Archaeologist

King County•Seattle, WA

14h•Hybrid

About The Position

This recruitment may be used to establish a pool of qualified candidates to fill future career service Archeologist (PPM III) positions within the Department of Natural Resources & Parks (DNRP) over the next 6 months. The Capital Delivery/Management & Support Section of the Water and Land Resources Division is seeking an Archaeologist (Project and Program Manager III) to help our division protect and preserve cultural and historic resources while advancing projects and initiatives that improve water quality, restore and reconnect salmon habitat and help reduce flood hazards in our community. The Archaeologist supports capital projects by identifying and protecting cultural resources through research, surveys, tribal consultation, and regulatory compliance. They integrate findings into design and permitting, monitor construction, manage consultant work, provide staff training, and coordinate countywide processes to ensure consistent, effective cultural resource protection. In this role, they will work closely with Capital Project teams, project sponsors, the KC Historic Preservation Program, tribes and resource agencies to help identify and protect cultural resources while restoring watershed health throughout the county. The Capital Delivery Section (CDS) designs and delivers high-quality capital projects that use the best available science to protect and enhance King County’s water and land resources. Our work improves water quality, restores and enhances fish habitat, strengthens community resilience to flooding and climate change, and deepens people’s connection to the natural world. Our multidisciplinary team—engineers, ecologists, project managers, and geologists—collaborates to develop innovative solutions that restore watershed health across the county’s four major river basins. We engage the communities we serve to identify needs and deliver effective projects that reduce flood hazards, support the health and well-being of residents, uphold tribal treaty rights, address inequities, and contribute to the recovery of threatened salmon and orca populations. The Water and Land Resources Division (WLRD) is at the forefront of King County’s efforts to protect and restore clean water and healthy habitat and strengthen the resilience of communities, environment, and infrastructure in the face of climate change. We are a dedicated workforce of more than 450 supported by an annual budget of $280 million. WLRD has a strong track record of developing innovative strategies to protect working farms and forests, restore habitat, improve water quality, and provide county residents with equitable access to green space. We house the Land Conservation Initiative, which aims to preserve our last, most important lands. Our forestry and agricultural programs help individuals protect their lands and support local food production. We house four salmon recovery forums where we collaborate with scores of partners to plan, design, and build habitat projects. We partner with regional jurisdictions to help residents and businesses reduce the threats posed by production, use, storage, and disposal of hazardous materials. We are the primary service provider to the King County Flood Control District, contributing to flood preparedness and constructing and maintaining facilities that restore rivers and reduce risk. Our one true local service to unincorporated King County is stormwater management, protecting water quality, reducing flooding, and building and maintaining facilities. Finally, we provide regional science and laboratory services to an array of customers, maintaining high-quality data sets used to assess water quality and habitat trends, and provide Best Available Science to inform decision making. In two words, we are a watershed utility. King County, named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is a diverse and vibrant community that represents cultures from around the world. Our True North is to create a welcoming community where everyone can thrive. We prioritize equity, racial and social justice, making it a foundational and daily expectation for all employees. As an Archaeologist (Project and Program Manager III) , you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work. Learn more about our commitment at http://www.kingcounty.gov/equity . Apply now for a rewarding career at the Water and Land Resource Division of King County Department of Natural Resources & Parks (DNRP). Join our talented workforce in protecting and restoring the natural environment and promoting more resilient, sustainable, and equitable communities. Enjoy training, comprehensive benefits , and growth opportunities.

Requirements

Master's degree in Archaeology, Anthropology, Cultural Resource management in accordance with Secretary of Interior standard for professional archaeologists.
Two (2) years of full-time professional work experience as an archeologist performing office and field work, including cultural and historical aspects of Native American Tribes of the Northwest.
Knowledge of relevant state and federal regulations, standards, and procedures related to historic preservation and cultural resource management.
Knowledge of Geographic Information System (GIS) development and implementation, including Environmental Systems Research Institute programs like ArcGIS Pro.
Ability to communicate effectively in both oral and written forms.
Demonstrated understanding of and experience working in situations requiring cross-cultural sensitivity and centering racial equity, social justice principles, and environmental justice.

Nice To Haves

Geoarchaeology
Human Osteology
Historic Archaeology Built Environment Evaluation
Traditional Cultural Properties
Lithic Analysis
Faunal Analysis
Archaeobotanical Properties
Remote Sensing

Responsibilities

Conduct archival research, field surveys and consultation with tribal and cultural resource experts to identify and characterize potential cultural and/or historic resources on capital project sites.
Document findings and where necessary define appropriate protections and/or mitigation to avoid impacts to identified resources in compliance with federal, state, tribal, and local regulations (e.g., Section 106, NEPA, state statutes, KC Executive Cultural Resources Policy and Procedures).
Integrate cultural resource considerations into project design by coordinating with project team members, the King County Historic Preservation Program, Tribal staff and regulatory agencies.
Prepare technical reports, permit documentation, and avoidance or mitigation strategies to support timely approvals.
Provide archaeological monitoring during ground-disturbing activities, implement inadvertent discovery protocols, coordinate with construction teams, and document findings to ensure resource protection while minimizing project delays.
Provide training and support to WLRD staff on cultural resource topics and applicable laws, policy and guidelines.
Help scope, negotiate and manage cultural resources consultant contracts to support capital delivery teams.
Review consultant deliverables for content and accuracy and concurrence with recommendations.
Work closely with HPP staff and cultural resource professionals across DNRP to establish consistent processes and procedures that make review, coordination and protection of cultural resource more effective, timely and predictable.