Project Level Paleontologist

About the opportunity

SWCA Environmental Consultants is seeking a Project Level Paleontologist - Field Director to support our West Region’s paleontological resources program. This position is a regular, full-time, hourly position and will primarily be field-based in southern Nevada, reporting to the Las Vegas office. Under supervision of a Senior Paleontological Resources Team Lead and Project Manager, an Assistant Project Paleontologist-Field Director performs field and office tasks while working with and supervising crew members.

The Assistant Project Paleontologist - Field Director will manage all aspects of fieldwork, supervising one or more crews of paleontological monitors, surveyors, and/or excavators. They may also assist with office-based tasks, including quality assurance of field reporting, developing client and subcontractor relationships in support of field projects, and preparation of technical reports in support of a variety of projects including, energy transmission, renewable energy, mining, oil and gas, transportation, and land development. Some projects include overtime hours or prevailing wage rates and will require travel and overnight stays. Project-related travel and lodging costs are covered, and per diem is provided for project work requiring overnight stays. This is a regular, full-time position and is a wonderful career-growth opportunity for the right candidate to join SWCA’s expanding paleontology practice. All regular status employees are eligible to participate in SWCA medical, dental, vision, employee assistance, wellness, life and disability plans, and are eligible to participate in the SWCA 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan and Trust. In addition, a technology (i.e., cell phone) allowance is offered. 

Anticipated fieldwork will primarily occur in southern Nevada, as well as in California, Utah, and other U.S. western states. The candidate may be asked to submit to background screening and drug testing in order to work on certain facilities. Candidates local to southern Nevada are strongly preferred (the local office is in Las Vegas), but candidates in northern Nevada, southern California, northern Arizona, western Utah, and other regions of the western U.S. who are willing to regularly travel to southern Nevada will be considered. 

SWCA Environmental Consultants is a growing, 1,850+ staff, 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.

Under this job requisition, we may hire the following job position:

• Assistant Project Paleontologist - Typically with up to three (3) years of relevant experience and expertise.
• Associate Project Paleontologist - Typically with up to five (5) years of relevant experience and expertise.
• Project Paleontologist - Typically with up to seven (7) years of relevant experience and expertise.

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

• Supervise and conduct fieldwork, including paleontological construction monitoring and survey and ensure quality and completeness of data collected. Coordinates with resource monitors and subcontractors, as appropriate.
• Serve as a permitted Field Agent, working under the direction of other Principal Investigators, Project Managers, Environmental Planners, and/or the Paleontology Team Lead.
• Manage quality and completeness of data collection, analysis, and report completion from start to finish. Data QA/QC, organization, and tracking; field GPS data collection using tablets and Geodes. 
• Create and maintain good morale among field crew and mentor junior staff.
• Ensure that appropriate preliminary research is conducted and organized prior to fieldwork, and that necessary equipment, staff, and other resources are prepared for fieldwork.
• Field Directors may also assist with office-based tasks, including performing literature reviews, background research, record searches, and technical report preparation. This work may be done remotely.
• Comply with SWCA and client safety programs, and assist in the development of such programs.
• Take responsibility for team safety, develop safety plans (when applicable), and anticipate potential safety hazards.
• Build collaborative relationships across offices/geographies to share resources and expertise.

Experience and qualifications for success

• Must meet the criteria to be approved as a “Field Agent” on the Nevada BLM Paleontological Resource Use permits.
• M.S. in paleontology, geology (with an emphasis on paleontology), biology (with an emphasis on paleontology and experience with geology), or a closely related field is preferred. A B.S. may be accepted if the candidate has at least two full years working as an assistant to a Principal Paleontologist with administrative and project management experience and field supervision experience in one or more western states (California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Oregon, Idaho, and Washington).
• Three (3) years of professional consulting experience on a variety of project types, sizes, and agencies, with increasing levels of responsibility required.
• Lives in the southern Nevada/Las Vegas region; or willing to travel to the region from their home and stay in hotel lodging for extended periods; or willing to relocate to southern Nevada.
• Knowledge of local geology and paleontology with paleontological field and reporting experience in Nevada, California, Arizona, Utah, Oregon, Idaho, and/or Washington. 
• Laboratory techniques, including fossil identification, matrix screening, and fossil preparation, and museum curation experience.
• Field skills, including ability to locate, document, excavate, and identify fossils while documenting their geographic, taphonomic, and stratigraphic context. 
• Prior experience with paleontological mitigation projects including construction monitoring is highly desirable. Experience working on large-scale energy and transmission construction projects is preferred.
• Ability to adapt quickly to changes in project needs, agency requests, and more.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with a variety of colleagues, clients, subcontractors, and agency representatives.
• Extremely organized and meticulous with ensuring survey, documentation, and paperwork are complete.

• Excellent leadership and supervision abilities, including problem-solving, constructive conflict resolution, and decision making.
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and technical writing.
• Ability to travel, including long drives and flights, and conduct fieldwork for long hours (sometimes in inclement weather, rugged terrain, and at high altitudes), plus additional hours organizing paperwork/emails daily .
• Ability to carry equipment weighing up to 40 pounds
• Ability to provide guidance and feedback on crew performance as per company guidelines.
• Has enough experience to be able to easily deal with the unexpected (changes in weather, changes in client demands, changes in crew makeup or size, etc.).
• Active 40-hour HAZWOPER certification preferred.
• CPR and First Aid certified preferred.

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 are seeking an opportunity to work in a culture of exceptionally skilled and diverse professionals who embrace sound science and creative solutions, then SWCA will be a great fit for you!  If you would like to contact SWCA regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please email accomodations@swca.com or call 480-581-5378. This contact information is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.

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 Las Vegas, NV - based position can expect hourly pay rates as follows: Assistant Project Paleontologist with an hourly pay rate of $26.52 - $33.66, Associate Project Paleontologist with an hourly pay rate of $29.58 - $37.74/hour, and a Project Paleontologist with an hourly pay rate of $32.90 - $42.08. 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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