Assistant Staff Archaeologist - Crew Lead

About the opportunity

Our Salt Lake City-based cultural resources (CR) program is seeking Crew Chiefs/Field Managers to be part of our field leadership team. We are looking for dynamic individuals to deliver the highest-quality data to support multiple projects this field season. SWCA Environmental Consultants 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. Applicants based out of the general Salt Lake City area and surrounding areas are preferred. This position is an hourly, regular position with benefits.

The Salt Lake City CR team conducts diverse types of fieldwork throughout the intermountain west in all types of terrain and environments. The work is demanding, exhausting, and fulfilling. Our projects this year will require people who are flexible, fast learners, detail-oriented but with the ability to see the big picture, team players, and have a positive attitude. Your role will be to lead archaeological survey crews as part of a larger field execution team on project work.

You should be able to work full-time while weather permits.

SWCA pays for travel time to and from our office to the project areas from the Salt Lake office or your location (whichever is closer). We also provide lodging, safety and vehicle equipment, GPS and tablets, and per diem on non-local projects (typically $59/day while in a hotel and more when camping). The pay range for this position is $21.00 - $26.00 an hour.

What you will accomplish

Your role will include the following:

• Providing leadership to your field crew of up to five people while conducting archaeological fieldwork – primarily pedestrian survey, however, we do have some data recovery excavation and monitoring projects booked for the 2022 field season.
• Communicating with Project Managers, GIS staff, and other staff through frequent status reports.
• Assisting with mapping responsibilities in the field, including collection of GPS data using professional-grade devices
• Working long hours (approximately 10 hours a day) with extensive time away from home (typically 8-day field sessions with 6 days off).
• Office and laboratory work will be minimal but may include scanning maps, printing field and site forms, and assisting with reports.
• Ability to walk between 8 and 12 miles a day while carrying personal and SWCA gear supplies weighing up to 40 pounds in the heat or cold and in high elevations.

Experience and qualifications for success

• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology, Archaeology, or a closely related field required
• Secretary of Interior (SOI) qualified (graduate degree and at least 1 year of experience) preferred.
• Experience in the Great Basin and Colorado Plateau sufficient to be listed on federal and state cultural resource permits in Utah is required; adequate experience to be listed on permits in Nevada is preferred
• A minimum of two (2) years of experience with a wide range of field methodologies, especially archaeological survey, is required
• Previous field supervisory experience required
• Previous experience recording archaeological sites is required; use of the Utah Archaeological Site Form or IMACS is preferred
• Ability to walk and conduct fieldwork for long hours, sometimes in inclement weather, often in rugged terrain at high altitudes, while also carrying personal equipment and supplies weighing up to 40 pounds is required. Crews typically walk a pace of at least 8 miles a day.
• Knowledge of professional-grade GPS and tablet-based data applications is required
• Strong outdoor skills including wayfinding, camping, first aid, basic survival training, etc. are preferred.
• Current valid driver’s license and the ability to safely operate a 4wd vehicle on rugged, backcountry roads preferred
• Ability to pass a motor vehicle background screening

Please provide your resume or CV that explains if and to what extent you meet the experience and qualification parameters outlined above. If you meet the requirements, and seem like a good candidate, we will get in touch with you via email or phone number provided in your resume/CV. We like to involve our current field employees in the screening process, so you may have an interview scheduled with our current field managers. Please be patient with the process; resumes are reviewed, and interviews scheduled to accommodate the ongoing field sessions.

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 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.

Seniority Level

Mid-Senior level

Not ready to apply? Connect with us for general consideration.