Cultural Resources Intern

Job Description

Cultural Resources Intern

SWCA Environmental Consultants – Flagstaff, Arizona

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 their Flagstaff, Arizona office. The intern will work with talented, multidisciplinary teams of cultural resources professionals at a firm established in 1981, known for sound science and creative solutions.

Candidates with educational and/or professional experience in Arizona are highly preferred.

Role & Responsibilities

This internship position will be roughly 75% field and 25% office-based. Your role will involve assisting with:

• Cultural resources and archaeology data entry, artifact analyses, reporting, and fieldwork during the summer field season.
• Working outside during fieldwork sessions that generally last for a week or more.

Interns typically receive:

• Hands-on experience with surveying and site recording methods.
• Experience following local State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) 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.
• Adherence to the safety program and commitment to communicating and mitigating safety hazards.

Minimum Qualifications

Successful candidates will possess the following experience and 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 fieldwork (e.g., archaeology, anthropology) through classwork, honors thesis, 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, additional requirements and preferences include:

• 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.
• 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.

Compensation & Duration

• This is a paid, 40-hour-per-week internship.
• Paying $19.00 per hour.
• Internship duration: 10 weeks (early June to mid-August 2026).
• Earlier start dates or later end dates will be considered on a case-by-case basis and are encouraged.

Application Process

• Please submit a letter of interest and resume to be considered for this position.
• 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 a robust pool of qualified candidates is received. Once identified, the process may close without prior notice.

Why Work At SWCA

SWCA Environmental Consultants is a growing employee-owned firm, providing a full spectrum of environmental services. Their 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.

SWCA lives by its core values:

• #OneSWCA: We collaborate.
• #AlwaysLearning: We are always learning.
• #NeverSettle: We never settle.
• #GiveBack: We give back.

As a 100% employee-owned company, success is built 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. They offer a supportive, team-oriented work environment and competitive wages and benefits, including a 100% employee stock ownership plan (retirement).

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion / Accommodations

• SWCA is committed to salary equity and salary transparency for all its employees, posting good-faith pay ranges on all advertised job postings.
• EOE – women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply.
• SWCA celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive work environment, strongly encouraging candidates from all backgrounds and experiences.
• For assistance accessing SWCA’s website, completing the online application, or requiring a confidential conversation related to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please contact accommodations@swca.com or call 1-480-581-5378. This contact information is specifically for accommodation requests; other inquiries will not receive a response.