Lead Archaeologist

SWCA Environmental Consultants•Sheridan, WY

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

SWCA Environmental Consultants is hiring a Cultural Resources Lead Archaeologist for its Wyoming/Montana team, based in the Sheridan, Wyoming office. The role is a regular, full-time, salaried/exempt position with a hybrid or remote work environment, reporting to a Sheridan, Wyoming Principal Cultural Resources Lead. The position combines technical leadership, project management, business development, staff mentorship, and cultural resources compliance work. The Lead Archaeologist consults on and leads complex projects, guides technical approaches and quality assurance, oversees fieldwork and project deliverables, and manages project risks, scopes, schedules, and budgets. The role contributes to proposals and strategic planning, supports business growth, collaborates across disciplines, and develops client, agency, and industry relationships. It also includes reviewing and co-authoring technical reports, research designs, site forms, and other documents; training staff; assisting with safety programs; and maintaining compliance with applicable regulations and standards. The successful candidate will have a master's degree in Archaeology or Anthropology, six years of supervisory and fieldwork experience in cultural resources consulting or an agency setting, and Registered Professional Archaeologist status or eligibility. The position requires thorough knowledge of cultural resources regulations in the upper Rockies and Plains, especially Wyoming and Montana, and the ability to plan and manage projects through final reporting. Travel is estimated at 20% of the time and may include domestic travel by commercial airline. Applicants must have a valid driver's license and meet SWCA's driver requirements.

Requirements

Master's degree in Archaeology or Anthropology.
Six years of supervisory and fieldwork experience in a cultural resources consulting or agency setting.
Registered Professional Archaeologist status or qualification for RPA status.
Thorough knowledge of federal, state, and local cultural resources compliance regulations in the upper Rockies and Plains, especially Wyoming and Montana.
Demonstrated proficiency in project planning, coordination, scheduling, budget creation and tracking, and managing projects from pre-field tasks through final report preparation.
Experience preparing final reports consistent with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Archeology and Historic Preservation and applicable agency and state requirements, for projects under the National Historic Preservation Act.
Ability to work independently and oversee small or large projects in coordination with Field Directors and other Project Managers.
Ability to travel an estimated 20% of the time.
Valid driver's license and ability to meet SWCA's driver requirements.
Ability to obtain and maintain valid travel documents and identification required for work-related travel.

Nice To Haves

Eight years of supervisory and fieldwork experience in a cultural resources consulting or agency setting.
Peer-reviewed publication record.
Conference presentation experience.

Responsibilities

Lead complex projects and advise on technical approaches to meet client objectives and professional and agency standards.
Provide quality assurance and quality control for project work and deliverables.
Guide project performance, milestones, risk management, and problem-solving; revise or recommend changes to scopes, schedules, and budgets as needed.
Contribute to business development, proposal preparation, client success, and SWCA strategic planning.
Develop methods, standards, and practices that improve project quality and efficiency.
Collaborate with specialists across disciplines to provide technical project support.
Mentor and train staff in technical excellence, leadership, strategy, NRHP eligibility, research designs, technical reporting, and cultural resources recording protocols.
Build and maintain consultative relationships with clients, agency regulators, industry partners, and internal stakeholders.
Serve as a co-author or reviewer of technical reports, research designs, and other technical documents.
Edit technical reports and site forms.
Oversee field research, data collection, inventory, analysis, and final report production in accordance with the QA/QC plan.
Maintain good working relationships with state and federal agency contacts and clients.
Manage budgets, prepare proposals, interact with clients, and manage staff as needed.
Comply with applicable regulations, standards, specifications, and SWCA and client safety programs; assist in developing safety programs and promote team safety.
Perform related work as assigned.