Associate Project Architectural Historian

About the opportunity

SWCA Environmental Consultants is seeking an Associate Project Architectural Historian to support our Chicago, IL team. This position will perform a variety of office and field tasks including historic research, documentation of historic properties, completion of historic resource evaluations/assessments, and assisting in developing new clients.

This is a regular, full-time, hourly/non-exempt position with benefits. Qualified individuals can either work in a hybrid work environment near our Chicago or Cincinnati offices or be distributed (= remote) in the Midwest.

Application Deadline : Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and interviews may be scheduled as qualified candidates are identified. This position may close without prior notice once a strong candidate pool is established.

What you will accomplish

• Conducts intensive level, primary, and secondary research, using both digital and in-person methods to gather and analyze data on the built environment.
• Demonstrates understanding of the appropriate national, state, and local regulatory nexuses, ensuring compliance with laws and regulations governing historic preservation and cultural resource management.
• Writes historic context sections, building descriptions, property histories, and historic resource evaluations with little to no oversight, requiring minimal edits, demonstrating strong writing and analytical skills.
• Leads fieldwork and effectively documents historic properties, showcasing proficiency in identifying, recording, and evaluating historic resources.
• Manages assigned projects, demonstrating project management skills including planning, execution, and oversight of project deliverables.
• Directs other architectural historians on tasks, providing guidance and leadership to less experienced team members, fostering skill development and project contributions.
• Assists in task management of history-specific sections of projects, contributing to the successful completion of project deliverables and meeting client and regulatory requirements.
• Communicates effectively with diverse groups, including clients, agencies, the public, and individuals connected to the history of a resource or area, in interdisciplinary settings.
• Innovates and adapts methods to meet future client needs, staying ahead in their field discipline.
• Follows applicable federal, Tribal, state, local, industry, contractual, and company regulations, standards, and specifications.
• Performs related work as assigned.

Additional Job-Specific Responsibilities

• Conducts and oversees historic resource evaluations and significance assessments using applicable local, state, and National Register of Historic Places criteria.
• Prepares and reviews defensible compliance documentation supporting Section 106 and other historic preservation regulatory requirements.
• Ensures technical accuracy, defensibility, and consistency of work products in accordance with professional, agency, and industry standards.

Experience and qualifications for success

• Bachelor’s Degree in Historic Preservation, Public History, Heritage Conservation, Architectural History, or a closely related field.
• Three (3) years of experience in cultural resources management as an architectural historian or similar.
• A working knowledge of federal and state cultural resources and historic preservation laws and practices, including Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the history/architectural history of the region.
• Strong research, writing, and communication skills.
• Travel may be required up to 35% of the time.
• Applicants must have valid driver’s license and be able to meet SWCA’s driver requirements

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree in Historic Preservation, Public History, Heritage Conservation, Architectural History, or a closely related field.
• Five (5) years of experience in cultural resources management as an architectural historian or similar.