Project Level Paleontologist (Temporary)

About the opportunity

What you will accomplish

• Act as the head paleontology professional on project teams, serving as a permitted Field Agent or Principal Investigator, working under the direction of (other) Principal Investigators, Project Managers, and/or Paleontology Leads.
• Prepare and complete accurate logs for field surveys, monitoring, fossil collection, fossil preparation, or other related efforts.
• Supervise and conduct fieldwork, including paleontological construction monitoring and survey, and ensure the quality and completeness of data collected in the field by the field crew. Data QA/QC, organization, and tracking; field GPS data collection using tablets and Geodes. 
• Ensure that appropriate preliminary research is conducted and organized prior to fieldwork, and that necessary equipment, staff, and other resources are prepared for fieldwork. Create daily survey and monitoring plans when working with a field crew to provide clear direction/division of efforts.
• Communicate regularly and effectively with paleontology leads, project managers, field crews, resource monitors, subcontractors, construction crews, and clients to ensure reliable, consistent, and high-quality services and deliverables.
• Oversee and perform quality assurance/quality control of services and deliverables, including impact assessments and management recommendations.
• Assist in the preparation of proposal scopes and budgets.
• Help organize and track schedules, budgets, and project key performance indicators to ensure project requirements are met.
• Supervise and mentor personnel in the field, office, and laboratory; assign or delegate project tasks to junior staff, and communicate technical needs to Principal Investigators, Project Managers, and/or Paleontology Team Leads.
• 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.
• Uphold SWCA’s high standard of scientific ethics and assurance, demonstrating the ability to identify and creatively resolve challenges.

Experience and qualifications for success

• Must meet the criteria to be approved as a “Field Agent” on the Wyoming and Colorado Paleontological Resource Use permits and have at least three (3) years of professional consulting experience on a variety of project types, sizes, and agencies, with increasing levels of responsibility.

• Knowledge of local geology and paleontology with experience performing paleontological field work and technical writing relevant to the paleontology of the Rocky Mountain‑Plains region, including demonstrated knowledge of fossil types and collection methods, basic field geology skills (rock descriptions, measuring and diagraming stratigraphic columns), and the ability to recognize fossils in the field, including trace fossils.

• Experience with laboratory techniques and field skills, including fossil identification, matrix screening, fossil preparation, and curation; and the ability to locate, document, excavate, and identify fossils while documenting their geographic, taphonomic, lithologic, and stratigraphic context.

• Must have a valid driver’s license, meet SWCA’s driver requirements, and be capable of safely operating a four‑wheel drive vehicle on rugged backcountry roads in a variety of weather conditions.

• Ability to carry equipment weighing up to 40 pounds, use excavation tools, and hike up to 8 miles per day.

• Must be comfortable working around large, fast‑moving construction equipment in noisy outdoor environments with uneven terrain and other potential hazards, and be able to communicate effectively with construction crews.

• Willingness to travel throughout the western United States and stay in hotels for extended periods, including stints of three (3) weeks or longer, depending upon project needs.

• Ability to work long field days (typically 10–12 hours per day) for six (6) days per week or more, depending upon project needs (overtime paid at time‑and‑a‑half as appropriate).

• Ability to work in freezing temperatures or temperatures exceeding 100 degrees, in a variety of weather conditions, over rugged terrain, and at high altitudes.

• Ability to adapt quickly to changing project needs, including agency requests, client demands, inclement weather, crew composition, extension or reduction of mobilization periods, or sudden relocation between project locations.

• Demonstrated awareness of personal field health and safety needs, including recognition of exhaustion, heat stress, joint or muscle strain, or other fatigue that may affect personal performance, project progress, or crew safety.

• Ideal candidate will qualify as a “Field Agent” on all of our BLM permits and applicable State permits.
• M.S. or Ph.D. 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 2 full years working as an assistant to a Principal Paleontologist with administrative and project management experience and reporting experience in the greater Rocky Mountain-Plains region (Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming, and/or New Mexico). Additional experience in the broader western United States is a benefit.
• Prior experience with paleontological mitigation projects, including construction monitoring, is highly desirable. Experience working on large-scale energy and transmission construction projects, oil and gas projects, or mining projects is preferred.
• MSHA, OSHA, and CPR/First Aid certifications preferred.
• Strong preference for applicants to be physically located in SWCA's Rocky Mountain-Plains region or willing to relocate. Applicants who wish to continue residing outside of this region may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

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 on all its advertised job postings to promote pay equity and transparency. 

An employee in this Denver, CO-based position as an Assistant Project Paleontologist has an hourly pay rate of $27.85 - $35.54, Associate Project Paleontologist an hourly pay rate of $31.06 - $39.63/hour and a Project Paleontologist an annual pay rate of $71,842.68 - $91,891.90/yr. Actual pay within this range may depend on experience, qualifications, geographic location, client requirements where applicable, and other factors permitted by law.  

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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