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Associate Project Architectural Historian - Northern/Central California

SWCA Environmental Consultants
United States, California, Sacramento
Oct 09, 2025
About the opportunity

SWCA's expanding Architectural History team is seeking an Associate Project Architectural Historian to support projects in Northern California and elsewhere in the state. Under supervision of the Architectural History Team Lead, an Associate Project Architectural Historian performs a variety of office and field tasks, including historic research, documentation of historic properties, and completing historic resource evaluations/ assessments.

This is a full-time position that will report to our Sacramento office. The position is eligible to work on a hybrid or remote basis, although candidates located within or near the Northern California region are strongly preferred. Successful applicants will have no fewer than 5 years of experience in historic preservation, historic resource analysis, and environmental consulting.

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.


What you will accomplish

  • Independently or as part of a project team, conduct historic resource assessments/evaluations according to local, state, and federal criteria of significance.
  • Conduct independent archival research, focusing on primary and secondary sources and utilizing online and local resources. Researching and writing of historic context statements, which identify significant context, themes, and property types.
  • Plan and carrying out historic resource surveys of a variety of residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional properties using Arc-GIS-enabled tablet computers and other cutting-edge survey methodology.
  • Document survey results in reports and recording historic resources on California DPR 523 forms.
  • Analyze drawings, plan sets, and written project descriptions to assess impacts and effects using the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties and other relevant criteria.
  • Prepare defensible reports and compliance documentation in support of CEQA/NHPA/Section 106 review.
  • Manage quality and completeness of data collection, analysis, and report preparation from start to finish.
  • Work closely with the Cultural Resource Team Lead(s), as well as project managers, directors, principal investigators, GIS staff, and others throughout the company to promote SWCA's business interests in adherence to its mission, vision, and values.
  • Collaborate with SWCA's Historic Preservation Working Group and architectural historians throughout the company.
  • Take responsibility for team safety, developing safety plans (when applicable), and anticipating potential safety hazards.

Experience and qualifications for success

Minimum Experience & Qualifications for Success:

  • Graduate degree in Architectural History, Historic Preservation, Heritage Conservation, Public History, or a closely related field.
  • Meets the Secretary of the Interior's Professional Qualification Standards for Architectural History and/or History
  • Strong research, writing, and communication skills.
  • Experience surveying architectural resources at the reconnaissance and intensive level, and preparing California DPR forms
  • Working knowledge of cultural resource laws and regulations, including NEPA, Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and CEQA
  • At least 5 years of experience working in California cultural resource management as an architectural historian
  • Willingness and availability to travel throughout the region, and potentially elsewhere in the United States. Travel may be required approximately 15% of the time.
  • Must have a valid driver's license and be able to drive on behalf of SWCA.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Candidates located in Northern or Central California regions.

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.

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.

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 Sacramento, CA-based position can expect an annual salary of $69,895/year to $89,177/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.

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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