Archaeology Technician IV (NPS, Yellowstone NP)

The Great Basin Institute (GBI) seeks to hire an Archaeology Technician to join the Cultural Resource Services (CRS) Program and work cooperatively with the National Park Service’s Yellowstone National Park (YELL) staff in support of the park’s Archeology Program. The Archaeology Technician will work as part of a team that is responsible for inventory, monitoring, evaluation, and management of archaeological resources within the park, and will gain experience in fieldwork, laboratory work, and data management. 

Field duties include: 

• Taking field notes, creating field maps, taking photos, operating a GPS unit, and assisting with delineating site boundaries and completing site condition assessments.
• Field duties may also include excavating shovel test and excavation units, screening soil matrix, recording/collecting artifacts, and recording soils data.
• Collecting information to support the Park Archeologist with fieldwork planning using maps and resources housed onsite at the Heritage and Research Center (HRC) in Gardiner, MT.
• Analyzing and cataloguing artifacts, as well as preparing artifacts collected for final curation at the HRC.
• Preparing site condition assessment forms and assisting with database management and official site file records.
• Preparing official archaeological site forms, as well as drafting site and project maps using ArcGIS Online and the NPS ArcGIS Online Portal.
• Assisting the Archeology Program team with developing final summary reports of research findings to the standards set by the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Identification of Historic Properties, the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Officers 2003 Guidelines and Standards Cultural Resource Documentation, the Guidelines and Procedures for Cultural Resource Review for the Montana State Historic Preservation Office, and the Guidelines for Documenting Archaeological and Historic Surveys for the Idaho State Historic Preservation Office, as appropriate.

Timeline: 

• Mid November to Mid April, approximately 22 weeks;
  • ​​​​​​​Note: This position is contingent upon final funding approval
• Full time (40 hours/week);
• Schedule: 4 x 10 hour shift

Location:

Yellowstone National Park is located in the Rocky Mountains. Temperatures vary from an average of 75-85 degrees in the summer to below freezing at other times. Many community facilities, such as grocery stores, a drugstore, motels, and restaurants, are available in Gardiner, MT just 5 miles north of park headquarters in Mammoth, WY. All other services are available within 55 to 75 miles north from Mammoth, WY in Livingston, MT or Bozeman, MT. Medical clinics are available in Mammoth (year-round) and seasonally (summer) at Lake and Old Faithful. For more information, visit https://www.nps.gov/yell/index.htm.

QUALIFICATIONS: 

• A Bachelor’s degree in Archaeology, Anthropology, Cultural Resource Management, or similar discipline;
• Relevant field experience in archaeology, anthropology, cultural resource management, or similar discipline;
• An understanding of basic principles and approaches related to performing archaeological site condition assessments and site recordation;
• Experience with standard field techniques to survey and assess archeological resources for eligibility for listing on the National Register of Historic Places
• Ability to navigate and collect data using handheld GPS units and read a topographic map;
• Experience with using GIS software (e.g., ArcGIS Pro) to upload, create and manipulate data and maps;
• Experience working with Microsoft computer programs (e.g. Word, Excel);
• Ability to communicate effectively, both written and orally, with a diverse audience;
• Capacity to work independently and within a team environment;
• Must be motivated, self-directed, organized, and detail oriented in order to balance multiple tasks simultaneously;
• Physically fit to work long hours outdoors, carry personal and field equipment, and withstand the climatic rigors of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem;
• Willingness and ability to camp for consecutive days, as needed, in backcountry settings;
• Possess a clean, valid, state-issued driver’s license;
• The successful applicant must complete a Department of Interior Background Investigation (BI) prior to beginning this position.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS  

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, use hands, stand, walk, bend, and have specific vision abilities to include close and distance vision, and ability to adjust focus working with computer business equipment and other job/industry specific equipment. 

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. 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.