Mid / Senior-level Archaeologist

Location(s): Denver, CO / NM / AZ
Practice/Department: Cultural-Paleo
Work Environment: Hybrid
Compensation:$120,000-$145,000 annually* 

Dudek’s journey began in 1980 with a vision to serve Southern California’s water and wastewater agencies. 

Today, we are a 100% employee-owned firm supporting clients nationwide and delivering projects that improve and protect the built and natural environments of communities throughout the United States. Our work has been recognized by leading industry organizations, and we’ve been honored with multiple national Top Workplace Awards. 

Our employee-owners are unified by a singular commitment to supporting projects that address key societal issues, such as the transition to renewable energy, infrastructure hardening and repair, environmental protection, and community resilience. 

Learn more about our award-winning culture, the benefits and perks of being a Dudekian, and the projects you will have the opportunity to shape.  

Who You Are 

As an employee-owner, you embrace accountability, working safely, and collaboration while thinking resourcefully and independently. 

Like all Dudekians, you are curious and solution-oriented, with the ability to adapt quickly to changes and approach challenges with a spirit of innovation.  

How You’ll Make an Impact 

Dudek is growing its cultural resources practice in the Mountain West and seeking a full-time Archaeologist IV (Project Archaeologist) to join our Denver office. Qualified candidates interested in working remotely from other parts of the region are also encouraged to apply. In this role, you will implement and lead a range of cultural resources projects, working collaboratively with existing Dudek staff.

Direct experience working in the Mountain West (primarily in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming) is strongly desired, as well as the ability to travel and work outside of the region. The qualified candidate will have experience coordinating with clients, agencies, and Tribes, and successfully leading projects from start to finish.

Dudek has a strong, invested, and collaborative cultural resources team with members located in surrounding regions. A successful applicant will be proactive, team-oriented, and eager to collaborate with both the cultural resources group and the broader Dudek regional team.

Duties and Responsibilities  

Field and Technical Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead all phases of small-, medium-, and large-scale cultural resources projects, including research, survey, testing and evaluation, data recovery, creative mitigation, and archaeological monitoring.
• Oversee the successful completion of cultural resource projects, with responsibilities including:
  • conducting literature reviews and archival research;
  • preparing research designs, scopes of work, and permit applications;
  • assisting with project-related client/agency/tribal coordination;
  • directing fieldwork in-person and supervising field crews;
  • reviewing the field crew’s daily logs and other field forms, notes, and collected GIS data for quality control;
  • conducting laboratory analysis for collected materials and coordinating with our laboratory manager for collections processing, analysis, and curation;
  • authoring and reviewing technical reports.
• Support hiring efforts and provide direct field supervision of as-needed field staff.
• Collaborate across disciplines and with other cultural group members.

Minimum Qualifications

• Graduate degree (Master’s or Doctoral degree in archaeology or anthropology)
• Meets the Secretary of the Interior's Professional Qualifications Standards for Archaeology
• Is qualified to act as Principal Investigator (PI) on ARPA permits in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming (BLM and other federal land managers).
• Minimum of 7 years of consulting experience implementing cultural resources projects with demonstrated PI-level project leadership, including leading or directing fieldwork and ensuring compliance with federal and state regulatory requirements.
• Minimum of 5 years’ archaeological field crew supervisory experience
• Demonstrated ability to independently lead cultural resource projects from start to successful completion. Candidates should be prepared to provide project examples and writing samples during the interview process.
• Good knowledge of the history, archaeology, and ethnography of the cultural areas of the Mountain West
• Good working knowledge of federal cultural resources regulations and guidelines, as well as familiarity with state and local regulations in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.
• Possess a valid driver’s license and active personal automobile liability insurance by first day of employment.
• Physical ability to carry field equipment (up to 40 lbs.), traverse uneven terrain, and work extended hours outdoors in varying weather conditions
• Willingness and ability to travel to project locations for extended field mobilizations, sometimes lasting several consecutive days or more.

Preferred Qualifications 

• Registered Professional Archaeologist (RPA).
• Maintains good professional relationships (is in “good standing”) with regional federal and state agency reviewers and Tribal contacts.
• Has Colorado HB 1041 project experience
• Has Wyoming Industrial Siting Division project experience
• Is qualified by the SHPO as a PI in New Mexico and Utah and can obtain archaeological permits in Colorado (OAHP) and Wyoming (OSLI).
• Two years or more of archaeological experience in the Midwest region.
• Proficiency with ESRI ArcGIS products (e.g., Field Maps, Survey123, ArcGIS Pro) for field data collection, survey, and spatial analysis.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build and maintain positive working relationships with coworkers, clients, agency staff, landowners, and field crews
• Ability to give clear direction to field crews and receive constructive feedback on deliverables
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to navigate field challenges, resolve conflicts, and communicate effectively across project teams

Compensation: $120,000-$145,000 annually* 

*Final agreed-upon compensation will be based on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, an individual’s related experience, education, certifications, skills, and work location. Successful candidates must pass a pre-employment drug test and background check prior to beginning employment. 

Working Conditions
Environment

• This job operates in an outdoor or office-based environment and this role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, printers, etc.
• Outdoor activity may involve walking/trekking in uneven terrain over long distances in extreme weather conditions for extended periods of time.
• This job requires project site visits, based outdoors which can include excessive noise, uneven walking surfaces, extreme weather, and moving vehicles and equipment.

Physical Requirements

• This position requires outdoor project site visits in conditions that may include excessive noise, uneven terrain, extreme weather, and proximity to moving vehicles and heavy equipment.
• Physical Requirements: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met in order to successfully perform the essential functions of the job.
• When not in the field, this position requires working on a computer for extended periods in an office or remote setting, including sitting or standing at a workstation.
• This job requires attending meetings, both in person and virtually as well as speaking on the phone with peers, clients, etc. Speaking, hearing and listening are required.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

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Dudek is committed to creating a workplace where all employees, regardless of their background, feel valued, respected, and have equal opportunities to succeed. We believe that a diverse and inclusive workforce is essential to our business success, and we are dedicated to fostering a culture where everyone can thrive. We are committed to fair and equitable processes, based on merit, free from any discrimination. 

Dudek is genuinely committed to equal employment opportunities within our company and on our project teams. Dudek is also committed to compliance with all applicable laws providing equal employment opportunities. This commitment applies to all persons involved in Dudek’s operations and prohibits unlawful discrimination by any employee of Dudek, including supervisors and coworkers. Equal employment opportunities will be extended to all persons (including those with disability and veteran status) in all aspects of the employment relationship, including recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, transfer, compensation, benefits, discipline, layoff, recall, and termination. Any employee who violates this policy and Dudek’s commitment to equal employment opportunities will be subject to disciplinary action. 

Dudek is a U.S.-based employer. All positions are based in the United States and require U.S. work authorization.