Lead Archaeologist - Principal Investigator in Pacific NW U.S.

SWCA Environmental Consultants•Anchorage, WA

6d•$81,545 - $120,349•Hybrid

About The Position

SWCA Environmental Consultants is seeking a Cultural Resources Lead-level Archaeologist - Principal Investigator to join their Pacific Northwest Subregion team. The role involves working with staff in business development, drafting proposals, overseeing and improving team procedures, developing and leading projects, overseeing fieldwork, assisting with field logistics, completing analysis of results, and drafting technical reports. This position can be hired at two levels: Lead Archaeologist (six years of relevant industry experience and expertise, eight years preferred) or Senior Archaeologist (eight years of relevant industry experience and expertise, ten years preferred). The Pacific Northwest offices offer a collaborative, supportive environment specializing in natural and cultural resources, environmental planning, permitting, and restoration engineering. SWCA is a 100% employee-owned environmental consulting firm known for high-quality work grounded in sound science and meaningful client relationships. This is a regular, full-time, salaried, exempt position that may be based anywhere within the Pacific Northwest, reporting to the Pacific Northwest Cultural Resources Director, with hybrid and remote work environments offered. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and the position may close without prior notice.

Requirements

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.
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.
Applicants must possess a valid driver's license and meet SWCA's driver requirements.
Candidates must be able to obtain and maintain all valid travel documents and identification required for work-related travel throughout the duration of employment.
Lead level: Drives compliance of safety policies and reporting requirements to ensure overall team safety.

Nice To Haves

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.

Responsibilities

Strategically consults on and leads complex projects in pursuit of client objectives, overseeing the technical approach and ensuring quality assurance and quality control.
Leads by example in both technical and soft skills, navigating client and team priorities to deliver projects that meet professional and oversight agency standards.
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.
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.
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.
Champions cross-disciplinary collaboration, working closely with specialists to provide comprehensive technical support for projects.
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.
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.
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.
Manage projects, prepare and contribute to proposals, provide technical expertise to our clients, and supervise staff, as applicable.