Staff Archaeologist

About the opportunity

SWCA Environmental Consultants is looking for a Staff Archaeologist to join our Arizona Cultural Resources team, with offices in Phoenix, Tucson, and Flagstaff. 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 work.

In this position, you will perform mainly field-based tasks while working under a Field Director, with other staff, and potentially supervising field technicians during survey, site recording, monitoring, or excavation projects. In this role, you will also assist a variety of office-based tasks including laboratory work, the preparation of site forms, and contributing to technical reports.

This is a regular (with benefits), hourly, non-exempt, full-time opportunity reporting to our Tucson, AZ office. Hybrid work environments are encouraged.

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.

• 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 prehistoric artifacts and features, and train less experienced field crew members in their identification.
• Complete and contribute to fieldwork, including archaeological survey, testing, data recovery, and/or construction monitoring and ensure quality and completeness of data collected.
• Data QA/QC, organization, and tracking; field GPS data collection using tablets and Geodes.
• 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, and client representatives or land agents, to facilitate successful project planning and logistics.
• Adhere to the safety program and look out for the safety of others, promptly communicating and mitigating safety hazards.
• For Staff Archaeologists, 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; an
  • monitoring team productivity and providing timely performance feedback, including deciding when disciplinary action is necessary and delivering discipline

• A bachelor’s degree in anthropology, archaeology, or a closely related field.
• One (1) year of experience conducting a wide range of field methodologies, including archaeological survey, testing, excavation, methodology and/or monitoring.
• Current valid driver’s license and the ability to safely operate a 4wd vehicle on rugged, backcountry roads required.
• 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 is required.
• Strong…