Archaeological Principal Investigator – Owyhee County, Idaho

Archaeological Principal Investigator – Owyhee County, Idaho 

Far Western Anthropological Research Group, Inc. 

Current Opportunity 

Far Western is seeking Principal Investigators to join us for on-going fieldwork investigations in the western Great Basin. Specifically, we would like to contract with committed individuals seeking work on large-acreage surveys in southwestern Idaho (Owyhee County, southwest of Boise). We envision consecutive rotations and consistent work for several months, running from November 2026 through 2027, weather permitting.  

Compensation 

• Hourly Rate $40/hour. 

• Lodging (single occupancy) and field vehicles arranged by Far Western.  

• $86 per diem per night. 

Project Details  

• Pedestrian inventory and site documentation on public lands.  

• Lodging arranged by Far Western as close to the project area as possible (e.g., Marsing and Silver City, ID, and Jordan Valley, OR). 

Qualifications 

• Currently or previously permitted in Idaho as a Principal Investigator.  

• Professional experience in the Great Basin and Snake River Plain regions.  

• M.S. or M.A.-level education and meets the Secretary of the Interior’s (SOI) Professional Qualification Standards (PQS) in Archaeology.  

• A bachelor’s degree or higher in anthropology/archaeology (or a related field).  

• A field school or commensurate Snake River Plain CRM field experience (e.g., survey, precontact and historic-era site identification/documentation/data collection, excavation, and familiarity with standard electronic devices and hand-held tools).  

• Basic orienteering skills including compass, map, and GPS navigation experience. 

• Ability to comfortably hike for up to 10 consecutive days in the varying conditions of the Western Great Basin.  

• Detail-oriented, able to adapt to varying data collection needs, attention to field methods/pace, and effective in verbal and written communication.  

• Ability to communicate effectively and respectfully with co-workers, verbally and in writing. 

• Willingness to learn/refine new skills on-the-job. 

• Current driver's license and can operate a 4WD vehicle in varying terrain. 

• Can comply with Far Western’s Safety Program and other Far Western training and operations protocols.  

• Experience working outdoors in variable weather conditions and different types of environments. 

• Qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records will be considered.

Additional Preferred Skills 

• Current First Aid/CPR training/certifications.  

• Willingness and ability to camp overnight in remote locations, if needed.  

About Far Western 

Founded in 1979, Far Western Anthropological Research Group is one of the largest and most respected cultural resource management (CRM) firms in the United States. We take pride in guiding private and government clients through the cultural resources compliance process with high-quality cultural resources research, creative and innovative problem-solving, and open communication with native peoples, regulatory agencies, and the interested public. We strive to mentor people into satisfying positions and careers in CRM through working with our experienced staff in the field.  

Incentives 

• On-the-job training for continued work on other regional projects and upward mobility in the industry. 

• Support for scientific conferences and research dissemination (depending on experience). 

If you are interested in joining our team, please visit: https://farwestern.com/job-postings-2/ 

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