• Researches, writes, and critically analyzes relevant data into a well-organized, written, and reasoned repatriation report. This requires the researcher to independently research information using the best scientific and historical documentation available based on the legal criteria for repatriation as defined in the NMAI Repatriation Policy.
• Tracks the history of each case report using legal case management software system and keen time management skills to ensure that case review process and critical deadlines are met.
• Assists and participates in repatriation consultations with tribal nations, indigenous communities, and Native individuals.
• Applies broad knowledge of Native American culture, history, and protocols to each case research report, consultation, and outreach effort by being aware of the socio-political climate relative to the specific tribal claim or community they are addressing.

Conditions of employment

• Pass Pre-employment Background Investigation
• May need to complete a Probationary Period
• Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer
• Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered with Selective Service.

Qualification requirements, including one year time-in-grade at the next lower grade level for promotion candidates, must be met within 30 days of the job announcement closing date.

For information on qualification requirements, see Qualification Standards Handbook for General Schedule Positions viewable on the web at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications.

Qualifications

BASIS OF RATING: Once the announcement closes, your application will be automatically evaluated and rated by the system and a Human Resources Specialist. To determine if you are qualified for this job, a review of your application and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the occupational questionnaire. The numeric rating you receive is based on your responses to the questionnaire. The score is a measure of the degree to which your background matches the knowledge, skills, and abilities required of this position. If, after the Human Resources Specialist reviews your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that the score you have received is not a true reflection of your qualifications and/or experience, your score can and will be adjusted to more accurately reflect the information you provided that support your abilities. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Your resume should provide detailed information regarding how your education and experience relate to this position, including the major duties and qualifications criteria listed.

Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA): If you are applying for a VEOA appointment, you must be a veteran and must be honorably separated and either a preference eligible or have substantially completed 3 or more years of active service. ("Active Service" under this law means active duty in a uniformed service and includes full-time training duty, annual training duty, full-time National Guard duty, and attendance, while in the active service, at a school designated as a service school by law or by the Secretary concerned.) A veteran who is released under honorable conditions shortly before completing a 3-year tour is also eligible.

Noncompetitive Appointment Authorities: The following links contain information on the eligibility requirements to be considered under a noncompetitive appointing authority:

• Primary Appointing Authorities for Career and Career-Conditional Appointments
• Hiring Authorities for Veterans
• People with Disabilities

Experience:

You qualify for this position if you possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-7 level in the Federal Service or comparable pay band system. For this position Specialized experience is defined as repatriation research and drafting of documents with close oversight by a superior using information sources (e.g., archives, library, internet, database systems, personal contacts) to access information about Native American histories, governments, protocols, cultures, contemporary issues, communities and organizations; and conducting scholarly library and interview research on culture and history (in libraries, archives, and via the Internet) in a cultural institution or museum setting.

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.

Part-time and/or unpaid experience related to this position will be considered to determine the total number of years and months of experience. Be sure to note the number of paid or unpaid hours worked each week.

Or Education:

Master's or equivalent graduate degree

or

2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree

or

LL.B. or J.D., if related

Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement.

Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended.

Or a Combination: Education and experience may be combined to meet the basic qualifications. For a full explanation of this option please see the Qualification Standards. Special Instructions for Foreign Education: If you are qualifying by education and/or you have education completed in a foreign college/university described above, it is your responsibility to provide transcripts and proof of U.S. accreditation for foreign study. For instructions on where to fax these documents, see the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Your application will be evaluated first for the basic qualifications described above. The applications that meet the basic qualifications will be evaluated further against the following criteria:

• Skill to independently conduct research, critically analyze results, and write fully documented scholarly research reports relating to human remains, funerary objects, sacred objects, and objects of cultural patrimony that are eligible for repatriation under both the National Museum of the American Indian Act and the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.
• Knowledge of legal case management software.
• Ability to use diplomacy using interpersonal communication skills to deal effectively with tribal representatives and museum professionals when conducting repatriation consultations with tribal nations, indigenous communities, and Native individuals in order to better understand their culture, customs, history and protocols as it relates to human remains and certain cultural object eligible for repatriation under the National Museum of the American Indian Act and the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.
• Ability to apply broad knowledge of Native American culture, protocols, and history as it relates to Indigenous Peoples of the Western Hemisphere to exercise a great deal of cultural sensitivity when working with sensitive materials or ancestral remains related to indigenous communities.

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