Senior Cultural Resources Specialist (Archaeologist)

This posting will remain open until filled, with the first review of candidates scheduled to begin on December 12, 2024. It can close at any time after that without further notice.

We are the Metropolitan Council, the regional government for the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. We plan 30 years ahead for the future of the metropolitan area and provide regional transportation, wastewater, and housing services. More information about us on our website.

We are committed to supporting a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

The Environmental Services Division has two vacancies for a Senior Resources Cultural Specialist.

Join an award-winning wastewater industry leader in protecting our environment! Environmental Services (ES) operates and maintains the wastewater collection and treatment system in the Twin Cities metropolitan region. It also provides coordinated long-range water resources and supply planning, and air and water quality monitoring to meet future needs. ES treatment plants consistently earn state and national awards for complete compliance with their environmental permits. ES received a Governor's Award as a Great Place to Work.

How your work would contribute to our organization and the Twin Cities region:

The Senior Cultural Resources Specialist supports the cultural resources work within the Environmental Services division at the Metropolitan Council. This position ensures construction and maintenance projects of the division comply with the requirements of Minnesota Statute 307.08 (Private Cemeteries Act), Minnesota Statute 138.40 (Field Archaeology Act), Minnesota Statues 138.661-138.669 (the Minnesota Historic Sites Act), and other applicable state and federal laws and regulations including Section 106 of the National Register of Historic Places Federal Public Law 106. As a qualified archeologist, this position has the required qualifications to undertake independent investigations to assess and monitor potential impact on known or potential archeologist sites.

As a senior cultural resources specialist, you will lead cultural resources work for multiple wastewater system projects varying in size and complexity; develop or assist in project budgets and schedules; monitor consulting work, costs, and progress; anticipate potential problem areas; and identify and implement measures to effectively align tribal relations and wastewater service needs.

Notes:

• The person in this role is occasionally required to travel to other locations in the Twin Cities region that may not be accessible by public transit.
• Job site travel is limited to the Twin Cities metropolitan area
• This position is eligible for a hybrid (remote and onsite) telework arrangement. The candidate's permanent residence must be in Minnesota or Wisconsin.

• Establish and maintain cultural resources policy and procedures.
• Review proposed projects to determine the scope of cultural resources work and whether to hire a qualified firm or conduct the work in-house. This includes directing technical research and cultural resource survey reports.
• Prepare scopes of work, budgeting, and contracts when a contractor will do the cultural resources work.
• Serve as a licensed archaeological principal investigator or oversee a contracted person who serves as a licensed archaeological principal investigator to conduct fieldwork and make decisions that will impact the site.
• Conduct or observe contractor archaeological monitoring to identify, document, protect, and/or recover potential archaeological resources discovered during construction activities.
• Provide information on cultural resources to support tribal consultation, coordination, and collaboration. When appropriate, carry out tribal consultation with Tribal Historic Preservation Program Officers (THPOs) and other tribal historians on projects.
• Contribute to developing and maintaining a robust divisional tribal relations program, including applying continuous improvement to processes, policies, and procedures and supporting staff training.
• Direct, develop, and/or oversee the creation of agreements with agencies and organizations, both program-wide and project-specific, including memorandums of agreement, programmatic agreements, partnership agreements, interagency agreements, and professional/technical (P/T) contracts
• Engage with others to support division and Council needs.

• Master's Degree, with a specialty in Archaeology.
• Meet State of Minnesota licensing requirements to be a Phase I Principal Investigator - Archaeologist, Minnesota professional qualifications evaluation,
• Three (3) years of full-time professional experience as a certified archaeologist, including extensive knowledge of and experience with the requirements of Minnesota Statute 307.08 (Private Cemeteries Act) and Minnesota Statute 138.40 (Field Archaeology Act), and other laws and regulations, including Section 106 of the National Register of Historic Places and the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.
• Possess a valid driver's license.

• Previously qualified as a Phase I Principal Investigator - Archaeologist, in Minnesota.
• Previously met the Secretary of the Interior's (36CFR61) Professional Standards for Historic and Prehistoric Archaeology,
• Five (5) years of full-time professional experience conducting cultural resources investigations, program administration, resource or site management, educational activities, curation or preservation of cultural resources, and ensuring compliance with state and federal cultural resources laws and regulations.
• Experience in environmental quality (air, land, and water), public utilities such as wastewater and stormwater facilities, public infrastructure projects, or similar areas.
• Knowledge and experience in working with Tribal Nations of Minnesota, as well as the ability to communicate effectively on behalf of an organization with Tribal staff, are highly preferred.
• GIS skills

• Ability to conduct construction monitoring activities; field investigations, surveys, and project studies; archaeological excavation; artifact identification; and associated fieldwork.
• Understanding of policies affecting Minnesota Tribal Nations and communities.
• Proficient in using Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, Access, SharePoint, PowerPoint).
• Skilled in searching archeological databases.
• Ability to read and interpret archeological survey maps, USGS topographic maps, and aerial photos
• Ability to search GIS databases to understand project locations and implications.
• Able to operate various types of GPS equipment.
• Ability to work independently or effectively in a team environment to secure cooperation with individuals for which they have no direct control.
• Ability to understand and follow federal environmental review regulations, laws, and executive orders.
• Excellent written communication skills for technical reports, letters, memos, proposals, electronic mail, instructional materials, and contracts.
• Ability to prioritize work, analyze and solve complex problems, and meet deadlines.
• Skilled in public speaking, with the ability to make complex technical information understandable to non-technical audiences.
• Ability to maintain a high level of attention to detail.
• Culturally sensitive interactions.
• Ability to balance and prioritize competing priorities.

• We offer the opportunity to make a difference and positively influence the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
• We encourage employees to develop skills through on-site training and tuition reimbursement.
• We provide a competitive salary, excellent benefits, and a good work/life balance.

More about why you should join us!

Union/Salary Grade: AFSCME, Grade I
FLSA Status: Exempt
Safety Sensitive: No

What your work environment would be:

Work is divided between a fieldwork environment (hot/cold, dusty, humid, odorous, and wet) and a normal office environment. The position may require frequent travel by car between the primary work site and other sites. The work environment changes depending on the project assignment and outdoor weather conditions. Field work may take place near heavy equipment and be near an industrial wastewater treatment plant or collection system environment.