Associate Project Architectural Historian

About the opportunity

SWCA's expanding Architectural History team seeks an Associate Project Architectural Historian to support projects in the Pacific Northwest subregion. Under the supervision of the Cultural Resources Director, the role involves a variety of office and field tasks, including historic research, documentation of historic properties, and completing historic resource evaluations and assessments.

This is a full‑time, regular, hourly position based in Portland, OR. Candidates located near our offices in Boise, ;
Corvallis, OR; and Whitefish, MT are strongly encouraged to apply. The position may be performed on a hybrid or distributed basis.

• Independently or as part of a project team, conduct historic resource assessments/evaluations according to local, state, and federal criteria of significance.
• Conduct independent archival research.
• Draft historic context statements.
• Plan and carry out historic resource surveys of a variety of residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional properties.
• Analyze drawings, plan sets, and written project descriptions to assess effects using the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties and other relevant criteria.
• Prepare defensible reports and compliance documentation in support of NHPA Section 106 review and equivalent state‑level reviews.
• Manage quality and completeness of data collection, analysis, and report preparation from start to finish.
• Work closely with the Cultural Resource Team Lead(s), project managers, directors, principal investigators, archaeologists, GIS staff, technical editors, and others to promote SWCA's business interests in adherence to its mission, vision, and values.
• Collaborate with SWCA's Historic Preservation Working Group and architectural historians throughout the company.
• Take responsibility for team safety, developing safety plans (when applicable), and anticipating potential safety hazards.

• Graduate degree in Architectural History, Historic Preservation, Heritage Conservation, Public History, or a closely related field.
• At least 3 years of experience working in cultural resource management as an architectural historian or equivalent experience.
• Meets the Secretary of the Interior's Professional Qualification Standards for Architectural History and/or History.
• Experience surveying architectural resources at the reconnaissance and intensive levels and preparing historic property resource forms.
• Working knowledge of cultural resource laws and regulations, including NEPA and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.
• Willingness and availability to travel throughout the region, and potentially elsewhere in the United States. Travel may require approximately 30% of the time.
• Must have a valid driver's license and be able to drive on behalf of SWCA.

• At least 5 years of experience working in cultural resource management as an architectural historian.
• At least 2 years of experience conducting architectural history and historic built environment surveys in the Pacific Northwest.
• Demonstrated experience preparing historic property inventories, evaluations, and technical reports in accordance with State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) guidelines and documentation requirements for Oregon, Washington, and/or Idaho.
• Familiarity with state‑specific cultural resources regulations, survey methodologies, and Section 106 consultation practices in the Pacific Northwest.
• Candidates located in the Pacific Northwest sub‑region.

• Strong technical research, writing, and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to independently manage multiple tasks across projects, priorities, and deadlines.
• Experience coordinating with federal, state, tribal, and local agencies and clients.
• Attention to detail and commitment to producing high‑quality technical deliverables.
• Collaborative team player with the ability to mentor junior staff and contribute to a growing cultural resources program.

EOE – women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. SWCA Environmental Consultants celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive work environment.