Project Archaeologist

SWCA Environmental Consultants; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 73,000 - 93,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee Stock Ownership Plan

401(k) with profit sharing

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Paid time off

Wellness programs

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

SWCA Environmental Consultants is seeking a Project Archaeologist to join our Midwest cultural resources practice in Chicago, IL or New Buffalo, MI. The role supports client and agency relationships and leads or supports project delivery in a hybrid/remote environment.

You will manage fieldwork, reporting, and compliance with NEPA, NAGPRA, and NHPA, while mentoring junior staff and contributing to business development across the region.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology, Archaeology, or related field.
• Four years of cultural resources field experience; seven years preferred.
• Two years of project management experience across regions and agencies.
• Experience with CRM regulations (NEPA, NAGPRA, NHPA).

Responsibilities

• Lead or assist projects, manage technical approach and QA/QC.
• Develop deliverables for complex projects under supervision.
• Foster team collaboration and effective information sharing.
• Communicate with clients and agencies; build professional relationships.
• Prepare proposals, work plans, technical reports, literature reviews.
• Support business development initiatives with managers and directors.

Skills

Project management

Client relations

Education

Bachelor's degree in Anthropology/Archaeology

Master's degree in Anthropology/Archaeology

Job description

About The Opportunity

SWCA 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.

About SWCA

SWCA Environmental Consultants is a 100% employee-owned environmental consulting firm providing full spectrum environmental services across the United States. Our North Star is to be the best place to work and a leader in sustainability, delivering sound science and creative solutions to complex environmental challenges.

We are guided by our core values every day. We collaborate as #OneSWCA, we are #AlwaysLearning, we #NeverSettle, and we #GiveBack to our communities. With offices nationwide, SWCA offers a collaborative, team focused environment where employees can build meaningful and long-term careers.

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.

Closing

If you need accommodation due to a disability, please contact [e-mail] or call 1 480 581 5378. If you require assistance with the application process, please contact [e-mail].

Use of Technology in Hiring

SWCA may use approved technology, including AI-assisted tools, to support parts of the application and recruiting process. All selection and hiring decisions are made by SWCA employees, and candidates are not selected or rejected by automated systems. We are committed to a fair, transparent, and human-centered hiring experience.

Candidate Use of AI

Candidates may use AI tools to help prepare application materials and interviews. However, all application materials, assessments, and interview responses must accurately reflect their own experience, skills, and qualifications. AI must not be used to fabricate experience, complete assessments on their behalf, or otherwise misrepresent their background or abilities.

Equal Opportunity Employer

SWCA Environmental Consultants is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We encourage applications from women, minorities, veterans, and individuals with disabilities. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all employees can thrive.

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.