Project Archaeologist

SWCA Environmental Consultants is seeking a Project Archaeologist for either our Pasadena, CA office. The Project Archaeologist is a core member of the Cultural Resources Program, responsible for managing small to medium cultural resources projects, proposals, fieldwork, research, report writing, quality assurance/ quality control review, and managing client, agency, and tribal relationships.

This is a temporary, hourly, non-exempt position. Annual pay will be based on individual qualifications and experience. It is preferred that the selected applicant reside within the greater Pasadena, CA; however, a distributed employee option will be considered for the right candidate.

Application deadline: Please submit you application materials by 5:00 PM PST on February 15, 2026.

• Manage all aspects of cultural resources projects successfully, including budgeting, scheduling, research, fieldwork, report writing, and curation. More junior candidates will manage sub-tasks and/or smaller projects.
• Work with clients and agency representatives for successful project implementation.
• Assist with technical, high-quality proposals, work plans, reports, and literature reviews, with oversight from subject matter experts.
• Nurture and develop client relationships.
• Oversee and conduct fieldwork and deliverables, adhering to SWCA's Quality Assurance/ Quality Control (QA/QC) program.
• Supervise personnel in the field, office, and/or laboratory.
• Collaborate with SWCA's personnel across role levels and disciplines.
• Maintain SWCA's high standard of scientific ethics and quality assurance.
• Be motivated to identify and resolve problems in creative ways.
• Collaborates as part of an interdisciplinary environmental team.
• Work independently in a responsible manner, resolving project challenges.
• Take responsibility for team safety, develop safety plans (when applicable), and anticipate potential safety hazards.

Minimum qualifications:

• A Bachelor'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.
• One (1) year of experience in CRM in a supervisory capacity, whether in the field or in the office.
• Experience managing CRM tasks, including budgets, scheduling, and scopes of work.
• Experience with Section 106 and Historic Preservation regulatory requirements in New Mexico/Four Corners region.
• Prior primary report authorship in a CRM context for a variety of project types and sizes, regions, and agencies.
• Has provided QA/QC review of field documents, site forms, and reports.
• Applicants must have valid driver's license and be able to meet SWCA's driver requirements.

Preferred qualifications:

• Master's or Doctorate degree in Archaeology or Anthropology.
• Seven (7) years of experience in cultural resources management on a variety of project types, sizes, regions, and agencies, with increasing levels of responsibility.
• One (1) year of experience in CRM in a supervisory capacity, whether in the field or in the office.
• Meet the Secretary of Interior's standards for archaeology.
• Listed as a Registered Professional Archaeologist or qualified for RPA status
• Ability to adapt quickly to changes in project needs, agency requests, and more.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with a variety of colleagues, clients, and agency representatives.
• Experience leading archaeology crews on a variety of project types and sizes, regions, and agencies.
• Prior experience meets qualifications to be listed as Field Supervisor in the State of New Mexico and with the BLM in New Mexico.
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Ability to coordinate personnel and other resources within budgetary constraints.
• Has conducted marketing, business development, client management, and large proposal efforts.
• Excellent technical writing skills, including primary report authorship, with a record of completing technical reports and projects in a timely fashion.
• Has worked on an interdisciplinary team of scientists and planners.
• CPR and First Aid certified.

Why Work at SWCA:

SWCA Environmental Consultants is a growing 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.

We are 100% employee-owned, and we build our success together. 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. We offer a supportive, team-oriented work environment and competitive wages and benefits, including an 100% employee stock ownership plan (retirement).

If you need assistance accessing SWCA's website, completing the online application, or require accommodations at any point during the hiring process due to a disability, please contact us at accommodations@swca.com or call 1-480-581-5378. We're committed to providing an inclusive and supportive experience for all candidates. This contact information is specifically for accommodation requests; 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 in all its advertised job postings to promote pay equity and transparency.

An employee in this Pasadena, CA-based position can expect a rate of $37.37/hour to $47.80/hour. 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.

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