Associate Project Architectural Historian

About the opportunity

SWCA’s expanding Architectural History team is seeking an Associate Project Architectural Historian to support projects in the Pacific Northwest subregion. Under supervision of the Cultural Resources Director, an Associate Project Architectural Historian performs a variety of office and field tasks, including historic research, documentation of historic properties, and completing historic resource evaluations/ assessments. 

This is a full-time, regular (with benefits), hourly position that will report to our Portland, OR office, However, we are considering qualified candidates from across our subregion, and individuals located near our offices in Boise, ID; Corvallis, OR; and Whitefish, MT are strongly encouraged to apply and will receive full consideration. The position is eligible to work on a hybrid or distributed basis. 

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. 

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. 

What you will accomplish

• Independently or as part of a project team, conduct historic resource assessments/evaluations according to local, state, and federal criteria of significance.  

• Conduct independent archival research. 

• Draft historic context statements. 

• Plan and carry out historic resource surveys of a variety of residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional properties. 

• Analyze drawings, plan sets, and written project descriptions to assess effects using the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties and other relevant criteria. 

• Prepare defensible reports and compliance documentation in support of NHPA Section 106 review and equivalent state-level reviews. 

• Manage quality and completeness of data collection, analysis, and report preparation from start to finish. 

• Work closely with the Cultural Resource Team Lead(s), as well as project managers, directors, principal investigators, archaeologists, GIS staff, technical editors, and others throughout the company to promote SWCA’s business interests in adherence to its mission, vision, and values. 

• Collaborate with SWCA’s Historic Preservation Working Group and architectural historians throughout the company. 

• Take responsibility for team safety, developing safety plans (when applicable), and anticipating potential safety hazards. 

Experience and qualifications for success

Required Qualifications 

• Graduate degree in Architectural History, Historic Preservation, Heritage Conservation, Public History, or a closely related field. 

• At least 3 years of experience working in cultural resource management as an architectural historian or equivalent experience. 

• Meets the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualification Standards for Architectural History and/or History. 

• Experience surveying architectural resources at the reconnaissance and intensive level and preparing historic property resource forms. 

• Working knowledge of cultural resource laws and regulations, including NEPAand Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. 

• Willingness and availability to travel throughout the region, and potentially elsewhere in the United States. Travel may require approximately 30% of the time. 

• Must have a valid driver’s license and be able to drive on behalf of SWCA. 

Preferred Qualifications 

• At least 5 years of experience working in cultural resource management as an architectural historian.  

• At least 2 years of experience conducting architectural history and historic built environment surveys in the Pacific Northwest. 

• Demonstrated experience preparing historic property inventories, evaluations, and technical reports in accordance with State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) guidelines and documentation requirements for Oregon, Washington, and/or Idaho. 

• Familiarity with state-specific cultural resources regulations, survey methodologies, and Section 106 consultation practices in the Pacific Northwest.  

• Candidates located in the Pacific Northwest sub-region. 

Knowledge, Skills and Attributes 

• Strong technical research, writing, and verbal communication skills.  

• Ability to independently manage multiple tasks across projects, priorities, and deadlines.  

• Experience coordinating with federal, state, Tribal, and local agencies and clients.  

• Attention to detail and commitment to producing high-quality technical deliverables.  

• Collaborative team player with the ability to mentor junior staff and contribute to a growing cultural resources program. 

We are #OneSWCA and collaborate across all our offices, programs, and disciplines. We are #AlwaysLearning, we #NeverSettle, and we #GiveBack. We are 100% employee-owned, and we build our success together. It is imperative for the successful candidate to fit SWCA's unique culture. Do you appreciate sustainability and environmental awareness? Is giving back to your community a priority? SWCA is a team of scientists, planners, technical experts, and corporate services professionals that are committed to our culture. 

Purpose: Our company purpose is to preserve natural and cultural resources for tomorrow while enabling projects that benefit people today. You are invited to be a part of our success story. 

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 accommodations@swca.com 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 Portland, OR-based position can expect a rate of $31.36/hour to $40.02/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, which includes a competitive benefits package (https://www.swca.com/careers/benefits-wellness/), forward-thinking workplace flexibility, outstanding corporate culture, award-winning career development, and more. 

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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