Cultural Resources Intern

About the opportunity

SWCA Environmental Consultants is seeking a Cultural Resources Intern for Summer 2026 to support both office and field cultural resources projects based out of our Flagstaff, Arizona office.

The Cultural Resources Intern will support a diversity of field-based and office-based projects and will work with talented, multidisciplinary teams of cultural resources professionals. Established in 1981, SWCA has a long-standing presence in the United States and is known for sound science and creative solutions.

Your role as a Cultural Resources Intern will be assisting with cultural resources and archaeology data entry, artifact analyses, reporting, and fieldwork during the summer field season. You should be able to work outside during fieldwork sessions that generally last for a week or more.

This internship will occur during summer 2026 (early June to Mid August – 10 weeks). Earlier start dates or later end dates will be considered on a case-by-case basis and are encouraged. Candidates with educational and or professional experience in Arizona are highly preferred.

This is a paid, 40-hour-per-week internship paying $19.00 per hour.

Please submit a letter of interest and resume to be considered for this 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

This Cultural Resources Intern position will be roughly 75% field and 25% office-based. Interns typically receive:

• Hands-on experience with surveying and site recording methods
• Experience following local State Historic Preservation Office and federal agency guidelines for performing archaeological fieldwork.
• Introduction to cartography and archaeological map analysis.
• Opportunities to participate in various types of cultural resources management fieldwork.
• Exposure to a nationally recognized cultural compliance consulting firm and lead professionals in the field.
• Interns also must adhere to the safety program and look out for the safety of others, promptly communicating and mitigating safety hazards.

Experience and qualifications for success

Minimum Qualifications

• Current enrollment in a community college, college, or university, pursuing a certificate of proficiency, associate degree, or a bachelor’s degree with a focus on cultural resource management or Archaeology. Individuals who completed a bachelor’s degree within 12 months of May 1, 2026, will also be considered.
• Applicants who are pursuing a master’s degree will also be considered.  PhD. candidates are not eligible for this program.
• Experience with cultural resources field work (e.g., archaeology, anthropology, etc.) through classwork, honors thesis, or capstone projects, professional or intern experience, or volunteer work.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite software.
• Must have good communication, interpersonal skills, and attention to detail.
• Must have the ability and willingness to learn new survey and monitoring techniques and protocols.

Important for Field-Based Roles

• For archaeological interns, successful completion of an archaeological field school is a plus
• May require an ability to travel to the field 75% of the time, including spending up to a week or two at a time at a field location.
• Ability to travel to a location, walk and conduct fieldwork for long hours, sometimes in inclement weather and rugged terrain, and the ability to carry equipment and supplies weighing up to 40 pounds.
• Ability to work outside in all weather conditions, effectively execute tasks, and conform to shifting priorities and demands.
• Valid driver’s license and the ability to drive a four-wheel drive vehicle on backcountry roads are required.
• Applicant must be willing to participate in drug testing and alcohol screening as part of the pre-employment process, as some projects require such screenings.

Helpful Skills

• Familiarity with GPS devices and digital data collection, and/or mapping software such as ArcGIS.
• Technical writing experience.

Why Work at SWCA:

SWCA Environmental Consultants is a growing employee-owned firm, providing a full spectrum of environmental services.  Our Vision (the North Star) is to make SWCA the best workplace and industry leader in sustainability, bringing sound science and creative solutions to global environmental challenges while maintaining a dedication to employee-ownership. We live our core values: we collaborate as #OneSWCA; we are #AlwaysLearning, we #NeverSettle, and we #GiveBack.

We are 100% employee-owned, and we build our success together. 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. We offer a supportive, team-oriented work environment and competitive wages and benefits, including a 100% employee stock ownership plan (retirement).

If you need assistance accessing SWCA’s website, completing the online application, or require a confidential conversation related to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact us at accommodations@swca.com or call 1-480-581-5378. We are 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 (above) on all its advertised job postings to promote pay equity and transparency.  An intern based in Flagstaff, Arizona, will be paid $19.00 per hour.

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.

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