Chief Archaeologist

Pivot HR Services is pleased to be hiring for the Chief Archaeologist role on behalf of our valued client, ARCHER Cultural Resource Management Corp (“ARCHER CRM” or “ARCHER”).

About ARCHER

ARCHER CRM is an archaeological consulting company with offices throughout British Columbia. Through education, integrity, and innovation, ARCHER is committed to promoting the values of Canada’s cultural landscape.

At ARCHER, employees have the opportunity to build their careers through a broad range of hands-on experiences and internal growth and development opportunities. The organization values people who bring curiosity, initiative, and new perspectives to their work.

ARCHER strives to create and foster a workplace where diversity and inclusion are encouraged and celebrated. Recognizing that every individual brings unique experiences, cultural histories, and perspectives, ARCHER is building a workplace community where people can contribute creatively, continue to grow, and find success together.

About the Opportunity 

ARCHER is seeking an experienced, thoughtful, and highly organized Chief Archaeologist to provide leadership across its archaeological field services and support the delivery of high-quality work for clients, stakeholders, and communities.

This is a senior role for someone who enjoys bringing people, information, and quality project fieldwork together. You will coordinate with the Chief Project Archaeologist, Project Lead Archaeologists, Project Managers, and support teams to help ensure field archaeologists are well trained, well coordinated, and that their work is completed to a consistent standard.

The successful candidate is a strong communicator and a steady presence in a busy environment. You are comfortable balancing multiple assignments and timelines, supporting and guiding others, solving problems as they arise, and handling sensitive information with discretion. You are a creative and innovative leader who contributes to ARCHER’s goals and continued success.

Key Responsibilities

Reporting directly to the Director of Archaeology, the Chief Archaeologist provides leadership and oversight to field archaeologists and supports the focused execution, day-to-day operation, and delivery of ARCHER’s services. The role is responsible for the conduct of personnel working under its supervision and the quality of their work. Duties include: 

• Lead and manage members of ARCHER’s Field Archaeology Group, promoting quality work, professional discipline, critical thinking, and sound judgment across the team.
• Act as a guide in the day-to-day operations of archaeologists working on ARCHER projects.
• Maintain oversight of archaeologist capacity and assist resourcing for active and forecasted projects.
• Review, assess, and act on capacity risks.
• Follow and meet or exceed ARCHER’s Quality Management System.
• Oversee the compliance of field staff to regulator requirements and ARCHER standards.
• Coordinate with HR, Project Lead Archaeologists, Project Managers, and Chief Project Archaeologist to develop and deliver training and professional development programs for field archaeologists
• Mentor field archaeologists in a manner that supports their professional development, builds confidence and critical-thinking skills, and prepares them for increased responsibility in the field.
• Oversee ARCHER’s Field Director Competency Program and act as the primary support for BC Archaeology Branch Field Director and BCER Certified Field Director applications.
• Conduct field site visits to support the project leadership team and provide additional mentorship in the field.
• Assist with the scheduling of field crews.
• Present the results of their efforts to employees, as required by the Director of Archaeology.
• Maintain client and stakeholder relationships on behalf of ARCHER.
• Bring forward concepts and ideas to the Director of Archaeology that improve the quality, efficiency, and competitiveness of ARCHER’s services and products.
• Propose and review ideas that improve employee efficiency and productivity, strengthen ARCHER’s competitiveness and existing services, and support the development of new products and services aligned with ARCHER’s core business. Develop and/or implement these ideas to the benefit of ARCHER.

Qualifications 

• A Master’s Degree in Archaeology and/or Anthropology with relevant work experience preferred, a Bachelor’s Degree in Archaeology and/or Anthropology combined with equivalent work experience may be considered.
• Prior experience leading an archaeological field school, or acting as a TA on a field school, is beneficial.
• A minimum of seven (7) years of experience, with a proven and positive track record, as an accredited archaeologist.
• A valid, unrestricted BC Class 5 Driver’s License, or equivalent.
• Experience with, or exposure to, financial and project management.
• Strong observational and problem-solving skills, with the ability to maintain and organize effective procedures and systems.
• Clear and professional communication skills, with the ability to represent ARCHER effectively with clients, stakeholders, regulatory agencies, and colleagues.
• Awareness of applicable government regulations.
• Experience operating equipment, devices, and applications used to collect spatial data and information.
• Sound judgment, strong planning and prioritization skills, and the ability to work independently while also leading and supporting a team.
• A commitment to high-quality work, safety, confidentiality, professionalism, budget stewardship, and continuous improvement.

Work Environment 

• This is primarily an in-person role. The Chief Archaeologist is expected to be present in ARCHER offices and in the field for the majority of their time; there is limited opportunity to work remotely.
• The role includes a mix of office-based and outdoor work, with regular travel (by road or air) between ARCHER office locations and field projects.
• Outdoor work occurs year-round across our operating areas and involves walking across varied terrain.

What ARCHER Offers 

• The option to enrol in ARCHER’s health benefits plan upon commencement.
• A Health and Wellness Plan for long-term employees.
• Relocation supplements and support for eligible candidates moving to join ARCHER.
• Internal growth and development opportunities through hands-on experience, mentorship, training, and collaboration across ARCHER’s field and project teams.
• The opportunity to lead and contribute to ARCHER’s Field Director Competency Program, supporting the development of field archaeologists as they build the skills and experience needed to take on Field Director responsibilities.

Compensation

The expected compensation range for this role is $95,680-$104,000 annually, based on a full-time equivalent. The role may be structured as salaried or hourly, depending on the final employment arrangement. Compensation will be determined based on the successful candidate’s experience and qualifications and will fall within the posted range.

How to Apply

On behalf of ARCHER, Pivot HR Services invites interested candidates to submit their resume and cover letter.

Applications will be reviewed as they are received. The posting will remain open until a suitable candidate has been selected.

To be considered for this position, your application must clearly demonstrate how you meet the education and experience as outlined in the position requirements section above. Applicants selected to move forward in the hiring process will be assessed on the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies as outlined in the above job description. 

Commitment to an Equitable and Inclusive Workplace

We are committed to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment. We encourage applications from people with relevant technical skills who come from equity-deserving communities that have been structurally marginalized based on race, religion, nationality, social or ethnic origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, and/or expression. 

Accessibility

We strive to ensure that our online application system and recruitment process are accessible to individuals with different abilities, and we have various accommodations available if you need them. If at any point during the application and/or recruitment process you require an accommodation, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at [email protected].