Associate Project Archaeologist

About the opportunity:

SWCA Environmental Consultants is seeking an Associate Project Archaeologist or Project Archaeologist reporting into our Chicago, IL office. The Project Archaeologist is a core member of the Cultural Resources Program, responsible for managing small to medium cultural resources projects, proposals, fieldwork, research, report writing, quality assurance/ quality control review, and managing client, agency, and tribal relationships.

This is a regular (with benefits), salaried, exempt and full-time position. Candidates from the Chicago area, Ohio (especially around Cincinnati), and Michigan are encouraged to apply. Hybrid and/or remote work environments are encouraged. Annual pay will be based on individual qualifications and experience.

Under this requisition, we could hire the following positions:

• Associate Project Archaeologist - Typically with at least five years of relevant experience and expertise.
• Project Archaeologist - Typically with at least seven years of relevant experience and expertise, potentially including two years managing cultural resources projects.

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 cultural resources projects successfully, including budgeting, scheduling, research, fieldwork, report writing, and curation. More junior candidates will manage sub-tasks and/or smaller projects.
• Work with clients and agency representatives for successful project implementation.
• Assist with technical, high-quality proposals, work plans, reports, and literature reviews, with oversight from subject matter experts.
• Nurture and develop client relationships.
• Oversee and conduct fieldwork and deliverables, adhering to SWCA’s Quality Assurance/ Quality Control (QA/QC) program.
• Supervise personnel in the field, office, and/or laboratory.
• Collaborate with SWCA’s personnel across role levels and disciplines.
• Maintain SWCA’s high standard of scientific ethics and quality assurance.
• Take responsibility for team safety, develop safety plans (when applicable), and anticipate potential safety hazards.
• Be motivated to identify and resolve problems in creative ways.
• Collaborates as part of an interdisciplinary environmental team.
• Work independently in a responsible manner, resolving project challenges.
• Contribute to regional business development initiatives, including attending conferences and building relationships with current and future clients.

Experience and qualifications for success:

Required

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Archaeology, Anthropology, or a closely related field.
• Minimum of five years of experience in cultural resources management (CRM) on a variety of project types, sizes, regions, and agencies, with increasing levels of responsibility.
• Minimum of two years of experience in CRM in a supervisory capacity, whether in the field or in the office.
• Experience managing CRM tasks, including budgets, scheduling, and scopes of work.
• Experience with Section 106 and Historic Preservation regulatory requirements in Midwest sub-region (e.g., Illinois, Ohio, and/or Michigan).
• Prior primary report authorship in a CRM context for a variety of project types and sizes, regions, and agencies.
• Has provided QA/QC review of field documents, site forms, and reports.
• Applicants must have valid driver’s license and be able to meet SWCA’s driver requirements.

Preferred

• Master’s or Doctorate degree in Archaeology or Anthropology.
• Minimum of seven years of experience in cultural resources management on a variety of project types, sizes, regions, and agencies, with increasing levels of responsibility.
• Meet the Secretary of Interior’s standards for archaeology.
• Listed as a Registered Professional Archaeologist or qualified for RPA status
• Ability to adapt quickly to changes in project needs, agency requests, and more. 
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with a variety of colleagues, clients, and agency representatives.
• Experience leading archaeology crews on a variety of project types and sizes, regions, and agencies.
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Ability to coordinate personnel and other resources within budgetary constraints.
• Has conducted marketing, business development, client management, and large proposal efforts.
• Excellent technical writing skills, including primary report authorship, with a record of completing technical reports and projects in a timely fashion.
• Has worked on an interdisciplinary team of scientists and planners.
• CPR and First Aid certified.

SWCA Environmental Consultants is a growing, 1,850+ staff, 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 .

SWCA Environmental Consultants is a growing employee-owned firm, providing a full spectrum of environmental services. 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.

If you need assistance accessing SWCA’s website, completing the online application, or require accommodations at any point during the hiring process due to a disability, please contact us at [email protected] or call 1-480-581-5378. We’re committed to providing an inclusive and supportive experience for all candidates. This contact information is specifically for accommodation requests; other inquiries will not receive a response.

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 Chicago based position can expect an hourly pay rate of $31.36 - $40.02/hr for the Associate Project Archaeologist role and an annual salary of $72,547 - $92,793/year for the Project Archaeologist role. 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 is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans 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 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.

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