Staff Archaeologist

About the opportunity

SWCA's Environmental Consultants is seeking multiple Staff Archaeologists to join our Wyoming/Montana office based in Sheridan, WY. Hiring will be for temporary positions to assist with upcoming cultural resources management work across Wyoming, Montana, and the surrounding region.

Under the supervision of a Cultural Resources Lead, this position will perform office and field tasks while working with and supervising crew members. In this role, you will assist a variety of office and field-based tasks. Office tasks include laboratory work, the preparation of site forms, and technical reports. Field tasks include managing all aspects of fieldwork, supervising one or more crews of archaeological technicians during survey, site recording, monitoring, or excavation projects.

This is a temporary, hourly, non-exempt (eligible for overtime) field-based assignment, with variable hours. This assignment is anticipated to last six months, with the possibility of extension based on project needs.

This requisition can hire at three levels -

• Cultural Resources Technician
  - Typically an entry level role with a bachelor's degree preferred
• Assistant Staff Archaeologist -- Typically with at least one year of relevant industry experience and expertise preferred; relevant bachelor's degree required
• Staff Archaeologist
  - Typically with at least one to two years of relevant industry experience and expertise required; two or more years preferred; relevant master's degree required.

Final date to receive applications:
Our team will begin reviewing applications immediately, and interviews will be scheduled with qualified candidates on a rolling basis. The application process will remain open until we have received a robust pool of qualified candidates. Once we have identified suitable individuals, we may close the application process without prior notice. We appreciate the time and effort invested by all applicants and will carefully consider each submission.

• Assist with office-based tasks, including laboratory work, performing literature reviews, research, site form preparation, and technical report preparation, as needed;
• Work independently in a responsible manner, within defined schedules, and meet deadlines;
• Communicate effectively when reporting to Project Archaeologists, Principal Investigators, clients, and client representatives in the field, such as land agents, to facilitate successful project planning and logistics;
• Ensure that appropriate preliminary research is conducted and organized before fieldwork, and that necessary equipment, staff, and other resources are ready for fieldwork;
• Accurately identify historic-era and precontact artifacts and features, and train less experienced field crew members in their identification.
• Adheres to the safety program and looks out for the safety of others, promptly communicating and mitigating safety hazards.
• As a staff archaeologist, depending upon the project, an element of your job may be to independently supervise an archaeological survey crew in the field. This includes:
  • 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; and
  • monitoring team productivity and providing timely performance feedback, including deciding when disciplinary action is necessary and delivering discipline.

• A master's degree in anthropology, archaeology, or a closely related field
• Two (2) years of experience conducting field assessments with a cultural resources focus
• Current valid driver's license and the ability to safely operate a 4wd vehicle on rugged, backcountry roads
• Ability to travel to a location, walk and conduct fieldwork for long hours, sometimes in inclement weather, rugged terrain, and ability to carry equipment and supplies weighing up to 40 pounds
• Ability and willingness to work at least 75% of the time in the field.

• An accredited Field School Certification.
• Two (2) years of experience conducting a wide range of field methodologies, including archaeological survey, testing, excavation, methodology and/or monitoring.
• Meets the qualifications of a Secretary of the Interior Qualified Archaeologist
• CPR and First Aid certified.
• Can pass drug testing and alcohol screening as some projects require such screenings

SWCA Environmental Consultants is a growing employee-owned firm, providing a full-spectrum of environmental services.
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