practices.