Staff Level Archaeologist

Company: SWCA Environmental Consultants
Location: Riverside
Posted on: February 22, 2025

Job Description:

About the opportunity

SWCA Environmental Consultants is seeking a Staff-level Archaeologist to support projects in the Inland Empire. Under the supervision of a Project Manager, a Staff Archaeologist performs field, office, laboratory, and research tasks while working with and supervising crew members. This position will primarily be office-based, with some fieldwork required. This is a Temporary, hourly 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. The candidate could fill any of three staff-level roles based on skill and years of relevant experience:

• Cultural Resources Technician: Typically up to 6 months of relevant experience and expertise
• Assistant Staff Archaeologist: Typically up to 1 year of experience and expertise
• Staff Archaeologist: Typically up to 2 years of experience and expertiseApplication 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
  
  
  • Conducts background research for archaeological studies, including records searches and Sacred Lands File searches, and facilitates Native American coordination.
  • Following a standardized procedure, conducts archaeological desktop studies, including review of background data, project information, archaeological sensitivity, and land ownership.
  • Ensures that appropriate preliminary research is conducted and organized prior to fieldwork, and that necessary equipment, staff, and other resources are ready for fieldwork.
  • Supervises fieldwork, including archaeological survey, testing, data recovery, and/or construction monitoring and ensures quality and completeness of data collected.
  • Monitors team productivity and offers timely performance guidance, including determining when corrective action is needed and delivering appropriate feedback.
  • Communicates regularly with the Project Manager to ensure that a project's budgetary and timetable needs are met.
  • 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 drafts report sections.
  • Maintains SWCA's high standard of scientific ethics and quality assurance, and is motivated to identify and resolve problems in creative ways.
  • Work closely with the Cultural Resource Team Lead as well as project managers, directors, and leaders throughout the company to promote SWCA's business interests in adherences to its mission, vision, and values
  • Willingness to learn, have fun, and grow into increased management responsibilities.
  • Adheres to the safety program and looks out for the safety of others, promptly communicating and mitigating safety hazards.
  • Supervise and lead a small crew while conducting archaeological field work such archaeological monitoring, survey, testing, and data recovery. This includes:
    • independently assigning and directing the activities of others on behalf of SWCA, often in remote areas without immediate guidance from senior managers, to ensure quality and on-time delivery;
    • ensuring that employees understand their responsibilities and delegated tasks and being held accountable if crew members under your supervision are not performing their activities correctly, productively, and safely;
    • serving as a conduit of communication between employees and senior managers, including communicating issues to relevant senior managers;
    • receiving and resolving complaints from employees in the field; and
    • monitoring team productivity and offering timely performance guidance, including determining when corrective action is needed and delivering appropriate feedback.
      Experience and qualifications for success
      
      
      • A Bachelor's Degree in anthropology, archaeology, history, or a closely related field is required. A Master's Degree is preferred.
      • Participation in an accredited field school or equivalent experience.
      • At least two years of experience working in Cultural Resources Management in California or the Western U.S.
      • 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 and sizes, regions and agencies preferred.
      • Demonstrated ability to work independently, and to work well with others as part of a team
      • Demonstrated ability to use industry standard word processing and spreadsheet software
      • Demonstrated experience in preparing technical reports
      • Familiarity with ArcGIS Trimble GPS, ArcPad/Terrasync, Android devices, and digital field data collection 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.
      • Applicants must have valid driver's license and be able to meet SWCA's driver requirements.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 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 or call 480-581-5378. This contact information is for disability accommodation requests only. All 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 on all its advertised job postings to promote pay equity and transparency. An employee in this Pasadena, CA-based position can expect an hourly pay rate of:
        • Cultural Resources Technician: $21.73 - $28.68
        • Assistant Staff Archaeologist: $24.33 - $31.29
        • Staff Archaeologist: $26.94 - $34.47 Actual pay within this range may depend on experience, qualifications, geographic location, client requirements where applicable, and other factors permitted by law. 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. #LI-NP1

Keywords: SWCA Environmental Consultants, Riverside , Staff Level Archaeologist, Other , Riverside, California