Assistant Staff Archaeologist - Assistant Lab Manager

About the opportunity

SWCA's Albuquerque office is seeking a Staff Archaeologist - Assistant Laboratory Manager to support our growing cultural resources practice in the New Mexico- Four Corners region.

Under the supervision and guidance of the Laboratory Manager and in coordination with program leadership, the Assistant Lab Manager will primarily support cultural resources project work through collections management and artifact / sample processing tasks, but may also provide assistance with in-office tasks specific to laboratory operations, database management, equipment tracking, and field coordination.

The successful individual will be a self-starter, detail-oriented, and capable of functioning independently while maintaining communication and collaborating with other staff.

We anticipate that the person filling this role will be primarily office based, however, some level of fieldwork and off-site research will be required in this position to accommodate project demands.

This is a regular, full-time, hourly position.

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

Conduct and facilitate archaeological lab work to ensure that the project goals, schedule, and correct curation methods are being met.

All work will be completed in coordination with the Lab Manager, Project Managers, Principal Investigators and / or direct supervisor.

• Ensure that samples for outside analysis are properly prepared. Track and follow up on the status of all samples sent out for analysis.
• Maintain upkeep of all field equipment to include repairing screens, sharpening shovels, and replacing equipment as needed.

Notify the Lab Manager, Principal Investigator or Senior Director of potential equipment replacement needs.

• Manage curation agreements.
• Contribute to revisions of lab procedures manual (intake protocol, artifact preparation / cleaning, curation instructions, etc.).
• Assist with maintaining the FS log and artifact tracking logs in the cultural resource databases and train new employees on their use.
• Contribute to the overall development of the program and make recommendations to increase efficiency and accuracy of data.
• Coordinate with field execution team as needed and assist in relaying information between field crews and Project Managers, Principal Investigators, and Program Director and vice versa.
• Ensure that lab personnel follow the lab safety plan, and that proper safety equipment and safety data sheets (SDS) are available, with emergency numbers on hand for each project.
• Comply with all SWCA health and safety procedures.
• This position is primarily office-based, but may include small amounts of fieldwork on occasion.
• When in the field - supervise and lead a small crew while conducting archaeological field work such archaeological monitoring, survey, testing, and data recovery. 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 offering timely performance guidance, including determining when corrective action is needed and delivering appropriate feedback.

Experience and qualifications for success

• A.S. or B.S. in Archaeology, Anthropology, Museum Studies or related field is required.
• A minimum of one year of experience in museum and / or curational tasks associated with archaeological collections management.
• A minimum of one year of experience in laboratory methods and / or artifact analysis. Hands-on experience with artifact types common to New Mexico is preferred.
• Completion of an accredited archaeological field school or demonstrated archaeological field experience (with emphasis on knowledge of excavation methods)
• Experience preparing field documents, site forms, and reports.
• Experience with databases and database management, including, but not limited to, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access, and Smartsheets
• Ability to take initiative, resolve problems, and ensure that tasks are completed in the most effective manner.
• Willingness to learn and enforce company policies and procedures.
• Basic understanding of cultural resource laws and regulations.
• Multi-tasking and organizational abilities, attention to detail, and commitment to highest quality work products.
• Effective collaboration skills.
• Ability to prioritize workloads and meet schedules.

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 would like to contact SWCA regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the online application process due to a disability, please email accommodations@swca.

com or call 480-581-5378. This contact information is for disability accommodation requests only. All 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 on all its advertised job postings to promote pay equity and transparency.

An employee in this Albuquerque, NM-based position can expect an hourly pay rate of $20.50-26.50 / hour. Actual pay within this range may depend on experience, qualifications, geographic location, client requirements where applicable, and other factors permitted by law.

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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