Assistant Project Archaeologist

About the opportunity

We are seeking an Assistant Project Archeologist to support the Salt Lake City/Great Basin geography. An Assistant Project Archeologist performs field and office tasks while working with and supervising staff. This position will primarily be office-based, with some fieldwork required. This is a regular, full-time, salaried position that will report to a Project Manager.

SWCA Environmental Consultants is a growing, 1,600+ 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.

Application Deadline: This job requisition will stay open through March 8, 2024, at which point we will stop accepting new applicants.

What you will accomplish

• Conducts background research for archaeological studies, including records searches.
• Ensures that appropriate preliminary research is conducted and organized prior to fieldwork, and that necessary equipment, staff, and other resources are ready for fieldwork.
• Coordinates with agency personnel, subconsultants, and Native American monitors, as needed, to arrange fieldwork and facilitate projects.
• Supervises staff, to include:
• Interviewing, selecting and onboarding new hires
• Providing direction, training, coaching, performance management and feedback to direct-line supervisees, as well as all field crew members while under deployment
• Provide corrective actions with staff members, working with HR as needed on discipline and/or discharge
• Complete field skills assessments on all crew members, providing feedback to ensure team members are learning and advancing skills while work is being performed on time and on budget
• Complete performance reviews with regular status supervisees, ensuring employee engagement is high and career development plans are actioned
• Participate with Project Managers, Team Leads and Program Director on overall talent management of the Cultural Resources Program including evaluating staffing levels, scheduling, retaining/continuing/exiting employees, assigning work, determining promotional/status opportunities, making compensation decisions, etc.
• Supervises fieldwork, including archaeological survey, testing, data recovery, and/or construction monitoring and ensures quality and completeness of data collected.
• Communicates regularly with the Project Manager to ensure that a project’s budgetary and timetable needs are met. Supports invoicing and budget tracking.
• Takes initiative, resolves problems, and creates improved procedures to ensure that tasks are completed in the most effective and efficient manner.
• In coordination with the project manager, organizes the report writing and production effort and prepares technical reports.
• Maintains SWCA’s high standard of scientific ethics and quality assurance; is motivated to identify and resolve problems in creative ways.

Experience and qualifications for success

• A bachelor’s degree in anthropology, archaeology, history, or a closely related field is required.
• Participation in an accredited field school or equivalent experience.
• A minimum of three (3) years of experience in cultural resources management (CRM) on a variety of project types, sizes, regions, and agencies.
• Qualified for listing on the Utah statewide Bureau of Land Management permit preferred.
• Experience with the application of standard archaeological survey and excavation techniques.
• Experience providing QA/QC review of field documents, site forms, and reports preferred.
• Experience leading crews of field technicians on a variety of project types, sizes, regions, and agencies preferred.
• Experience with implementing the National Environmental Policy Act and National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) Sections 106 and 110 permitting processes is preferred.
• Ability to travel and be able to conduct fieldwork for long hours, sometimes in inclement weather conditions, often in rugged terrain, and be able to carry equipment and supplies weighing up to 40 pounds.
• Valid Driver’s License with an acceptable driving record.

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.

SWCA is committed to salary equity and salary transparency for all its employees. In alignment with this commitment, SWCA posts good faith pay ranges on all its advertised job postings to promote pay equity and transparency.

An employee in this Salt Lake City, UT – based position can expect a pay rate of $26.00/hour to $30.00/hour. 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.

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 [email protected] or call 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 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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