Archaeologist (27985)

Job Details

Job Location

Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians - Palm Springs, CA

Position Type

Full Time - Exempt

Description

Come work for the leading employer in the Coachella Valley. Agua Caliente offers a comprehensive benefit and compensation package that includes rich medical and dental benefits, a 401k plan with employer match, more than 3 weeks of paid time off per year for newly hired employees, and other great benefits like food and beverage discounts at our three casinos, fuel discounts, tuition and wellness reimbursement, plus much, more.

WHO ARE WE: The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians is a federally recognized Indian Tribe located in Palm Springs, California, with 32,000 acres of reservation lands that spread across Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, and into the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto mountains. The Tribe currently owns and operates two 18-hole championship golf courses, 3 casinos located in Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, and downtown Palm Springs, two world class spas, and a fuel station. For more information about the Tribe, visit www.aguacaliente-nsn.gov.

Job Description Summary

Under general supervision, the archaeologists will be responsible for accurate and complete implementation of archaeological field techniques to test designated project areas for archaeological deposits, collect samples, and record field results. The archaeologists plans and directs research to characterize and compare the traditional, economic, demographic, health care, social, political, linguistic and religious institutions of distinct cultural groups, communities and organizations.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (other Duties May Be Assigned)

• Performs research and writes reports assessing the archaeological impacts of proposed land use or development projects; reviews archaeological assessment reports prepared by consulting archaeologists; provides report review services for other jurisdictions as per agreements
• Review land management agencies projects for compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act, and its implementing regulations, as well as other cultural resource laws and regulations such as ARPA, NAGPRA, American Indian Religious Freedom Act, CEQA, and other Historic Preservation laws
• Preparing and reviewing various agreement documents such as memoranda of agreement, programmatic agreements, historic properties treatment plans, and historic property management plans and NAGPRA plans of action.
• Coordinating consultation and mitigation efforts.
• Planning, directing, coordinating and performing a variety of tasks related to the direction and management of a cultural resource program, and interpreting cultural resource law to staff and the public.
• Contact project proponents and other public entities projects that are of a highly sensitive nature.
• Project management for environmental review. Environmental review consists of timely review and responses to federal, state, and county environmental assessment
• Functions as the principal investigator during excavation and recordation of subsurface features and artifacts; writing research designs to test/evaluate sites for the National register of Historic Places (NRHP).
• NRHP nominations and professional correspondence; preparing damage assessment reports for ARPA violations and other disturbances to cultural resources; conducting archaeological, ethnographic, and historical data and literature searches, reviews and personal interviews to compile information, and present the information in written and spoken format.
• This position works closely with the Planning and Natural Resources department in drafting environmental assessments and categorical exclusions for projects, allotments, renewals and conveyance, make recommendations as necessary for strong NEPA documents.
• Train and supervise Tribal cultural Resource Monitors in field survey, site identification, site testing, and preparation of field reports.
• Project Management for traditional plant and animal Inventory.
• Grant writing for relevant cultural resource preservation and protection
• Coordination of the Native American Graves Repatriation Program.
• Reviews all Initial Study (environmental) submittals to identify data pertinent to archaeological assessment; from available archaeological data determines whether in-field assessment is necessary for evaluation of archaeological resources
• Does or oversees assessment of archaeological sensitivity using available maps, field inspections, and other pertinent information; reviews survey reports to determine their adequacy, and appropriateness of proposed measures to mitigate potential damage to archaeological resources
• Does or oversees field inspections of proposed projects areas to determine the likelihood or the presence of cultural resources, and the potential archaeological sensitivity of the area.
• Performs and/or leads fieldwork surveys, excavation, monitoring, laboratory analysis and interpretation.
• Reviews or oversees the review of statements dealing with archaeological impacts in Environmental Impact Reports and evaluates their accuracy.
• Writes or oversees the writing of archaeological segments of Planning Department reports.
• Gathers pertinent area information and constructs, or oversees the construction of, sensitivity maps for all areas of Riverside County.
• Screens cultural resource consultants in inclusion to the Tribe’s list of consultants
• In conjunction with the archives coordinator and maintains the Agua Caliente Cultural Register database.
• Writes, edits and publishes pamphlets and booklets on prehistoric Native American cultures for public use
• Lectures to school groups, clubs, civic organizations, professional groups, and visitors.
• Assists in the maintenance of a reference library, and the Agua Caliente Cultural Register.
• Must comply with all applicable internal controls, standard operating procedures and Tribal Regulations. Documents and reports all exceptions/variations/deviations immediately upon awareness
  
  

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Cultural Monitors
  
  

ACCESS TO SENSITIVE AREAS AND INFORMATION

• Sensitive Tribal information
• Cultural Register (Cultural Resources Inventories, site records, maps)
• Visits to cultural sites will be required
  
  

SIGNATORY ABILITY

• HR Related Forms
  
  

Qualifications

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• Master’s degree in Anthropology, Archaeology, or closely related field.
• A minimum of five (5) years of practical experience in cultural resource management, including field archaeology and archaeological laboratory work.
• Demonstrated knowledge of current local research methods and field application of archaeological principles; knowledge of federal, state, local and tribal regulatory framework pertaining to cultural resources.
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in writing technical documents for projects.
• Knowledge of environmental impact and evaluation reporting procedures; knowledge of basic planning practices and procedures of the Tribe, knowledge of government-to-government consultation procedures for Native American cultural resources; knowledge of local prehistoric, ethnographic, and historic cultures and chronologies.
• Demonstrated background in sections 106 and 110 of the NHPA, as well as understanding and working with the various programmatic agreements and protocols established by land management agencies as diverse as the US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, Federal Regulatory Commission, and other state, private, and federal agencies.
• Demonstrated background in National Environmental Policy Act.
• Meets the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualifications criteria for Archeologist and/or on the Registry of Professional Archaeologists (RPA).
  
  

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL DEMANDS

To perform this job successfully, the individual must be able to stand, move and work throughout the office area and field sites, including walking up to 1 ½ mile, climbing stairs and walking on uneven surfaces.

Typically the individual will be housed in an office environment but must be able to work in extreme weather conditions to include extreme heat and cold weather. Must be able to travel in and out of Palm Springs, California area.