Archeologist

Summary

Positions may be filled at one or more of the duty locations included in this announcement. Final determination of the duty location will be made at the time of the job offer.

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Duties

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• The responsibilities listed are at the full performance level.
• Develops and implements the Heritage Resource Program on the unit.
• Plans and executes surveys for the location and verification of archeological and historical sites.
• Supervises the excavation and salvage of archeological resources protection act assessments.
• Directs the preparation of maps, inventories, reports, and records relative to the discovery, protection, inventory, salvage, and interpretation of heritage and cultural resource areas.
• Administers archeological examination of road, reservoir, recreation, and other ground disturbing projects where archeological materials may be subject to destruction or damage.
• Provides consultation and advice to Forest personnel for problems in which cultural resources are involved.
• Prepares interpretive material and technical reports based on extensive research.
• Analyzes complex and conflicting regulations and policies and projects the effect changes to laws and regulations will have upon contract/procurement administration and management.
• Specifies the methods and conditions under which excavations will be performed, the laboratory and analytical techniques to be used in artifact analysis, and the content of reports.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify.
• As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards.

Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary.

Basic Requirement: Archeology Series, 0193.

1. Education
   1. Degree that included 3 semester hours each in the following course areas:
      • History of archeology.
      • Archeology of a major geographical area such as North America or Africa.
      • Regional archeology, archeological cultures, or sites in a specific part or portion of a major geographical area to acquire or develop a foundation for regional specialization for professional development.
      • Theory and methods of archeology. Methods include, but are not limited to, typology, classification, sampling, cultural evolution, diffusion, dating, and analytical techniques.
      • Archeological field school, to provide a basic understanding of theoretical and practical approaches to research design implementation, field preservation techniques, and report preparation by participation in actual field work.
        AND
      • Six semester hours of related course work in:
        
        
        • geography, geology, or cultural geography;
        • history, historiography, or historical archeology;
        • environmental studies;
        • scientific writing (nonfiction English composition); and/or
        • surveying;
        AND
      • Archeological field school.
   2. Related Curriculum: degree in anthropology (with emphasis on ethnology, physical anthropology, or scientific linguistics), history, American studies, or a related discipline may be accepted as satisfying in full the educational requirements, provided the curriculum supplied academic course work sufficiently similar to the requirements in A.1 (including archeological field school).
   OR
2. Combination of Education and Experience
   College-level education or training that provided knowledge equivalent to that described in A above, plus appropriate technical experience or additional education.
   OR
3. Experience
   Four years of archeological work experience that demonstrated a thorough knowledge of the fundamental principles and theories of professional archeology. The work experience must have included archeology field experience, which may include that gained in an archeological field school. Field experience should have included a combination of professional experience in archeological survey, excavation, laboratory analysis, and preparation of written materials. Applicants with such field experience should, after additional experience under the direction of a higher grade archeologist, be able to demonstrate the ability to be a crew chief, directing the work of others at a single location as a part of a larger archeological project.

In addition to meeting the basic requirement, you must also possess experience and/or directly related education in the amounts listed below.

Specialized Experience Requirement:

For the GS-09: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-7 grade level. Specialized experience is defined as two or more of the following:

• Assisting in conducting background studies and document reviews pertaining to archeological project development; and/or
• Participating in archeological survey and site evaluation work and preparing technical reports; and/or
• Conducting field reconnaissance in areas scheduled for land-use activities-such as vegetation management, habitat projects, infrastructure development, or recreational improvements to identify potential effects on archeological sites.

or

2 academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or have received a master's or equivalent graduate degree in archeology or directly related coursework.

or

A combination of graduate level education (beyond 18 semester hours) and specialized experience that is directly related to archeology that together meets the qualifications requirements for this position.

For the GS-11: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 grade level. Specialized experience is defined as two or more of the following:

• Performing standard tasks or portions of larger projects of an archeological program, such as conducting performance studies and examining historical research documents pertaining to project development; and/or
• Assisting professional archeologists in developing and maintaining archeological program components, including scientific reporting, records management, database updates, and monitoring the condition of cultural resource sites; and/or
• Evaluating problems associated with archeological site protection and implementing corrective measures within the framework of archeological program and legal requirements.

or

3 academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education, leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree directly related to archeology.

or

A combination of graduate education (beyond what is required for a master's degree, i.e., more than 36 semester hours leading to a Ph.D.) and specialized experience that is directly related to archeology that together meets the qualifications requirements for this position.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

See above for education that may be qualifying for the specific grade level.

Additional information

The USDA Forest Service has legislative authority to recruit and fill Permanent (Career/Career-Conditional), Temporary, and Term Appointments under the USDA Demonstration Project. Under this authority, any U.S. citizen may apply.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP eligibles must meet the agency's definition for a quality candidate as provided in the How You Will Be Evaluated section of this announcement to be considered.

If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is not guaranteed.

Salary wage as shown is for Rest of the U.S. Final salary will be determined at the time of selection dependent on the duty location for more information, refer to the Office of Personnel Management, Salary and Wages web page.

The Forest Service may use certain incentives and hiring flexibilities, currently offered by the Federal government, to attract highly qualified candidates. Additional Information is available on the OPM Website.

Positions filled from this announcement may be a bargaining or a non-bargaining unit position represented by either NFFE, AFGE or NAGE.

We may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies. Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.

Forest Service daycare facilities may be available.

Government Housing may be available.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.