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Senior/Principal Architectural Historian

Position Description

SWCA Environmental Consultants is seeking a Senior or Principal Architectural Historian for our Southern California offices to drive growth and uphold the highest standards of quality in architectural history. As a core member of our Cultural Resources program, the Senior or Principal Architectural Historian will collaborate with SWCA managers, directors, and vice presidents on technical and business development initiatives throughout our southern California offices (Pasadena, Riverside, and San Diego), while coordinating with peers throughout the company’s West Region. The ideal candidate combines technical expertise, commercial acumen, and leadership skills to expand SWCA’s architectural history practice in Southern California. Responsibilities include technical leadership, quality assurance and control, mentoring staff, helping in the development of new business, and managing projects.

This is a regular (with benefits), full-time, salaried position. SWCA offers the flexibility of a hybrid work environment; however, candidates local to one of our Southern California offices are highly preferred.  Only highly qualified, fully remote candidates with significant experience in California will be seriously considered.

This job requisition can hire at two levels —

• Senior Architectural Historian – Typically with ten (10) years of relevant industry experience and expertise preferred
• Principal Architectural Historian – Typically with twelve (12) years of relevant industry experience and expertise preferred

What you will accomplish

Responsible for managing all aspects of project execution as outlined below.  A principal architectural historian will lead or manage larger, more complex (and potentially more multi-disciplinary) projects and client relationships compared to a senior architectural historian.

• Independently manage stand-alone architectural history projects (both large and small) and assist other project managers in the execution of architectural history components of multi-disciplinary projects
• Plan and complete historic resource surveys of residential, commercial, agricultural, industrial, and institutional properties using Arc-GIS-enabled tablet computers, digital photography, and other survey methodology meeting the standards of relevant State Historic Preservation Offices.
• Lead QA/QC of office technical studies in support of various historic resource evaluations and nominations, Secretary of the Interior’s Standards project review, and a number of other projects related to preservation planning and policy
• Conduct or lead a team to conduct archival research, focusing on primary and secondary sources, and write historic narratives and context statements.
• Evaluate resources under California Register of Historical Resources (CRHR) and National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) criteria or oversee others doing this.
• Prepare technical reports and defensible compliance documentation in support of CEQA, as well as NHPA/Section 106 consultation
• Prepare CRHR and NRHP nominations and Multiple Property Documentation forms
• Develop and manage project budgets and staff
• Contribute to proposal and marketing efforts
• Maintain SWCA’s high standard of technical ethics and quality assurance and ensure that project deliverables meet agency and industry standards, and be motivated to identify and resolve problems in creative ways
• Assist in business development, reviewing and responding to RFPs, and pursuing and building relationships with clients
• Work with clients to identify project needs and make recommendations for management of historic resources
• Collaborate with SWCA’s Historic Preservation Working Group and architectural historians throughout the company
• Drive compliance of safety policies and reporting requirements to ensure overall team safety.

Experience and qualifications for success

Required

• Meets Secretary of Interior Standards for architectural history.
• A Master’s degree in architectural history, art history, historic preservation or a closely related field.
• Minimum of eight (8) years of experience in cultural resources management.
• A working knowledge of federal and state cultural resources and historic preservation laws and practices, including Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, CEQA, and local/municipal regulations.
• Experience surveying architectural resources at the reconnaissance and intensive level and recording information on state-specific architectural inventory forms.
• Familiarity with nineteenth and twentieth century commercial and residential architecture in the western United States, especially California.
• Demonstrated writing skills, including applying the National Register/California Register criteria for evaluation and preparing NRHP/CRHR eligibility evaluations for architectural resources.
• Demonstrated track record of taking initiative and resolving problems to create improved procedures that ensure tasks are completed in an effective and efficient manner.

Preferred

• Minimum of ten (10) years of experience in cultural resources management.
• Private sector consulting experience

Additional Information 

• Travel may be required up to 15% of the time, or up to approximately 6 weeks per year.
• Successful applicant must have a valid driver’s license and be able to drive on behalf of SWCA.

Why Work at SWCA:

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.

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 California based position can expect a salary of: Senior Architectural Historian —  $98,820/year to $128,950/year;  Principal Architectural Historian — $113,280/year to $148,230/year. 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.  

Company/Organization Description

SWCA Environmental Consultants is a leader in environmental consulting, providing tailored solutions for clients navigating the environmental compliance process. With 45 years of experience, we combine scientific expertise and deep industry knowledge to deliver services in environmental planning, cultural resource management, biological and ecological services, water resources, air quality planning, and more.

Pay Range (Annual): $80,000 – $100,000, Greater than $100,000
Location: , CA
Job Type: Full Time

How to Apply

Apply directly on our careers site at swca.com/careers

Please provide a cover letter in addition to your resume.

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.

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.

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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