Field Leader - Environmental

Title: Archeological Field Supervisor/Crew Chief

Division: LJA Environmental Services, LLC

Location: Austin, TX

LJA recognizes that our success depends on the quality of the people we hire. We are currently seeking highly talented individuals that take pride in their work, function exceptionally well in team environments, and contribute to the overall success of the company. As a 100% employee-owned company, we promote an entrepreneurial spirit that helps drive the bottom line and the long-term professional and financial success of our employees. With more than 50 office locations, LJA is growing and ready for talented people to help us build our future.

Horizon Environmental Services (Horizon; a branch of LJA Environmental Services, LLC) is currently seeking qualified applicants to fill multiple Archeological Field Supervisor/Crew Chief positions for projects across Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. Projects range from smaller tasks that can be completed in a few days to larger engagements involving extended out-of-town stays. This is largely a fieldwork position but may involve some follow-up office/laboratory work to assist with processing field data.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead crews on archeological field projects, including reconnaissance surveys, impact assessments, intensive surveys, construction monitoring, and excavation projects.
• Effectively and efficiently manage field staff to complete field projects on schedule and within budget.
• Travel extensively within Texas and surrounding states (primarily Oklahoma and Louisiana) to fulfill archeological fieldwork needs. Smaller projects are typically conducted within the normal work week (Monday to Friday). Larger out-of-town projects may require that field staff work occasional weekends (e.g., tendays) or unusual schedules (e.g., 6 days on, 1 day off).
• Recognize and record prehistoric and historic artifacts and cultural features, record characteristics of soils and the natural environment, oversee the recording and mapping of archeological sites and historic structures, collect global positioning system (GPS) data, and navigate accurately and efficiently in the field.
• Review field paperwork and notes generated by field crew members (e.g., shovel test logs, backhoe trenching forms, excavation unit forms, photographic logs, field notes) for accuracy and completeness, and work with crew members to address and correct any problems with field paperwork.
• Process post-field data, including managing GPS data; processing data from shovel tests, backhoe trenches, and excavation units; uploading digital photographs; reviewing photographic logs; completing archeological site forms and historic structure forms; and assisting with development of map figures for technical reports.

Minimum Required Qualifications:

• A., B.S., or similar qualifying degree in Archeology, Anthropology, or a closely related field.
• Prior completion of an archeological field school sponsored through an accredited university. (Note: Horizon understands that not all students who graduated during or in the immediate post-Covid era had an opportunity to attend an accredited field school. In this case, equivalent advanced coursework or work experience may be considered in lieu of a field school.)
• Minimum of two (2) years of continuous or equivalent professional experience in Texas, Great Plains, Southwestern, and/or Southeastern archeology, including archeological survey and/or excavation experience. At least six (6) months of this prior field experience must have been serving in a leadership role at the field supervisor/crew chief or equivalent level.
• Ability to recognize prehistoric and historic artifacts, cultural features, archeological sites, and historic structures and objects.
• The ability to communicate with and respond positively to direction from management staff, to effectively and efficiently manage field staff to complete projects on time and within budget, as well as to work unsupervised, functioning as an effective, self-motivated, and highly capable individual and as a productive, responsive, and enthusiastic crew leader.
• Familiarity with GPS devices and digital data collection.
• Attention to detail and strong field record-keeping and note-taking skills.
• Possess a valid driver’s license with no encumbrances to travel as needed for fieldwork.

Additional Preferred Qualifications:

• Residency in the Central Texas, Houston, or Dallas-Fort Worth areas. Currently, Horizon is mainly seeking local applicants to assist with a variety of projects. Some longer-term opportunities for non-local applicants may be available, though these postings are likely to be limited.
• Prior experience in cultural resources management projects conducted for regulatory compliance purposes.
• Familiarity with state and federal regulations governing cultural resources and heritage management.
• Ability to operate mechanical field equipment, such as field trucks, 4-wheel-drive vehicles, all-terrain/utility vehicles (ATV/UTV), and/or heavy machinery (e.g., augers, corers, excavators).
• Familiarity with laboratory methods, procedures, and protocols for processing collections of archeological materials (e.g., artifacts, bulk collections) and project records (e.g., field paperwork, photographs, artifact catalogs) for permanent curation at approved curation facilities.
• Familiarity with ArcGIS software.

Physical Requirements:

• Applicants should expect to safely conduct physically demanding fieldwork, involving extensive walking and hiking outdoors, bending and lifting, and manual excavation of shovel tests and test units in extreme conditions (e.g., hot and cold weather, rugged terrain, dense vegetation, remote locations).

Employment Benefits and Conditions:

Currently, all positions being filled are temporary, but some projects may involve 40+ hour work weeks, and overtime is payable at 1.5x. Based on performance and continuing work load, qualified candidates with excellent field skills, leadership abilities, a great attitude, and a professional work ethic may be offered full-time, salaried positions with benefits following an initial evaluation period, including group insurance (health, dental, vision, life, and disability), paid time off (PTO), 401(k), and an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP).

Lodging and per diem will be provided for out-of-town projects involving an overnight stay but will not be available for local projects.

All applicants are subject to a pre-hire drug screening and quarterly random testing under US Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) drug and alcohol regulations (49 CFT Part 199).

Horizon participates in E-Verify, a service of the US Department of Homeland Security and US Social Security Administration (www.dhs.gov/e-verify).

We thank everyone for their interest in applying for a position with Horizon; however, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. For additional information about Horizon and LJA, please visit our web sites at www.horizon-esi.com and www.lja.com.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)