Bat Conservation International

Cultural Resource Specialist

Southwest USA

Status: Full-time, exempt

Reports to: Cultural Resource Coordinator (Autumn Cool)

Key Relationships: Compliance Team, Habitat Protection & Restoration Program, Conservation Department

Salary: $60,000–$65,000 per year

BCI and our Mission

Bat Conservation International (BCI), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to ending bat extinctions worldwide, seeks a full-time Cultural Resource Specialist to join BCI’s Conservation Department. The Cultural Resource Specialist will work as part of the Compliance Team in the Habitat Protection & Restoration Program (HP&R).

Primary Responsibilities and Expectations

The successful candidate must be qualified for permitting as Field Director or Principal Investigator/Project Director on state, Bureau of Land Management, and/or U.S. Forest Service lands in at least one of the following states: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and/or Utah. The Cultural Resources Specialist will conduct fieldwork and reporting for cultural resource inventories based in the American Southwest, and should live in that region. They will work directly with BCI’s Cultural Resource Coordinator to coordinate with other HP&R teams and external partners to support BCI’s work in the States. Cultural resources work includes documenting and analyzing archaeological sites, completing cultural resource inventory forms, and writing archaeological technical reports. BCI’s Cultural Resource Specialists take turns acting as project leads or assistant archaeologists based on individual permitting and project scheduling.

BCI’s cultural resource inventories are primarily done in combination with subterranean bat surveys to gather information on wildlife and cultural resources at abandoned mines. The inventories are used to guide treatment recommendations to protect important cultural and biological resources during safeguarding and closure of abandoned mines on public lands. BCI’s cultural resource inventories also include block and linear pedestrian surveys of areas selected for wildlife habitat improvement and restoration projects. Upcoming pedestrian surveys include post-fire restoration areas in the Gila and Santa Fe National Forests. This position will also assist with other project duties, including data and photo organization, map production, background research, and other tasks.

Our program highly encourages all staff to seek out opportunities within other teams and specialties to better understand the full capacity of the HP&R program and to build working relationships with colleagues outside of their respective specialties and teams. The ideal candidate will be willing and able to provide writing and fieldwork assistance to other teams within HP&R during lulls in cultural resources work. BCI offers on-the-job training, and opportunities for additional safety/medical certifications are available. Traversing challenging terrain on foot and conducting surveys in inclement, uncomfortable, and variable weather is a part of all field-based work within HP&R.

Work Schedule

The Cultural Resource Specialist is a full-time, primarily remote position. The work schedule will vary based on project needs and availability. The primary duties of the position are to serve as Field Director or Principal Inspector/Project Director for cultural resource inventories in permitted regions. This includes coordinating with coworkers and external partners and leading fieldwork and reporting tasks. The Cultural Resource Specialist will also assist with fieldwork and other project duties for cultural resource inventories led by other BCI staff in other regions as project needs and availability require. Reporting tasks will be completed remotely from a home office. Office work will comprise the majority of duties.

Fieldwork may include up to two field sessions per month during the field season. When fieldwork is expected, advance notice of 1–2 months is generally provided. Fieldwork requires traveling to project sites and living and working in or near project locations. Projects are often in remote, mountainous terrain near small communities with limited services. Field sessions typically last five weekdays, including paid travel days, though some projects may last longer and may include working weekends. Travel and fieldwork days range from 8–12 working hours, sometimes more. Overnight lodging will usually be provided in single-occupancy hotel rooms or shared house rentals with private bedrooms for each team member. Some projects may require overnight camping; BCI will provide basic camping equipment (tent, sleeping bag and pad, stove, etc.) as needed. Meals, equipment, and travel costs will be reimbursed to federal per diem standards.

Additional opportunities within HP&R – if interest and availability permit – may include conducting subterranean wildlife surveys, generating subterranean survey reports, protecting and restoring water resources for wildlife, assisting with agave plantings, generating post-restoration activity reports, assisting with drone surveys, drafting National Environmental Policy Act compliance documents, grant writing, and assisting with data management.

Position Overview

Qualifications and Skills Needed (70% or more of the desired skills, we encourage you to apply):

Required Knowledge/Experience

Preferred Knowledge/Experience:

Field Conditions and Physical Effort

Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (JEDI)

BCI is deeply committed to JEDI and embeds JEDI-centered practices in our conservation work and organizational culture. BCI is determined to be an employer of choice and believes that the best organizational performance will come from a safe, diverse, and inclusive work environment. Read more about our JEDI statement at www.batcon.org/about-us/justice-equity-diversity-and-inclusion/.

To Apply

If you have 70% or more of the skills needed, we encourage you to apply. Candidates interested in this position should submit their resume, a cover letter, and a writing sample. The cover letter should describe what unique qualities the applicant can bring to the role and to Bat Conservation International as a whole. The writing sample should be a site narrative or report chapter demonstrating the applicant’s technical archaeological writing skills. The deadline to apply for this position is Sunday, June 14, 2026. Interviews will begin in June, with an ideal start date in late June/early July 2026.

What We Offer You:

The salary range for this position is $60,000–$65,000 based on location and experience. BCI offers a competitive compensation package with an organizational culture that supports staff well-being and professional development. Benefits include but are not limited to paid vacation and sick time; 401(k) plan with employer match; and health, dental, and vision insurance plans.

***All applications are reviewed through ADP Workforce Now***

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