Lead Archaeologist - Principal Investigator in… at SWCA… · Montana

About the opportunity

SWCA Environmental Consultants is looking for a Cultural Resources Lead-level Archaeologist - Principal Investigator to join our Pacific Northwest Subregion. Our team of accomplished environmental and cultural resources scientists is growing, and we are looking for dynamic individuals who are following their passion in delivering the highest-quality cultural resources compliance services. Your role will be to work with 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.

This requisition can hire at two levels:

• Lead Archaeologist -- Six (6) years of relevant industry experience and expertise; eight (8) years preferred.

• Senior Archaeologist -- Eight (8) years of relevant industry experience and expertise; ten (10) years preferred

Our Pacific Northwest offices offer a collaborative, supportive environment specializing in natural and cultural resources, environmental planning, permitting, and restoration engineering. We are known for high-quality work grounded in sound science and meaningful client relationships. This is a regular (with benefits), full-time, salaried, exempt position that may be based anywhere within the Pacific Northwest reporting to our Pacific Northwest Cultural Resources Director. We offer a hybrid and remote (= distributed) work environments.

Application Deadline: Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and interviews may be scheduled as qualified candidates are identified. This position may close without prior notice once a strong candidate pool is established.

What you will accomplish

• Strategic Project Leadership: Strategically consults on and leads complex projects in pursuit of client objectives, overseeing the technical approach and ensuring quality assurance and quality control.
• Exemplary Leadership: Leads by example in both technical and soft skills, navigating client and team priorities to deliver projects that meet professional and oversight agency standards.
• Technical Expertise & Innovation: Innovates standards and practices to enhance the quality and efficiency of client projects and outcomes, ensuring alignment with industry and regulatory standards. Serves as a go-to technical expert and consultant, providing novel project strategies and applying technical excellence that considers client needs to meet project requirements.
• Project Accountability: Continuously guides projects, executing accountability for the performance of projects or delegated tasks and ensuring that project milestones are met and outcomes align with SWCA's values and client expectations. Assesses risks and implements strategies for problem-solving. Revises or suggests revisions to project scopes, schedules, and budgets as necessary to meet evolving project requirements and ensure successful outcomes.
• Business Growth & Innovation: Drives business growth and client success through technical excellence, innovation, and development of new methods and standards that advance SWCA's technical reputation. Contributes to SWCA's strategic planning.
• Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Champions cross-disciplinary collaboration, working closely with specialists to provide comprehensive technical support for projects.
• Mentorship & Team Development: Mentors staff for impactful influence, coaching others in technical excellence, leadership, and strategy, and also develops specialized programs and protocols. Fosters team development and cross-training, modeling and promoting knowledge sharing and collaboration among team members to enhance project outcomes, as well as team depth and redundancy.
• Relationship Management: Establishes and grows effective consultative relationships with external and internal clients and/or agency regulators and industry partners (if applicable) to support successful projects.
• Follows applicable federal, Tribal, state, local, industry, contractual, and company regulations, standards, and specifications.
• Performs related work as assigned.

Additional Job-Specific Responsibilities:

• Serve as Principal Investigator, primary, or co-author on small to large technical reports, research designs, and other technical documents.
• Conduct technical edits and ensure quality standards of cultural resources compliance documentation.
• Oversee field research, data collection, inventory, analysis, and final report production, ensuring these tasks are conducted in accordance with QA/QC standards.
• Assist with training and mentoring of staff in topics including NRHP eligibility, implementation of research designs, technical reporting, and cultural resources recording protocols.
• 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, Tribe contacts, and clients.
• Additional duties as needed: manage projects, prepare and contribute to proposals, provide technical expertise to our clients, and supervise staff, as applicable.

Minimum Qualifications

Six years of relevant, progressively responsible experience, including some experience managing others or any equivalent combination of experience, performance, training, and/or education. Knowledge normally obtained through a master’s degree in related field.

Experience and qualifications for success

• Master’s degree in Archaeology or Anthropology required.
• 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
• Demonstrated ability to conduct technical reviews on deliverables and be a technical leader on complex archaeological projects while effectively mentoring and developing Field Directors, archaeologists, and other project staff and coordinating with Project Managers and multidisciplinary teams.
• 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.
• Demonstrated experience preparing, reviewing, and approving technical reports supporting compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and consistent with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Archeology and Historic Preservation and applicable agency and SHPO reporting standards.
• Strong technical writing, quality-control, communication, and problem-solving skills, including the ability to identify project risks, make sound technical decisions, and provide clear direction to project teams.
• 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
• Ten (10) years of supervisory and fieldwork experience in a cultural resources consulting or agency setting. Academic or research-oriented supervisory experience can substitute for a portion of compliance-based experience.

Other Job Conditions

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. 

Safety Expectations

Lead level: Drives compliance of safety policies and reporting requirements to ensure overall team safety.

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 Portland, OR - based position is

• Lead Archaeologist: $81,545.00 - $106,290.00 per year

• Senior Archaeologist - $92,230.00 - $120,349.32 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 accommodations@swca.com or call 1 480 581 5378. If you require assistance with the application process, please contact recruiting@swca.com.

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.

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