Field Paleontologist - Project Geologist

FIELD PALEONTOLOGIST (PROJECT GEOLOGIST)
 This position may be filled at the geologist or project geologist level depending on experience and qualifications.

FT / PT Status – Full-Time
Salary – $36.04 - $46.00 Hourly Wage
Remote Work / In-Office – Hybrid

Recruiter – Karen Weir | kweir@utah.gov | 8015387425
Application Deadline – 8/6/2026

Job Description
The Geologic Mapping and Paleontology Program of the Utah Geological Survey (UGS) is seeking a full time permanent Preparator – Field Paleontologist. This is a unique opportunity to build a career focused on Field Paleontology in Utah. This position will be focused on fulfilling Utah paleontology regulation regarding the documentation, preservation, and promotion of Utah’s vast paleontological resource. Funded by UGS base funding supplemented by Federal projects at multiple scales including projects for NPS, BLM, USFS, and Statemap. The incumbent will be responsible for overseeing paleontological field work and the preparation lab for a variety of paleontological projects with a focus on resource inventory, salvage, and research in support of understanding Utah’s geological history and stratigraphic framework. Maintenance of Utah’s ever growing Paleontological Locality Database is a critical part of the program and with 25,000 records it is unrivaled anywhere.

Key Responsibilities

Key responsibilities and day to day responsibilities of this position:

• Oversee fossil preparation in UGS preparation lab by insuring equipment is operational, preparing significant fossils, overseeing volunteers, organizing the transfer of prepared specimens into appropriate repositories.
  Supervise paleontological field work by overseeing base camp operations, excavations, volunteers, collecting field data, and creating digital paleontological locality files.
• Perform geologic field work that includes putting paleontological field data into geological context stratigraphically and geographically.
• Prepare paleontological permit applications, supporting materials, and final reports for federal and state agencies as needed working with State Paleontologist.
• Review paleontological reports and publications for UGS, external scientists, and students.
  Address review comments and complete reports on time for contract deliverables, provide timely reviews of geologic publications in collaboration with other UGS staff and outside geoscientists.
• Work closely with the State Paleontologist to address issues related to paleontological resource management on public lands.
• Develop paleontological and geologic expertise for Utah and share this expertise via conferences, publishing, and public interaction.
• Collaborate with other Utah Geological Survey staff and external scientists investigating the geological heritage of Utah.

Qualifications

Minimum or "day-one" qualifications:

• B.S. in Geology or Biology (Paleontology) required; M.S. or Ph.D. in Geology or Biology (Paleontology) is preferred.
• May underfill based on candidates experience level. 
  • Project Geologist - must be licensed as a geologist in the state of Utah.
  • Geologist - doesn't require licensure, but the incumbent is generally working toward becoming licensed.
• Must have experience in vertebrate fossil preparation and field excavation.
• Need to be able to assure personal safety in a variety of remote wilderness and urban settings.

Preferred or trainable/on-the-job qualifications: 

• A track record of fossil preparation at both the micro and macro scale documented by portfolio of past fossil preparations.
  
• Experience in both paleontological inventory investigations and overseeing large scale vertebrate fossil excavations.
  
• Creating high quality digital quarry maps using ArcGIS (ArcPro), and other map related software.
  Experience conducting paleontological field work including fossil prospecting, site evaluation and documentation, excavation, quarry mapping, and stratigraphy.
  
• Experience developing 3-D paleontological data through photogrammetry and other means.
  
• Experience wi