What are the responsibilities and job description for the SPC Senior Cultural Resources Technician position at GAI Consultants Inc?
Systems Planning Corporation (SPC), a subsidiary company of GAI Consultants, Inc., is seeking to hire temporary Cultural Resources Technicians to support various projects across the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Western regions. Currently, we have numerous surveys scheduled to start through the first and second quarters of 2026 that are expected to continue through the summer field season including individual, long-term projects that will extend for periods of 2-4 months. Salary will be based on field experience with potential for select positions to become permanent.
Senior Technicians will be responsible for identifying, excavating, and recording archaeological resources and sites following state archaeological standards. Projects may include Phase I through Phase III investigations involving both historic-period and prehistoric sites.
If you are interested in this position, we encourage you to apply immediately as we are assembling our crews now.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities or this Job include but are not limited to:
- Follows required health and safety policies as specified by GAI, client, and OSHA
- Maintains appropriate level of client confidentiality
- Excavates, screens, collects and documents archaeological resources/sites in accordance with state archaeological standards (soils, artifacts, mapping)
- Identifies and records any archaeological features and/or structures within project study areas
- Photographs and maps survey areas, testing locations, excavations, and any observable cultural resources
- Accurately completes paper and/or electronic field forms
- Records soils using a Munsell soil chart
- Uses a compass for basic orienteering within the project vicinity
- Manually removes brush/vegetation when necessary
- Works outdoors in varying weather conditions
- Hikes, off trail, while carrying tools and equipment
Requirements:
- Bachelors (or higher) degree in Anthropology, Archaeology, or a closely related field
- 1-3 year’s cultural resource management experience in North America
- Experience in archaeological field excavation techniques
- Excellent communication and note-taking skills
- Conversant with historic and/or precontact material culture
- Willingness to travel using independent means of transportation
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to:
- Use fine motor skills to handle delicate objects, write by hand, feel sharp objects, and reach with hands/arms
- Hike over various types of terrain while carrying up to 25lbs of gear
- Extensively dig/shovel
- Manually clear brush/vegetation from testing locations
- Work outdoors in extreme temperatures and weather conditions
- Possess satisfactory close-range vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus
- Lift and/or move up to 40lbs
- Stand, walk, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl
- Performs all other duties assigned by the supervisor