Lead, Senior or Principal Archaeologist

About the Opportunity

SWCA Environmental Consultants is looking for a Cultural Resources Lead, Senior or Principal Archaeologist/Principal Investigator to join our Midwest team. Our team of accomplished environmental and cultural resources scientists is growing, and we are looking for dynamic individuals who are following their passion in delivering the highest‑quality cultural resources compliance services. Your role will be to work with office staff in business development, drafting proposals, overseeing and improving team procedures, developing and leading projects, overseeing fieldwork, assisting with field logistics, completing analysis of results, and drafting and reviewing technical reports.

This is a permanent, full‑time, regular status position (with benefits) reporting to our Midwest Leadership Team. This position can work as an office based or hybrid schedule out of our Lombard, IL office, or a distributed employee based in the Midwest in any of the following states:
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio, or Wisconsin.

• Lead Archaeologist/Principal Investigator – 8 years of supervisory and fieldwork experience – $81,545–$106,289
• Senior Archaeologist/Principal Investigator – 10 years of supervisory and fieldwork experience – $92,230–$120,349
• Principal Archaeologist/Principal Investigator – 12 years of supervisory and fieldwork experience – $105,727–$138,345

SWCA Environmental Consultants is an employee‑owned company of environmental professionals who specialize in environmental planning, natural and cultural resource management, and regulatory compliance. Our company purpose is to preserve natural and cultural resources for tomorrow while enabling projects that benefit people today.

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.

• Serve as primary or co‑author on large technical reports, research designs, and other technical documents.
• Conduct content edits of technical reports and site forms.
• Manage cultural resources projects from proposal to close‑out.
• Oversee field research, data collection, inventory, analysis, and final report production, ensuring these tasks are conducted in accordance with the QA/QC plan.
• Assist with training and mentoring of staff in topics including NRHP eligibility, implementation of research designs, technical reporting, and cultural resources recording protocols.
• Take initiative, resolve problems, and create improved procedures to ensure that tasks are completed in the most effective manner.
• Maintain good working relationships with state and federal agency contacts and clients.
• Additional project management duties as needed: manage budgets, prepare proposals, interact with clients, and manage staff.
• Drive compliance of safety policies and reporting requirements to ensure overall team safety.

• Minimum of a master’s degree in Archaeology or Anthropology.
• Minimum of eight (8) years of related experience.
• Experience applying for state‑issued excavation permits in at least one or more of the following states:
  Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio, and/or Wisconsin.
• Experience with and thorough knowledge of federal, state, and local regulations for cultural resources compliance projects located in one or more of the following states:
  Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio, and/or Wisconsin.
• Experience with content edits of reports and a background of scheduling and budgeting of projects related to cultural resources.
• Listed as a Registered Professional Archaeologist (or qualified for RPA status).
• Ability to work independently as well as oversee small or large projects by working closely with Field Directors and Project Managers.
• Ability to travel an estimated 5–10% of the time when necessary.

• Peer‑reviewed publication record and conference presentation…