Staff Architectural Historian

SWCA Environmental Consultants•Sacramento, CA

6d•$27 - $34•Hybrid

About The Position

SWCA Environmental Consultants seeks a Staff Architectural Historian to support cultural resources projects in Northern California and potentially throughout the state. This is a regular, hourly, non-exempt, full-time position with benefits, offering the flexibility of a hybrid work model. The position will report into our Sacramento, CA office. SWCA is a growing employee-owned firm, providing a full spectrum of environmental services. 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. 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. 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.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Historic Preservation, Public History, Heritage Conservation, History, Architectural History, or a related field.
Minimum of one (1) year of experience in cultural resources management as an architectural historian required.
Solid understanding of federal and state historic preservation laws and regulations, especially Section 106 of the NHPA and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
Demonstrated knowledge of U.S. history and architectural history.
Strong research, writing, and communication skills.
Valid driver’s license and ability to meet SWCA’s driver safety requirements.
Willingness and ability to travel up to 35% of the time.

Nice To Haves

Two (2) years of experience in cultural resources management as an architectural historian preferred.

Responsibilities

Support and contribute to architectural history and historic preservation projects, including multi-disciplinary efforts.
Conduct historic resource surveys of residential, commercial, agricultural, industrial, and institutional properties using digital tools such as tablets and photography.
Perform archival research and write compelling historic narratives and context statements using primary and secondary sources.
Evaluate historic properties using National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) criteria.
Prepare high-quality compliance documentation for NHPA/Section 106 review.
Conduct resource inventories, property descriptions, and draft California Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) 523 series forms.
Conduct project-level reviews to ensure compliance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards.
Assist municipalities and local governments with planning regulations and preservation ordinances.
Develop and manage project budgets and supervise field crews and staff.
Support proposal writing and marketing efforts to help grow our cultural resources services.
Maintain high standards of technical excellence, ethics, and quality assurance in all project deliverables.
Oversee and ensure completeness and accuracy in data collection, analysis, and report preparation.
Perform mid-level peer reviews of technical reports.
Collaborate with Cultural Resources Directors, Team Leads, Project Managers, and Principal Investigators across the company.
Work closely with clients to understand project goals and provide strategic recommendations for historic resource management.
Engage with SWCA’s Historic Preservation Working Group and architectural historians nationwide.
Adhere to the safety program and look out for the safety of others, promptly communicating and mitigating safety hazards.
Independently supervise a field survey crew in the field, assigning and directing activities, ensuring quality and on-time delivery.
Ensure employees understand their responsibilities and delegated tasks, and hold them accountable for performance.
Serve as a conduit of communication between employees and senior managers, communicating issues and resolving complaints.
Monitor team productivity and provide timely performance feedback, including disciplinary action when necessary.