Lead Archaeologist - Principal Investigator

About the opportunity

SWCA's Gulf Coast operation is seeking a Lead Archaeologist in Houston, TX, to support its expanding practice. As a key member of our team, you will collaborate with Directors, Team Leads, and Project Managers to coordinate projects and ensure high-quality cultural resource management services.

As a Lead Archaeologist, you will play a crucial role in managing and overseeing cultural resource projects, serving as the primary author on technical reports, research designs, and other documentation. You will provide guidance and mentorship to staff, ensuring compliance with QA/QC standards and fostering a collaborative team environment. Additionally, you will manage budgets, proposals, client interactions, and staff, demonstrating proficiency in project management and effective delegation.

This is a regular, full-time salaried position reporting to our Senior Cultural Resources Director, offering the flexibility of a hybrid work environment out of our Houston, TX or Baton Rouge, LA offices.

What you will accomplish

* Develop and foster client relationships to build business across SWCA's service offerings

* Lead authorship of technical reports, research designs, and other documentation.

* Oversight of field research, data collection, analysis, and report production.

* Training and mentoring of staff in research protocols, technical reporting, and site recording.

* Problem-solving and process improvement to enhance project efficiency and effectiveness.

* Collaboration with local and regional teams to ensure successful project outcomes.

* Cultivation of strong relationships with agency contacts, clients, and stakeholders.

* Additional project management duties, including budgeting, proposal preparation, and client management.

* Demonstrated commitment to scientific integrity and SWCA's Mission, Vision, and Values.

* Drives compliance of safety policies and reporting requirements to ensure overall team safety.

Experience and qualifications for success

* Minimum of a master's degree in Archaeology or Anthropology.

* Minimum of eight (8) years of archaeology fieldwork experience, with academic or research-oriented supervisory experience considered.

* Thorough knowledge of NEPA and Section 106 regulations.

* Registered Professional Archaeologist status or eligibility.

* Experience with content editing of reports and project scheduling/budgeting.

* Ability to work independently and collaborate effectively with project teams.

* Willingness to travel approximately 20% of the time.

SWCA Environmental Consultants is a growing, 100% employee-owned company that offers a full range of environmental services. Our North Star is to be the best place to work and a leader in sustainability, bringing sound science and creative solutions to global environmental challenges, all while staying true to our commitment to employee ownership. At SWCA, we live our core values every day: we collaborate as #OneSWCA, we're #Always Learning, we #Never Settle, and we #Give Back to our communities.

With offices across the country, we're proud to be one of the largest environmental compliance firms in the U.S. and to rank among Engineering News-Record's Top 200 Environmental Firms.

SWCA is committed to salary equity and transparency. In alignment with this commitment, we post good faith pay ranges in all job postings. An employee in this Houston, TX - based position can expect a salary of $81,545.10 - $/year. Actual pay within this range may depend on experience, qualifications, geographic location, client requirements where applicable, and other factors permitted by law.

Regular-status employees are also eligible for performance bonuses. Candidates are also encouraged to consider SWCA's Total Rewards package (), which includes a competitive Benefits package, forward-thinking workplace flexibility, outstanding corporate culture, award-winning career development, and more.

We offer a supportive, team-focused work environment, competitive pay, and great benefits-including a 100% employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) to help you build a strong financial future. At SWCA, we're committed to helping our team members grow into industry…