Archeologist

Summary This position is located in the Engineering and Environmental Staff, Assistant Administrator, Water and Environmental Programs, Rural Development Rural Utilities Service (RUS). The primary purpose of this position is to serve as a resource to Headquarters and field staff regarding environmental and historic preservation and cultural resources. Responsibilities Serve as the environmental and historic preservation and cultural resource authority, participates fully in developing and administering large, complex projects. Resolve technical conflicts and provides clear guidance on the application of complex technical principles and analyses to project issues. Interpret, revise and monitor implementation of environmental and historic preservations and other cultural resource activities in accordance with the National Preservation Act and other associated historic preservation laws, regulations. Provide technical and administrative advice on work methods, practices, procedures and provide assistance and guidance in identifying parameters of viable solutions. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. Basic Requirement: Possess a 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. 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: Possess college-level education or training that provided knowledge equivalent to that described above, plus appropriate technical experience or additional education. OR: 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 outlined above, you must also meet the following specialized experience requirements outlined below. Time in Grade: Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet the time in grade requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. Specialized Experience: Applicants must possess one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level; or its non-Federal equivalent that demonstrates: Performing various levels of archaeological tasks related to compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act in performing Section 106 consultation with State Historic Preservation Officers (SHPOs), Tribal Historic Preservation Officers (THPOs), federal agencies, and other consulting parties; leading the development and execution of Section 106 program alternatives; writing, reviewing and/or compiling information about cultural resources and historic properties for environmental reports, environmental assessments, and environmental impact statements under the National Environmental Policy Act. There is no substitution of education for experience at this level. 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 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 Additional Information Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Reemployment Priority List (RPL): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP or RPL eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100. This position may also be eligible for flexible work arrangements as determined by agency policy and any applicable collective bargaining agreements. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here. This is a Bargaining Unit position under AFSCME District Council 20 (Local 3870) Bargaining Unit 9311 and is therefore eligible for labor organization representation. Note: Multiple selections may be made from this announcement and/or various organizations within Rural Development. Salaries listed in this announcement are an approximation and are subject to duty station locality adjustment.