About the opportunitySWCA Environmental Consultants is seeking a Project Archaeologist to join our Midwest cultural resources business. This position will report into either our Chicago, IL or New Buffalo, MI office, but hybrid or remote (= distributed) employees in nearby states will also be considered. This successful applicant will be responsible for managing clients, agency, and tribal relationships, as well as winning and delivering on projects.
This is a regular (with benefits), full-time, salaried/exempt position that is a wonderful career-growth opportunity to join SWCA’s expanding practice.
Application deadline: This posting will come down 11/13.
What you will accomplish
- Leads or assists assigned projects with initiative, taking responsibility for the technical approach, project management, and ensuring quality assurance and control. Develops and manages deliverables for more complex projects, managing tasks under the direction of a senior project manager.
- Innovates and adapts methods to meet future client needs, staying ahead in their professional discipline.
- Encourages team collaboration, fostering an environment where team members work together to achieve project goals and share information effectively.
- Makes project management or task decisions, urgently when necessary, using sound judgment to consider trade-offs and ensure project success (within project parameters).
- Develops and manages technical approaches and directs and conducts quality assurance and control tasks.
- Completes technical reviews of deliverables, ensuring they meet project requirements and professional standards.
- Communicates effectively with clients and agencies, being responsive to their requirements and developing strong professional relationships.
- Completes project tasks promptly, ensuring client satisfaction and resolution of any issues, while contributing to team unity and effective collaboration.
- Follows applicable federal, Tribal, state, local, industry, contractual, and company regulations, standards, and specifications.
- Performs related work as assigned.
Additional Job-Specific Responsibilities
- Manages cultural resources projects involving research, fieldwork, reporting, and curation. Project archaeologists may manage more complex, higher-value contracts.
- Prepares proposals, work plans, technical reports, and literature reviews with limited supervision.
- Supports technical and business development initiatives with managers, directors, and principal investigators.
- Helps develop SWCA’s Cultural Resources Program and professional reputation in Northern and Central California and beyond.
- Upholds scientific ethics.
Minimum Qualifications
Four years of relevant, progressively responsible experience. Seven years of related experience is preferred; or any equivalent combination of experience, performance, training, and/or education. Knowledge normally obtained through a bachelor's degree or higher.
Experience and qualifications for success
- Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology, Archaeology, or a related field.
- Four (4) years of experience in cultural resources field activities, including experience leading archaeology crews on a variety of project types and sizes, regions, and agencies.
- Two (2) years of experience managing projects, including working on a variety of project types and sizes, on all project aspects (from pre-field tasks through final report preparation), in multiple regions, and with a variety of regulatory agencies.
- Experience in cultural resources management (CRM) with a variety of project types, sizes, regions, and agencies, with demonstrated increasing levels of responsibility.
- Experience with the archaeology of California.
- Expertise in federal, state, and local laws and regulations related to the management of cultural resources (National Environmental Policy Act, Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, and Section 106 and Section 110 of the National Historic Preservation Act).
- Experience providing QA/QC review of field documents, site forms, and reports.
Preferred qualifications:
- Master’s degree in Anthropology, Archaeology, or a related field.
- Seven (7) years of experience in cultural resources field activities, including experience leading archaeology crews on a variety of project types and sizes, regions, and agencies.
- Four (4) or more years of experience managing projects, including working on a variety of project types and sizes, on all project aspects (from pre-field tasks through final report preparation), in multiple regions, and with a variety of regulatory agencies.
- Meets the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualifications Standards in archaeology, including at least one year of supervisory experience in prehistory and/or history.
- Qualified for listing on state and federal permits as a principal investigator in either Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Iowa or Ohio.
- Demonstrated technical writing skills with a record of completing technical reports in a timely fashion.
- Demonstrated experience working with interdisciplinary team of subject matter experts and planners.
- Experience and interest in business development, proposal writing, and client management.
- Experience supervising junior staff.
- Experience collecting field data utilizing modern mobile technology (tablets, Bluetooth GPS receivers, mobile software).
Other Job Conditions
This position may require domestic travel, including travel by commercial airline. Candidates must be able to obtain and maintain all valid travel documents and identification required for work-related travel throughout the duration of employment.
Work Environment
Work is regularly performed outdoors and involves hiking over uneven terrain, lifting and carrying equipment up to 25–50 pounds, and working in varying/extreme weather conditions. Employees may be exposed to vegetation, wildlife, insects, dust, chemicals, sharp or heavy tools, and other environmental conditions while following required safety procedures.
Pay Range
SWCA is committed to salary equity and transparency. The expected pay range for this Chicago, IL based role is $72,547 to $92,792 per year. Actual pay may vary based on experience, qualifications, geographic location, and other factors permitted by law. Eligible employees may also receive performance-based bonuses.
As a 100% employee-owned company, we invest in your future. Our Total Rewards package includes an Employee Stock Ownership Plan, 401(k) with profit sharing, medical, dental, and vision coverage, paid time off, wellness programs, and professional development opportunities.
