Job Description

Cultural Resource Archaeologist | Salary Range: $37.26 - $55.42 / hourly; $77,798 - $115,716 / annually

Are you looking for an exciting opportunity to get your foot in the door with State of Minnesota? If so, come join our MnDOT team in St. Paul, MN !

WHY WORK FOR US? Check us out:

This position may have the flexibility to telework, work a hybrid schedule, or work in the office. The incumbent will be required to make a telework arrangement with their supervisor. The incumbent will be expected to work in the office as determined by policy and discussion with their supervisor.

Our Archaeologist position exists to direct and to perform cultural resources reviews for Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) funded and MnDOT funded projects under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and Minnesota State Statutes. The individual in this position will also:

• Conduct statewide cultural resources consultation, contract management, training and liaison activities related to FHWA funded (both state and local) and MnDOT funded projects and permit reviews. This involves communication with consultants, the FHWA, MnDOT offices and districts, local project proposers, the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), Tribal Historic Preservation Offices (THPO), and members of the public.
• Manage Section 106 reviews for federal undertakings and MnDOT projects including delineating the area of potential effect, conducting inventory and evaluation of historic properties, assessing effects to historic properties, and developing agreements for the mitigation of effects. They will complete contract management tasks and direct consultants.
• Works to ensure compliance with federal and state historic preservation laws, rules, procedures and policies that must be satisfied for transportation projects within the state of Minnesota.

WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU? Learn more about our benefits:

• Health & Wellness: Low-cost medical, dental, vision, & prescription drug plans; health, dental, & dependent care spending accounts; Employee Assistance Program (EAP), health & well-being resources
• Financial Well-Being: Public pension plans, deferred compensation plan & health care savings plan; life insurance, short & long-term disability insurance, & paid parental leave
• Professional Development: Tuition assistance, employee education, leadership development
• Work/Life Balance: Paid vacation & sick leave including 12 paid holidays each year
• At-Work Benefits: Employee Resource Groups, employee recognition, employee activities, fitness center at our Central Office

Here are the Minimum Qualifications:

Must meet the federal requirements for an archaeologist as outlined in 36 CFR 61: the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualification Standards. These include:

Must have a graduate degree in archaeology, anthropology, or closely related field, plus:

• At least one year of full-time professional experience or equivalent specialized training in archaeological research, administration, or management.
• At least four months of supervised field and analytical experience in general North American archaeology.
• Demonstrated ability to carry research to completion.

NOTE: a professional in prehistoric archaeology shall have at least one year of full-time professional experience at a supervisory level in the study of archaeological resources of the prehistoric period. A professional in historic archaeology shall have at least one year of full-time professional experience at a supervisory level in the study of archaeological resources of the historic period.

In addition to meeting the federal requirements, applicants must meet the following requirements:

Three (3) years advanced professional experience in archaeological work in the following areas:

• Of those three years of experience, two (2) years should be serving as a Principal Investigator in: conducting archaeological field surveys and testing on Pre-Contact sites; evaluating Pre-Contact sites and other historic properties for eligibility for listing on the National Register of Historic Places; report writing; working with consulting parties; and developing and implementing policies and procedures for reviewing various types of projects for compliance with applicable state and federal laws; and experiencing developing or working with the terms of a Section 106 agreement (MOA or PA).
• Experience working within federal historical procedures and guidelines related to cultural resources reviews, especially Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended; the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969; and Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act of 1966.
• Experience interpreting Minnesota Field Archaeology Act, the Minnesota Historic Sites Act, and the Minnesota Private Cemeteries Act.
• Experience with project management and contract management.
• Experience with written and oral communication sufficient to send complex information to stakeholders, present project information at meetings, etc.
• Experience in GIS including ArcMap, ArcPro, or ArcGIS Online Systems, including understanding coordinate systems, projections, data conversion, data extraction, buffering, overlay analysis, queries, data creation and editing.

APPLY ONLINE BY 10/14/2025 (only applications received on mn.gov/careers will be considered)

1. Go to & click “ Search Open Positions ”
2. Enter the Job Opening ID “89137” in the Keywords search box & click “>>”
3. Click on the Job Title to view the job posting & click “ Apply for Job ”
4. When prompted for your Referral Source, please list: LinkedIn/Ellen

Visit for a listing of all our MnDOT job openings.

Questions? Contact Ellen Behrhorst (MnDOT Recruitment Specialist) - [email protected] | 612.346.8330

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