Lead Archaeologist
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About the opportunity
SWCA Environmental Consultants is looking for a Cultural Resources Lead Archaeologist/Project Manager to join our Portland, OR team. Our team of accomplished environmental and cultural resources scientists is growing, and we are looking for dynamic individuals who are following their passion for delivering the highest-quality cultural resources compliance services. Your role will be to work with office staff in business development, draft proposals, oversee and improve team procedures, develop and lead projects, oversee fieldwork, assist with field logistics, complete analysis of results, and draft technical reports.
Our Portland office offers a unique work environment and specializes in environmental compliance including cultural resources. This is a permanent, full-time opportunity reporting to our Portland, OR Cultural Resources Team Lead. We offer a hybrid and remote work environment!
SWCA Environmental Consultants is an employee-owned company of environmental professionals who specialize in environmental planning, natural and cultural resource management, and regulatory compliance. Our company purpose is to preserve the natural and cultural resources for tomorrow while enabling projects that benefit people today.
Application deadline: Our team will begin reviewing applications immediately, and interviews will be scheduled with qualified candidates on a rolling basis. The application process will remain open until we have received a robust pool of qualified candidates. Once we have identified suitable individuals, we may close the application process without prior notice. We appreciate the time and effort invested by all applicants and will carefully consider each submission.
What you will accomplish
- Manage all aspects of projects, including fieldwork, research, and report writing, with responsibility for successful on-time and on-budget completion of projects.
- Serve as primary or co-author on large technical reports, research designs, and other technical documents.
- Conduct content edits of technical reports and site forms.
- Oversee field research, data collection, inventory, analysis, and final report production, ensuring these tasks are conducted in accordance with the QA/QC plan.
- Assist with training and mentoring of staff in topics including NRHP eligibility, implementation of research designs, technical reporting, and cultural resources recording protocols.
- Take initiative, resolve problems, and create improved procedures to ensure that tasks are completed in the most effective manner.
- Comply with SWCA and client safety programs and assist in the development of such programs.
- Maintain good working relationships with state and federal agency contacts and with clients.
Experience and qualifications for success
- Minimum of a master’s degree in Archaeology or Anthropology.
- Listed as a Registered Professional Archaeologist (or qualified for RPA status).
- Minimum of eight (8) years of supervisory and fieldwork experience required in a cultural resources consulting or agency setting. Academic or research-oriented supervisory experience can substitute for a portion of compliance-based experience.
- Ability to be listed on BLM cultural resources permits in the Pacific Northwest, including the states of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Alaska, and Montana
- Experience applying for state-issued excavation permits in the Pacific Northwest, including the states of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Alaska, and Montana
- Experience with and thorough knowledge of federal, state, and local regulations for cultural resources compliance projects located in the Pacific Northwest, including the states of Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Idaho, and Montana.
- Demonstrated proficiency in project planning, coordination, scheduling, creating/tracking budgets, and understanding of all aspects of a project from pre-field tasks to final report preparation.
- Must demonstrate completion, at a PI level, of a minimum of one testing or data recovery excavation project (three or more projects a plus) involving primarily archaeological investigation.
- Preparation of final reports consistent with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Archeology and Historic Preservation. Projects shall have been performed under the jurisdiction of the National Historic Preservation Act.
- Peer-reviewed publication record and conference presentation experience preferred and will be supported in this role.
- Ability to work independently as well as oversee small or large projects by working closely with Field Directors and other Project Managers.
- Ability to travel an estimated 20% of the time.
Preferred qualifications:
- Ph.D. in Archaeology or Anthropology
Why Work at SWCA:
SWCA Environmental Consultants is a growing employee-owned firm, providing a full spectrum of environmental services. Our Vision (the North Star) is to make SWCA the best workplace and industry leader in sustainability, bringing sound science and creative solutions to global environmental challenges while maintaining a dedication to employee ownership. We live our core values: we collaborate as #OneSWCA; we are #AlwaysLearning, we #NeverSettle, and we #GiveBack.
We are 100% employee-owned, and we build our success together. With offices across the United States, SWCA is one of the largest environmental compliance firms and ranks among Engineering News-Record’s Top 200 Environmental Firms. We offer a supportive, team-oriented work environment and competitive wages and benefits, including an 100% employee stock ownership plan (retirement).
At SWCA, we support our team members in developing their careers to make them leaders in their industry. Our Career Landscape initiative is a process and guide designed to help develop chart rewarding career paths for employees at SWCA. We encourage professional conference attendance, internal and external professional development and training programs, education reimbursement, a Science and Leadership Program, and bonuses for publications meeting certain criteria. All regular status employees are eligible to participate in SWCA medical, dental, vision, employee assistance, wellness, life and disability plans, and are eligible to participate in the SWCA 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan and Trust.
If you would like to contact SWCA regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the online application process due to a disability, please email accommodations@swca.com or call 1-480-581-5378. This contact information is for disability accommodation requests only. All other inquiries will not receive a response.
EOE – women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. At SWCA Environmental Consultants, we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive work environment. We strongly encourage candidates from all backgrounds, including those with diverse experiences and veterans, to apply. We believe that a diverse and inclusive workforce enhances creativity, innovation, and overall organizational success.
SWCA is committed to salary equity and salary transparency for all its employees. In alignment with this commitment, SWCA posts good faith pay ranges in all its advertised job postings to promote pay equity and transparency.
An employee in this Portland, OR-based position can expect an annual salary between $79,170.00 – $103,194.00. Actual pay within this range may depend on experience, qualifications, geographic location, client requirements where applicable, and other factors permitted by law. Regular-status employees are also eligible for performance bonuses. Candidates are also encouraged to consider SWCA’s Total Rewards package, which includes a competitive Benefits package, forward-thinking workplace flexibility, outstanding corporate culture, award-winning career development, and more.
SWCA continues to invest deeply in career development programs, delivering our award-winning Career Landscape support resources to accelerate the growth of our staff. We recognize the valuable skills and experiences our internal team members bring to SWCA’s continued success. Qualified internal candidates are encouraged to apply and will be seriously considered for this position. We believe in promoting from within, where possible, providing our existing employees with compelling opportunities to advance their careers.