Archaeological Monitor

About the opportunity

SWCA Environmental Consultants seeks  Permitted Archaeological Monitors in Wyoming to join our Wyoming Cultural Resources team. Special compensation rates apply to this position. Compensation ranges from $30.16 to $47.84/hour commensurate with experience and role, with overtime paid at time-and-a-half. Project housing, vehicle, and per diem are provided ($68 per day). Additional benefits include paid wellness and holiday time accrual. This is an hourly, regular-status, benefited position for a minimum of the duration of the monitoring project, expected to run through late October 2026. However, this position supports multi-year projects and has the potential to return to annual work and additional travel opportunities during the winter months.  

As a permitted archaeological monitor, you are responsible for various project tasks, including supervising field staff, working independently, coordinating with construction crews, monitoring construction, and keeping detailed records. You will inspect construction areas, independently identifying , documenting, and evaluating cultural material. This role will include other field tasks as necessary for project success (e.g., client coordination, vehicle maintenance, etc.). 

This is a distributed position and welcomes all applicants, regardless of current location (HR Title: Project Level Resource Monitor). In accordance with the construction schedule, daily work hours will typically vary between 12 and 14 hours, depending on the construction crew’s schedule and needs. Work will typically occur Monday through Saturday, with Sundays off. Single-occupancy lodging and per diem are covered seven days a week, with 8-hour compensation for down days caused by weather or other project delays. Rental trucks will be provided, and all work time, including travel between the lodging location and the project site, will be fully compensated. This position will require drug/alcohol screening to successfully be added to the permits. 

This requisition can hire at three levels -- 

• Assistant Project (Archaeological) Resource Monitor – typically with a minimum of two (2) years of relevant industry experience and expertise. 

• Associate Project (Archaeological) Resource Monitor – typically with a minimum of three (3) years of relevant industry experience and expertise. 

• Project (Archaeological) Resource Monitor – typically with a minimum of four (4) years of relevant industry experience and expertise. 

Application deadline: 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. 

What you will accomplish

• Work collaboratively with construction crews and Traditional Cultural Specialists (TCSs)  to ensure safe and efficient monitoring practices. 

• Perform monitoring fieldwork and provide assistance to project managers with various field tasks. 

• Coordinate the progress of the field crew and facilitate daily data transfer. 

• Prepare accurate and detailed daily monitoring reports. 

• Collect, organize, and conduct quality assurance and quality control for field data. 

• Assist with technical reporting as needed. 

• Uphold SWCA’s high standard of scientific ethics and assurance, demonstrating the ability to identify and creatively resolve challenges. 

• Supervise a small crew conducting archaeological monitoring fieldwork. 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. 

Experience and qualifications for success

• Permitted or permittable on SWCA’s Wyoming BLM permit. 

• At least two years of relevant cultural resources experience. 

• Experience with archaeological monitoring of construction sites. 

• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in archaeology, anthropology, or a closely related field is required; a master’s degree is preferred. 

• Current valid driver’s license and the ability to safely operate a four-wheel drive vehicle on rugged backcountry roads. 

• Ability to travel to a location; ability to conduct fieldwork for long hours, sometimes in inclement weather, rugged terrain, and often at high altitudes; and ability to carry equipment and supplies weighing up to 40 pounds. 

• Ability to spend several hours per day away from the vehicle. 

Preferred qualifications

• Experience in monitoring in southwestern Wyoming. 

• Demonstrated leadership and supervision abilities, including problem-solving, constructive conflict resolution, and decision-making skills. 

SWCA Environmental Consultants is a growing employee-owned firm, providing a full spectrum of environmental services. With offices across the United States, SWCA is one of the largest environmental compliance firms and ranks among Engineering News-Record’s Top 200 Environmental Firms. 

If you need assistance accessing SWCA’s website, completing the online application, or require accommodations at any point during the hiring process due to a disability, please contact us at [email protected] or call 1-480-581-5378. We’re committed to providing an inclusive and supportive experience for all candidates. This contact information is specifically for accommodation requests; other inquiries will not receive a response. 

SWCA is committed to salary equity and salary transparency for all its employees.  In alignment with this commitment, SWCA posts good faith pay ranges in all its advertised job postings to promote pay equity and transparency. 

An employee in this Sheridan, Wyoming-based position can expect a rate of: Assistant Project Resource Monitor -- $30.16/hour to $37.96/hour; Associate Project Resource Monitor -- $33.28/hour to $42.64/hour; Project Resource Monitor -- $37.44/hour to $47.84/hour. 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 (https://www.swca.com/careers/benefits-wellness/), which includes a competitive Benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, wellness, life, and disability coverage, as well as access to our Employee Assistance Program. Employees may also participate in SWCA’s 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan and Trust. 

EOE - women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans are encouraged to apply.  At SWCA Environmental Consultants, we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive work environment. We strongly encourage candidates from all backgrounds, including those with diverse experiences and veterans, to apply. We believe that a diverse and inclusive workforce enhances creativity, innovation, and overall organizational success. 

SWCA continues to invest deeply in career development programs, delivering our award-winning Career Landscape support resources to accelerate the growth of our staff. We recognize the valuable skills and experiences our internal team members bring to SWCA’s continued success. Qualified internal candidates are encouraged to apply and will be seriously considered for this position. We believe in promoting from within, where possible, providing our existing employees with compelling opportunities to advance their careers. 

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