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Director Archaeology Jobs (NOW HIRING)

HDR

Field Director

Metairie, LA

Manage archaeological surveys and site documentation, including feature and artifact identification and analyses; performing shovel test pits (STPs); site descriptions; photographs; and mapping

New

Westland Resources

Archaeology Field Director

Reno, NV · On-site

$30 - $39.50/hr

WestLand is seeking full-time Archaeology Field Directors for our growing western Cultural Resources teams. Our crews can be found working for a variety of clients throughout the West where we ...

Westland Resources

Archaeology Field Director

Reno, NV · On-site

$30 - $39.50/hr

WestLand is seeking full-time Archaeology Field Directors for our growing western Cultural Resources teams. Our crews can be found working for a variety of clients throughout the West where we ...

WestLand Resources

Archaeology Field Director

Reno, NV · On-site +1

$30 - $39.50/hr

WestLand is seeking full-time Archaeology Field Directors for our growing western Cultural Resources teams. Our crews can be found working for a variety of clients throughout the West where we ...

Merjent

Staff Archaeologist - Bismarck, ND

Bismarck, ND · On-site

$72K - $111K/yr

position summaryMerjent, Inc. (Merjent) is seeking a full-time Staff Archaeologist/Principal Investigator to conduct, oversee, and direct archaeological field investigations, implementing field ...

Westland Resources

Archaeology Field Director

Tucson, AZ · On-site

$30 - $39/hr

WestLand is seeking a full-time Archaeology Field Director to join our Cultural Resources team in Tucson Arizona. The ideal candidate will have an expertise in southwestern cultural history ...

WSP

Senior Archaeologist

Cottonwood Heights, UT

Bachelor's degree or commensurate experience in Archaeology, Anthropology, or a related discipline. * Minimum of five years of experience as a project archaeologist/field director in the Great Basin ...

WSP

Senior Archaeologist

Cottonwood Heights, UT · On-site

Bachelor's degree or commensurate experience in Archaeology, Anthropology, or a related discipline. * Minimum of five years of experience as a project archaeologist/field director in the Great Basin ...

Merjent

Staff Archaeologist - Bismarck, ND

Bismarck, ND · On-site

$72K - $111K/yr

position summary Merjent, Inc. (Merjent) is seeking a full-time Staff Archaeologist/Principal Investigator to conduct, oversee, and direct archaeological field investigations, implementing field ...

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Director Archaeology information

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$13K

$83.8K

$172.5K

How much do director archaeology jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for director archaeology in the United States is $83,846.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $50,000.00 and $106,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the main challenges a director of archaeology typically faces when managing multiple excavation projects?

A Director of Archaeology often encounters the challenge of balancing limited resources—such as budgets, staff, and equipment—across several concurrent projects. Coordinating with interdisciplinary teams, navigating regulatory requirements, and ensuring proper documentation and preservation of findings are also key aspects of the role. Effective communication with stakeholders, including local communities and governmental agencies, is essential to address logistical or cultural concerns that may arise. Successfully managing these complexities requires strong leadership, organizational skills, and adaptability.

Is archaeology a stressful job?

Archaeology as a profession can be stressful due to project deadlines, fieldwork conditions, and funding constraints. It often requires physical effort, attention to detail, and adaptability to changing environments, which can contribute to job-related stress.

What does a director of archaeology do?

A Director of Archaeology oversees archaeological projects, managing teams of archaeologists and ensuring that excavations and research comply with legal and ethical standards. They are responsible for securing funding, developing research strategies, and liaising with government agencies, academic institutions, and the public. Their role often includes supervising the documentation, preservation, and analysis of archaeological finds, as well as contributing to publications and educational outreach. This position requires strong leadership, organizational skills, and in-depth knowledge of archaeological methods and regulations.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a director of archaeology?

To thrive as a Director of Archaeology, you need advanced knowledge in archaeological theory and methods, a relevant graduate degree (often a PhD), and extensive fieldwork experience. Familiarity with GIS software, heritage management systems, and relevant permits or certifications (such as Registered Professional Archaeologist) is common. Strong leadership, project management, and communication skills are vital for overseeing multidisciplinary teams and engaging stakeholders. These skills ensure effective research, compliance with regulations, and the successful preservation and interpretation of cultural heritage.

What is the difference between Director Archaeology vs Archaeologist?

AspectDirector ArchaeologyArchaeologist
CredentialsBachelor's or master's degree; often requires experience in leadership rolesBachelor's or master's degree in archaeology or related field
Work EnvironmentLeadership in research projects, managing teams, overseeing budgetsFieldwork, lab analysis, research, and excavation activities
Employer & Industry UsageUniversities, government agencies, cultural resource firmsResearch institutions, museums, government agencies, private firms

The main difference is that a Director Archaeology oversees projects and teams, focusing on management and strategy, while an Archaeologist conducts fieldwork and research. Both roles require relevant education, but the Director typically has more experience and leadership responsibilities.

Is there a high demand for archaeologists?

The demand for archaeologists, including those in director roles, is generally steady but varies by region and funding availability. Employment is often linked to academic, government, and cultural resource management projects, with opportunities increasing as heritage preservation and environmental assessments grow in importance.
More about Director Archaeology jobs

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Cities with the most Director Archaeology job openings:

What are the most commonly searched types of Archaeology jobs?

The most popular types of Archaeology jobs are:

What states have the most Director Archaeology jobs?

States with the most job openings for Director Archaeology jobs include:

What job categories do people searching Director Archaeology jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for Director Archaeology jobs are:

Director Archaeology jobs near you
Infographic showing various Director Archaeology job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 85% Full Time, 12% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $83,846 per year, or $40.3 per hour.

Field Director

HDR

Metairie, LA

Full-time

Posted 2 days ago

New

HDR rating

9.2

Company rating: 9.2 out of 10

Based on 58 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

33rd of 447 rated engineering

Job description

At HDR, our employee-owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. As we work to weave diversity, equity, and inclusion into our work and foster a sense of belonging throughout the company and within our communities, we constantly ask ourselves: What is our impact on the world?
Watch Our Story:' https://www.hdrinc.com/our-story'
Each and every role throughout our organization makes a difference in our ability to change the world for the better. Read further to learn how you could help make great things possible not only in your community, but around the world.

To support its growing CRM program in the Louisiana / Mississippi area, HDR is seeking a qualified person for a career level position in our Metairie, Louisiana office. Field directors are responsible for managing archaeological field investigations, directing field crews, documenting archaeological sites, and authoring technical reports. 

Primary Responsibilities

In the role of Field Director, Archaeology, we'll count on you to:

  • Manage archaeological surveys and site documentation, including feature and artifact identification and analyses; performing shovel test pits (STPs); site descriptions; photographs; and mapping 
  • Possess the technical knowledge to supervise archaeological field technicians and crew chiefs in field and office settings
  • Work with multi-disciplinary teams in our Resources (strong focus on power market sector), Transportation, and Water Business Groups in the South Central (TX, OK, LA, AR, MS) region and nationally to help plan, staff, and execute major cultural resource management efforts 
  • Manage the production of professional quality reports for NRHP and NEPA compliance
  • Perform other duties as needed

Physical Requirements

  • Must be able to record cultural resources in the field without any physical assistance (this could include hiking short distances in scrub and native vegetation)
  • Must be able to lift up to 20 pounds without assistance
  • Must be able to effectively communicate in person, by telephone, and email
  • Must be able to effectively work in minimally supervised and/or unsupervised environments
  • Work hours other than 8 to 5 which may include weekends and/or night shifts
  • Must have a valid Driver's License
  • Be able to operate a vehicle day or night
  • Approximately 80% travel required

Preferred Qualifications

  • Minimum 2 years' experience managing junior staff during fieldwork and report preparation
    Master's Degree Archaeology, Anthropology, Architectural History or closely related field
  • Must be able to perform physically demanding tasks in adverse environmental conditions (e.g., rugged terrain, remote locations, hot and cold temperatures).
  • Must have good organizational skills, a positive attitude, strong work ethic, and willingness to learn and execute new tasks.
  • Applicants will be required to submit both a writing sample and verifiable references 
  • Previous work experience in cultural resource projects

#LI-KT1

Required Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Archaeology, Anthropology, Architectural History or closely related field
  • Experience with Microsoft Office Suite
  • Self-starter with excellent writing and communication skills
  • Willingness to work under varied weather conditions
  • Successful candidates must be familiar with field study design and documentation, regulatory framework for cultural resource management, and GIS utilities
  • An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture is a must

What We Believe
HDR is our company. Together, we build on each other's life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day. This shapes our collaborative culture, encourages organizational trust and connects us closer to the clients and communities we serve.
Our Commitment
As employee owners, we all have a role in creating an inclusive environment where each of us is welcomed, valued, respected and empowered to bring our authentic selves to work every day.
Our eight Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals) help create a sense of belonging and foster a supportive environment where everyone is empowered to engage and contribute. Each group has an executive sponsor and is open to all employees.

What HDR employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

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About HDR

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

At HDR, we specialize in engineering, architecture, environmental and construction services. While we are most well-known for adding beauty and structure to communities through high-performance buildings and smart infrastructure, we provide much more than that. We create an unshakable foundation for progress because our multidisciplinary teams also include scientists, economists, builders, analysts and artists.

Industry

Specialized design services

Company size

5,001 - 10,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Omaha, NE, US

Year founded

1917

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