Archaeological Field Director – Southeastern U.S.
Nutter & Associates, Inc.
Who We Are
Nutter and Associates, Inc. is a small environmental consulting firm with offices in Athens, Georgia and Asheville, NC. We provide a broad range of environmental consulting services, technology and expertise for environmental and land management issues. We are a small but growing company, and we’re committed to creating a supportive and positive work environment for our employees (especially the folks working outside all day!) and providing quality outputs for our clients. We provide a competitive salary and pay 100% of health insurance costs for full-time employees, spouses, and children.
Position Overview
Nutter & Associates is seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Archaeological Field Director to support cultural resource projects across the southeast. This position is ideal for candidates with a strong background in CRM archaeology and demonstrated experience leading field investigations (ideally using a landform-based approach) and supervising crews.
The Field Director will be responsible for managing and executing archaeological fieldwork, including survey, testing, and data recovery projects. This role involves supervising field crews, ensuring quality data collection, and supporting compliance with federal and state regulations. The position also includes contributing to technical reporting and coordinating with the Program Manager and Principal Investigators.
Responsibilities
- Help plan, manage, and execute archaeological field investigations, including Phase I (survey), Phase II (testing), and Phase III (data recovery) projects
- Direct fieldwork and supervise archaeological crews, including mentoring junior staff
- Oversee daily field operations, logistics, and crew safety
- Ensure compliance with Section 106 of the NHPA and applicable state regulations in southeastern states
- Identify, record, and evaluate archaeological sites, including NRHP eligibility recommendations
- Maintain accurate field records, maps, GPS data, and photographic documentation
- Conduct background research and assist in preparing work plans and cultural resource documentation
- Analyze artifacts and field data and synthesize results for technical reports
- Write or contribute to technical reports, including site forms and management summaries
- Coordinate regarding schedules, budgets, and project progress
- Assist with proposal preparation and project planning as needed
Qualifications
- Master’s degree in Anthropology, Archaeology, or related field. We can be flexible on other qualifications for the right candidate, but we need someone with a Master’s in hand by this summer.
- Minimum of 3–5 years of CRM field experience, including supervisory roles
- Demonstrated experience directing archaeological surveys and/or excavations
- Meets the Secretary of the Interior (SOI) Professional Qualifications Standards
- Strong knowledge of southeastern U.S. archaeology
- Experience with GPS/GIS data collection and digital recording methods, preferably Fieldmaps
- Experience with landform survey methodology
- Excellent organizational and technical writing skills
- Familiarity with federal and state cultural resource regulations and permitting processes
- Valid driver’s license and willingness to travel for fieldwork
Travel Requirements
This position requires frequent travel (up to ~75%) for fieldwork throughout the Southeast. Travel may include extended field assignments and short-notice mobilization depending on project needs. We try to rotate field directors in and out of the field as desired to hit more of a 50% writing/field time, but this is a moving target. We will provide a company truck, but occasional use of a personal vehicle may be required (with time and mileage reimbursed).
Physical Demands & Work Environment
Work is primarily conducted outdoors in a variety of environments, including forests, wetlands, and active construction sites. Conditions may include heat, humidity, uneven terrain, and exposure to insects and weather.
- Ability to walk long distances over rough terrain
- Ability to lift and carry up to ~40 lbs. of field equipment
- Ability to work in varying weather conditions for extended periods
Compensation & Benefits
- This is a salaried position with a base annual pay that ranges between $50,000-$65,000, according to experience and education.
- Health insurance is 100% paid by Nutter and Associates. Subsidized vision, dental, injury, and illness insurance are available. Other fringe benefits are available (retirement benefits with match, long and short term disability).
- Standard holidays (11) are paid and PTO accrued. Usually an additional day or so of PTO are provided around Christmas, Thanksgiving, and New Years depending on where they fall in the week.
- Mid and end of year bonuses.
- Work location is flexible when not in the field (i.e., writing from home).
- Per diem for travel and work days away from home (standard federal rates)
- Lodging provided for field projects
- Opportunities for advancement within a growing firm
To Apply
To apply, please email a CV, with at least two professional references with email contact info, to Hannah Morris, [email protected], and include “Field Director Application” in the subject.
Nutter & Associates, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Pay: $25.00 - $31.00 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
- Vision insurance
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Athens, GA 30606
