Assistant Project Archaeologist- Field Director

Assistant Project Archaeologist- Field Director

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Job Description

About the opportunity

SWCA Environmental Consultants is seeking an Assistant Project Archaeologist - Field Director to support our Tucson, AZ Cultural Resources Team. Under supervision of Cultural Resources Team Leads and Project Managers, an Assistant Project Archaeologist–Field Director performs field and office tasks while working with and supervising crew members. Role will be primarily field based.

This position is a temporary, 40+ hour per week, hourly position. This assignment is anticipated to last four months, with the possibility of extension based on project needs.

The Field Director will manage all aspects of fieldwork, supervising one or more crews of archaeological surveyors, monitors, and/or excavators. They may also assist with office-based tasks, including preparation of site forms and technical reports in support of a variety of renewable energy, oil and gas, energy transmission, transportation, and land development projects. Some projects include overtime hours or prevailing wage rates, and often require travel and overnight stays. Project-related travel and lodging costs are covered, and per diem is provided for project work requiring overnight stays.

Anticipated fieldwork will occur throughout Arizona, across various land jurisdictions. The candidate may be asked to submit to background screening to work in some of these locations. Candidates local to the greater Tucson, AZ area are strongly preferred. 

To be considered, please provide a cover letter and a resume/CV with professional references.

Application 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

• Supervise fieldwork, including archaeological survey, testing, data recovery, and/or construction monitoring and ensure quality and completeness of data collected.
• Data QA/QC, organization, and tracking; field GPS data collection using tablets with ESRI Field Maps, and Geodes. 
• Ensure that appropriate preliminary research is conducted and organized prior to fieldwork, and that necessary equipment, staff, and other resources are prepared for fieldwork.
• Accurately identify historic and prehistoric artifacts and features, and train less experienced field crew in their identification.
• Create and maintain good morale among field crew and mentor junior staff.
• Assist with office-based tasks, as needed, including performing Class I literature reviews, research, site forms, technical report preparation, tracking milestones, schedules, and budgets.
• Communicate effectively when reporting to Team Leads, Principal Investigators, and Project Managers.
• Work independently in a responsible manner.
• Work within defined schedules and meet deadlines.
• Follow all SWCA health and safety procedures.

Experience and qualifications for success

Required qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Archaeology, Anthropology, or a closely related field.
• Three (3) years or more of experience working as a field archaeologist in the Southwest.
• Has led crews of field technicians on a variety of project types and sizes, regions, and agencies.
• Extremely organized and meticulous with ensuring survey, documentation, and paperwork are complete.
• Excellent leadership and supervision abilities, including problem-solving, constructive conflict resolution, and decision making.
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and technical writing.
• Has demonstrated skills relating to QA/QC review of field documents and site forms.
• Ability to travel and conduct fieldwork for long hours (sometimes in inclement weather, rugged terrain, and at high altitudes), plus additional hours organizing paperwork/emails daily.
• Ability to carry equipment weighing up to 40 pounds.
• Ability to provide guidance and feedback on crew performance as per company guidelines.
• Has enough experience to be able to rationally deal with the unexpected (changes in weather, changes in client demands, changes in crew makeup or size, etc.).
• Valid Driver’s License with an acceptable driving record, and ability to safely operate a 4WD vehicle on rugged, backcountry roads.

Preferred qualifications:

• A master’s degree in in Archaeology, Anthropology, or related field.
• Candidates who meet the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualifications Standards in archaeology.
• Qualified for listing on the AAA blanket survey permit, BLM Statewide Arizona Cultural Use Permit, and/or National Forest permits as a Field Director.
• Possess advanced skills and knowledge in one or more specialty areas. Of particular interest are lithic analysis, geoarchaeology, and historical archaeology.
• Experience writing technical archaeology reports to SHPO standards.
• Knowledge of federal and state preservation laws and regulations including, but not limited to the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, Archaeological Resources Protection Act, Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, .
• 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).

At SWCA, we support our team members in developing their careers to make them leaders in their industry. Our Career Landscape initiative is a process and guide designed to help develop chart rewarding career paths for employees at SWCA. We encourage professional conference attendance, internal and external professional development and training programs, education reimbursement, a Science and Leadership Program, and bonuses for publications meeting certain criteria. All regular status employees are eligible to participate in SWCA medical, dental, vision, employee assistance, wellness, life and disability plans, and are eligible to participate in the SWCA 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan and Trust.

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 accommodations@swca.com or call 1-480-581-5378. This contact information is for disability accommodation requests only. All other inquiries will not receive a response. 

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 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 Tucson, AZ-based position can expect an hourly rate of $26.00 - $33.00/hr. Actual pay within this range may depend on experience, qualifications, geographic location, client requirements where applicable, and other factors permitted by law.  Regular-status employees are also eligible for performance bonuses. Candidates are also encouraged to consider SWCA’s Total Rewards package, which includes a competitive Benefits package, forward-thinking workplace flexibility, outstanding corporate culture, award-winning career development, and more.

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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