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Archeologist

Department of the Interior
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is a Archeologist, GS- 0193-11 working for the R3-Division of Visitor Services and Outreach.

This position is also open to public candidates under announcement R3-23-12073137-JP-DE. You must apply to each announcement separately if you wish to be considered under both recruitment methods.

Location negotiable within Great Lakes states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, & New York. Salary Tables HERE.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
08/29/2023 to 09/11/2023
Salary
$69,107 to - $89,835 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 11
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Location Negotiable After Selection,
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
R3-23-12073138-JP-MP
Control number
746244300

Duties

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As a Archeologist your duties will include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Work with US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) staff, project proponents, partners, volunteers, Tribes, and other archaeologists to manage the Section 106 process and cultural resources that may be impacted by FWS activities on FWS and nonfederal land.
  • Consult with State Historic Preservation Officers (SHPOs), the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP), Tribal Historic Preservation Officers (THPOs), and other interested parties concerning the effects of undertakings on historic properties. Negotiate methods and procedures and provide recommendations to adequately address historic preservation and other cultural concerns.
  • Conduct archaeological surveys, site identification, and evaluations using standard archaeological and historic preservation techniques for compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA).
  • Implement the cultural resource administrative program for the FWS.
  • Evaluate Archaeological Resource Protection Act (ARPA) permit applications, issue ARPA permits, track ARPA permit compliance.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
  • Resume (See "Required Documents"). Failure to provide ALL required information on your resume will result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all information is provided on resume.
  • Eligibility and Supporting documents - You will ONLY be considered for the eligibilities that you select "yes" to AND submit the required supporting documentation, as listed in the Required Documents section.
  • Merit promotion applicants must meet time-in-grade requirement as defined in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.
  • Suitability for employment, as determined by background investigation.
  • Selectees MAY be required to possess and maintain a valid State driver's license at all times during their tenure.
  • Selectees may be required to successfully complete a probationary period.
  • Individuals assigned male at birth after 12-31-59 must be registered for the Selective Service. To verify registration visit SSS.gov.

Qualifications

Only experience and education obtained by 09/11/2023 will be considered.

In order to qualify for this position you must possess both the Basic Requirement and Minimum Qualification.

Basic Requirement:
1. A degree that included three semester hours each in the following course areas: 1) History of archeology; 2) Archeology of a major geographical area such as North America or Africa; 3) 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; 4) Theory and methods of archeology. Methods include, but are not limited to, typology, classification, sampling, cultural evolution, diffusion, dating, and analytical techniques; and 5) 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: 1) Geography, geology, or cultural geography; 2) History, historiography, or historical archeology; 3) environmental studies; 4) Scientific writing (nonfiction English composition); and/or 5) surveying; AND archeological field school. OR

2. A 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 described in A above (including archeological field school). OR

3. A combination of college-level education or training that provided knowledge equivalent to that described in 1 or 2 above PLUS appropriate technical experience or additional education. OR

4. Four years of archeological work experience that demonstrated a thorough knowledge of the fundamental principles and theories of professional archeology. This work experience must have included archeological 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.

Minimum Qualification GS-11
1. One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS-9 in the Federal service. Experience may include: 1. Reviews programmatic agreements, memoranda of agreement, formal correspondence, Federal Register notices, and other legally-binding documents required for compliance with Federal mandates related to cultural resources. 2. Assists with the design, implementation of multi-phased projects involving documentary, archival, and collections research. 3. Review cultural resource documentation prepared by consultants, distill, and transmit to consulting parties. And 4. Design, perform, review and report on archaeological surveys. OR

2. 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or or PH.D or equivalent doctoral degree in Archeology or a directly related field. OR

3. A combination of education and experience as described in 1 and 2 above which together equals 100% of the requirement.
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.

Time In Grade Requirement: Applicants must meet both eligibility and qualification requirements for the position of interest by the closing date of the JOA. Specifically,
i. Area of Consideration.
ii. Time-in-grade (TIG) requirements as specified in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.
iii. Time after competitive appointment as specified in 5 CFR 330.502.
iv. Qualification requirements outlined in OPM's Qualifications Standards for General Schedule Positions or for Federal Wage System (FWS), wage grade positions, applicants are evaluated using the OPM Job Qualification System for Trades and Labor Occupations and the job element examining method
Your SF-50 will be used to confirm you meet all requirements.

Education

PROOF OF EDUCATION: All applicants who are using education or a combination of education and experience to qualify must submit copies of official or unofficial transcripts which include grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, institution name, and student name. If any required coursework is not easily recognizable on transcripts, or if you believe a portion of a particular course can be credited toward meeting an educational requirement, you must also provide a memorandum on letterhead from the institution's registrar, dean, or other appropriate official stating the percentage of the course that should be considered to meet the requirement and the equivalent number of units. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable; however, if you are selected for the position, you will be required to produce the original official transcripts.

PASS/FAIL COURSES: If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society.

GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Additional information

No PCS entitlements authorized
Discretionary entitlements are not authorized for this position.
This position is suitable for telework & may be allowed to telework with supervisory approval.

Additional Vacancies: One or more positions may be filled from applications received under this announcement in the advertised office or other U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service offices in the local commuting area.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP):Department of Interior (DOI) CTAP procedures apply in filling this vacancy. CTAP/ICTAP provides placement assistance to permanent Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated. Applicants claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit a copy of their most recent performance appraisal, proof of eligibility, & most current SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with their application. To be considered under CTAP/ICTAP, applicants must be well-qualified (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements), score at least 85 on the assessment questionnaire, and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry.

For information on CTAP & ICTAP visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/federal-employees/career-transition/

The Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA),P.L. 114-47, allows certain individuals who currently or formerly were under time-limited competitive appointments at certain land management agencies to compete under merit promotion procedures.

Note: You MUST submit ALL SF-50s and performance information for each period of temporary/term employment that qualifies for LMWFA. Performance documentation can be obtained by contacting the supervisors for the positions you served in during your 24 months. If they did not complete performance appraisals ask them to provide a statement of performance for each period of service. The statement must specify the dates for each employment period and your level of performance (dates should match the dates on the SF-50s).

Current appointees:

  • Must have been hired under competitive examining procedures to a time limited appointment with a land management agency;
  • Must have served under 1 or more time limited appointments by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of 2 or more years; &
  • Must have performed at an acceptable level.

Former appointees:

  • Must have been hired under competitive examining procedures to a time limited appointment with a land management agency;
  • Must have served under 1 or more time limited appointments by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of 2 or more years;
  • Must apply for position within 2 years after separation;
  • Must have been separated for reasons other than misconduct or performance; &
  • Must have performed at an acceptable level.

Public Land Corps (PLC) Hiring Authority: Served as a qualified youth on an appropriate conservation project completing a minimum of 640 hours of satisfactory service that included at least 120 hours through the PLC and received a certificate of non-competitive eligibility. Completed most recent Corps service, for which a certificate of non-competitive eligibility was issued, within the last 2 years. Appointment must be effected within the 2 year period.

How you will be evaluated

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

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

Once the announcement has closed, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements listed on this announcement. If you meet the qualifications your resume and supporting documentation will be compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience. Note: If, after reviewing your resume and supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications which resulted in you being listed in the highest quality category, you may lose consideration, or be assigned to a lower quality category for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):

  • Skill in analyzing, planning, and implementing efficient and innovative compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.
  • Knowledge of the methods, theories, legislation, and management of North American cultural resources; including, pre-contact archaeological sites and rural vernacular historical sites.
  • Ability to work with a variety of conflicting interests and parties including tribes, biologists, project leaders, and managers, the State Historic Preservation Officers, Advisory Council staff, special interest groups, and private landowners.
  • Ability to use automated systems or software.
  • Knowledge of archaeological principles, theories, concepts, methods and techniques.


Candidates who apply under Competitive Merit Promotion procedures will undergo a quality review to determine if they are highly qualified based on the content of their resume and their responses to the questionnaire. Best qualified candidates will be referred if all required supporting documentation has been provided.

Candidates who apply under Noncompetitive Merit Promotion procedures will undergo a quality review to determine if they are minimally qualified based on the content of their resume and their responses to the questionnaire. Qualified candidates will be referred if all required supporting documentation has been provided.

This vacancy will utilize a multiple hurdle assessment process to determine the qualifications of applicants. The first hurdle will consist of applicants completing an occupational questionnaire related to the major duties and competencies of the position. The second hurdle will consist of applicant resumes being reviewed by a Subject Matter Expert (SME) panel for related position competencies against a pre-determined rating schedule. This process will determine the final rating of the applicant for possible referral to the hiring official for hiring consideration.

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