Assistant Staff Archaeologist

SWCA Environmental Consultants • Amherst, MA

4d • $22 - $28 • Onsite

About The Position

SWCA Environmental Consultants is seeking an Assistant Staff Archaeologist to assist with cultural resources management work the Northeast Region. This position will perform field and office tasks while working with and supervising crew members.
You may supervise one crew of Archaeological Technicians during survey, site recording, or monitoring projects. You may also assist with office-based tasks, including laboratory work, the preparation of site forms, and technical reports.
This is a temporary, field-based assignment expected to run until September 2026. Weekly work hours will vary depending on project availability, with workloads ranging from light weeks to over 40 hours during peak periods. Candidates must reside in one of the Northeast states (New York or New England) and be willing to travel up to 100% of the time.

Applicant must be willing to participate in a drug testing and alcohol screening as part of the pre-employment process, as some projects require such screenings

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology, Archaeology, or related field
• Completion of an accredited archaeological field school or demonstrative equivalent
• One (1) year working as a field archaeologist
• Ability to travel and conduct fieldwork for long hours, sometimes in inclement weather (including high heat and humidity) and , rugged terrain, and dense vegetation.
• Ability to carry equipment weighing up to 40 pounds
• Valid driver's license, the ability to pass a Motor Vehicle background screening, and have access to reliable transportation

Nice To Haves

• Masters degree in Anthropology, Archaeology, or related field
• Experience leading crews of field technicians on a variety of project types and sizes, regions, and agencies
• Experience collecting field data utilizing modern mobile technology (tablets with programs such as ESRI Field Map and Survey 123) and Trimble GPS units (Terrasync and/or ArcPad)
• CPR and First Aid certified

Responsibilities

• Supervise a small crew while conducting environmental fieldwork.
• 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
• Monitoring team productivity and offering timely performance guidance, including determining when corrective action is needed and delivering appropriate feedback.
• Communicate with Field Directors, Project Managers, and GIS staff through regular, scheduled field status reports.
• Participate in technical research and writing and perform data QA/QC for reporting efforts.
• Assist with mapping responsibilities in the field, including collection of GPS data using handheld unit
• Adheres to the safety program and looks out for the safety of others, promptly communicating and mitigating safety hazards.

Benefits

• Hours worked over 40 hours per week are paid at time-and-a-half rate
• Single occupancy hotels paid directly by SWCA
• Per diem for full day, unless otherwise noted for specific projects
• Vehicles provided for projects
• Opportunity for advancement within SWCA
• SWCA Environmental Consultants is a growing employee-owned firm, providing a full spectrum of environmental services.
• SWCA is committed to salary equity and salary transparency for all its employees.
• SWCA continues to invest deeply in career development programs, delivering our award-winning Career Landscape support resources to accelerate the growth of our staff.
• 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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level