Project Archaeologist

careers-swca; Salt Lake City (UT); Hybrid; USD 69,000 - 88,000; Full time

Job summary

SWCA Environmental Consultants invites a Project Archaeologist to join the Salt Lake City, UT office. The role focuses on QA/QC, research, report writing, and managing agency and tribal relationships. It supports both hybrid and remote work within the Salt Lake City area and is an hourly position with benefits.

Applicants should have a Master’s degree in Archaeology or Anthropology and a minimum of four years CRM experience, with seven years preferred. Domestic travel may be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in archaeology/anthropology or related field.
• Four years of relevant CRM experience; seven years preferred.
• Master’s degree in Archaeology, Anthropology, or related field.
• Permittable as a Principal Investigator in Utah and Nevada.
• Ability to lead projects from start to finish with guidance.

Responsibilities

• Lead or assist projects, manage technical approach and QA/QC.
• Develop deliverables and manage client/agency relationships.
• Foster team collaboration and effective information sharing.
• Make project decisions with sound judgment to ensure success.
• Oversee QA/QC tasks and ensure deliverables meet standards.
• Engage with clients and agencies to build strong relationships.
• Support compliance with regulations and project requirements.
• Travel for PI reviews as needed; mostly office-based.

Skills

Project management

QA/QC

Proposal writing

Team collaboration

Education

Master’s degree in Archaeology or Anthropology

Job description

About the opportunity

SWCA Environmental Consultants seeks a Project Archaeologist for our Salt Lake City, Utah office. The Project Archaeologist is a core member of the Cultural Resources Program, responsible for quality assurance/ quality control review, proposals, research, report writing, and managing agency and tribal relationships.

This is a regular (with benefits), hourly position. The role could be part-time or full-time, depending upon candidate preference. The role can be either hybrid within the Salt Lake City, UT area or distributed (remote). Annual pay will be based on individual qualifications and experience.

Application Deadline: Applications will be acceptedthrough 10.15.2026at 5:00 PM MDT.

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

• Work with agency representatives for successful project implementation.
• Assist with technical, high-quality proposals, research plans, Section 106-related reports, and literature reviews, with oversight from subject matter experts and project managers.
• Nurture and develop agency relationships.
• Oversee report deliverables, adhering to SWCA’s Quality Assurance/ Quality Control (QA/QC) program.
• Write scientific and technically sound reports and research related to cultural resources

Minimum Qualifications

Knowledge normally obtained through a bachelor's degree or higher. 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.

Experience and qualifications for success

• A Master’s degree in Archaeology, Anthropology, or a closely related field.
• Four (4) years of experience in cultural resources management (CRM) on a variety of project types, sizes, regions, and agencies, with increasing levels of responsibility.
• Demonstrates strong technical and regulatory knowledge of Utah and Nevada
• Can lead projects/tasks from start to finish, with guidance (PM for medium projects or Task Lead for large projects)
• Permittable as a Principal Investigator in Utah and Nevada; ideal candidate will be permittable in several states
• Performs technical subject matter expert review of cultural resources deliverables
• Available for occasional project visits and PI reviews in the field, but mostly an office-based position

Preferred Qualifications:

• Seven (7) 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.

Other Job Conditions

Applicants must be willing to participate in drug and alcohol screening as part of the pre-employment process, when required by project or client requirements.

Applicants must possess a valid driver's license and meet SWCA's driver requirements.

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.

Takes responsibility for team safety, developing safety plans (when applicable), and anticipating potential safety hazards.

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 Salt Lake City, Utah - based position is $33.22 per hour to $42.49 per hour. 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.