Staff Architectural Historian

SWCA Environmental Consultants is hiring a Staff Architectural Historian in Raleigh, NC, to support cultural resources projects in the Southeastern U.S. The role involves conducting historic resource surveys, performing archival research, and preparing compliance documentation. Candidates can work in a hybrid model or fully remote, with preference for those in North Carolina. The position requires a Bachelor's degree in a related field and at least two years of experience.
About the opportunity

SWCA Environmental Consultants is seeking a Staff Architectural Historian to support cultural resources projects in North Carolina and surrounding Southeastern states. As we continue to grow our Cultural Resources team, we're looking for a passionate, motivated professional dedicated to delivering high-quality project work and helping our team thrive.

This is a regular, full-time position with benefits, offering the flexibility of a hybrid work model or a fully remote arrangement for candidates. This position is open to candidates in the Southeastern U.S. with preference will be given to candidates residing in North Carolina.

What you will accomplish
• Support and contribute to architectural history and historic preservation projects, including multi-disciplinary efforts.
• Conduct historic resource surveys of residential, commercial, agricultural, industrial, and institutional properties using digital tools such as tablets and photography.
• Perform archival research and write compelling historic narratives and context statements using primary and secondary sources.
• Evaluate historic properties using National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) criteria.
• Prepare high-quality compliance documentation for NHPA/Section 106 review.
• Conduct project-level reviews to ensure compliance with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards.
• Assist municipalities and local governments with planning regulations and preservation ordinances.
• Develop and manage project budgets and supervise field crews and staff.
• Support proposal writing and marketing efforts to help grow our cultural resources services.
• Maintain high standards of technical excellence, ethics, and quality assurance in all project deliverables.
• Oversee and ensure completeness and accuracy in data collection, analysis, and report preparation.
• Perform mid-level peer reviews of technical reports.
• Collaborate with Cultural Resources Directors, Team Leads, Project Managers, and Principal Investigators across the company.
• Work closely with clients to understand project goals and provide strategic recommendations for historic resource management.
• Engage with SWCA's Historic Preservation Working Group and architectural historians nationwide.
• Supervise a small crew while conducting 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

Minimum Requirements:
• Bachelor's degree in Historic Preservation, Public History, Heritage Conservation, History, Architectural History, or a related field.
• Minimum of two (2) years of experience in cultural resources management as an architectural historian.
• Solid understanding of federal and state historic preservation laws and regulations, especially Section 106 of the NHPA.
• Demonstrated knowledge of U.S. history and architectural history.
• Strong research, writing, and communication skills.
• Valid driver's license and ability to meet SWCA's driver safety requirements.
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 35% of the time.

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 Raleigh, NC-based position can expect an hourly pay rate of $23.95 to $30.64 /hr. 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, forward-thinking workplace flexibility, outstanding corporate culture, award-winning career development, and more.

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.

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.

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.

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