Skip to main content
U.S. flag
Back to results

Archeologist

Department of the Interior
National Park Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located in Intermountain-Denver Regional Office, in the Submerged Resources Center.

Open to the first 75 applicants or until 10/07/2019 whichever comes first. All applications submitted by 11:59 (EST) on the closing day will receive consideration.

Overview

Help
Job canceled
Open & closing dates
09/23/2019 to 10/07/2019
This job will close when we have received 75 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$81,451 to - $105,890 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Lakewood, CO
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
75% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—Travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will be paid if the selectee lives outside of the local commuting area and is otherwise eligible for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with the Federal Travel Regulation.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
12
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
Yes
Announcement number
IM-1539-IMDO-19-10612545-DE
Control number
546601400

Duties

Help
  • Scopes and assists in the preparation of archeological projects, archeological survey and documentation of submerged cultural resources throughout the National Park System and with partners on a state, national, and international level.
  • Acquires, records, and interprets archeological underwater remote sensing data in the Geographic Information System (GIS) compatible formats for cultural and natural resources purposes.
  • Archeologically documents and evaluates underwater archeological sites using traditional mapping, imaging, and sampling techniques.
  • Tracks and adds to scholarship in archeology, underwater archeology, anthropology and related fields through journals, publications and conference attendance.
  • Plans and executes research to locate and assess significance of submerged cultural and natural resources in NPS areas Service-wide and to provide data for development of resource management and protection strategies.
  • Assists with SRC staff training and development in human factors, archeological theory, archeological techniques, scholarship and professional communications

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship required.
  • Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
  • Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males.
  • Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
  • Any individual who is currently holding, or has held within the previous 52 weeks, a General Schedule position under non-temporary appointment in the competitive or excepted service, must meet time-in-grade requirements (must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade or equivalent in the Federal service). Time-in-grade requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
  • You will be required to submit to a drug test and receive a negative drug test result prior to appointment.
  • You may be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties. Prior to your first official motor vehicle operation, and again every year thereafter (or more frequently if management determines such need exists), you will be required to sign an affidavit certifying to your possession of a valid State issued driver's license that is current and has not been revoked, suspended, canceled, or otherwise disqualified in any way to prohibit your operation of a motor vehicle. You will also submit a photocopy of your valid State issued driver's license prior to your first official motor vehicle operation, and again every year, or more frequently if management determines such need exists. You may be required to submit (within a State sealed envelope or submitted directly by the State authorities), and at your own expense, all certified driving records from all States that discloses all valid driver's licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you. Please indicate in your application whether you possess a valid State driver's license.
  • You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
  • You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work.
  • If you are a new employee or supervisor in the Federal government, you will be required to complete a one-year probationary period.
  • You may be required to travel overnight away from home up to 30 nights per month. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes.
  • You may be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority.

Qualifications

SELECTIVE FACTOR: This position performs dive operations and possession of a scuba diving certification from a nationally recognized scuba certification agency is required. You must provide evidence and it is required. Candidates who do not meet this requirement by close of this announcement will receive no further consideration for this position.
- AND -
Candidates must possess certification and proof of formal training in scientific diving techniques from the American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS). You must provide evidence. Candidates must also possess a scuba diving certification from a nationally recognized scuba diving certification agency for the use of closed circuit rebreathers (CCRs).

To qualify for this position you must possess at least one of the following basic requirements by close of the announcement:

To qualify for this position at the GS-12 grade level, you must possess at least one or all of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:
BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT:
1. Degree:
A degree in archeological science that included:
A. Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher 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, provided 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. OR
Related Curriculum: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in anthropology (with emphasis on ethnology, physical anthropology, or scientific linguistics), history, American studies, or a related discipline, provided the curriculum supplied academic course work sufficiently similar to the requirements stated above (including archeological field school).
SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE:
B. A combination of education and experience which qualifies for the GS-12 position. For the GS-12 level, only appropriate graduate education beyond the second year may be substituted for the required experience, (e.g., six months of experience equivalent to the GS-11, plus 9 semester hours of appropriate graduate education beyond the second year of graduate education would be qualifying for the GS-12 level).
C. Four years of underwater archeological work experience that demonstrates 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 level 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.
This position requires completion of the specific course of study as reflected above. ALL APPLICANTS, including those who currently, or have previously, occupied a position in this job series, MUST submit a copy of their transcripts (official or unofficial) to verify that they meet these educational requirements. If you have attended more than one university/college or have completed more than one degree, you MUST submit documentation from each university/college. If the position being filled requires specific classes or a specific number of credits, applicants must ensure that the transcripts submitted verify completion of those courses or credits. Failure to submit transcripts that verify qualifying education by the closing date will result in disqualification from further consideration.

In addition to meeting the "Basic Education Requirements" listed above, applicants must meet the education requirements as described under "Specialized Experience Requirements" below.

GS-12: At least one full year of archeology or cultural resource management that has equipped applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of this position. Experience is equivalent in level of difficulty and responsibility to that of at least the GS-11 level in the Federal government. Examples of specialized experience for the GS-11 level could include experience in overseeing programs that emphasize archeological or cultural, among others. Monitoring and evaluating resource management activities and communicating with the scientific community and other organizations on resources issues. Planning and coordinating scientific research and identifying causes and effects in developing management control techniques.

Volunteer Experience: 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.

You must include months, years and hours per week worked to receive credit for your work and/or volunteer experience. One year of specialized experience is equivalent to 12 months at 40 hours per week. Part-time hours are prorated. You will not receive any credit for experience that does not indicate exact hours per week or is listed as "varies".

Education

There is no substitution of education for experience at the grade level of this announcement.

Additional information

This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.

Physical Demands: Some assignments require sedentary work, but the majority necessitate strenuous exertion, including scuba diving, swimming, boat operation, mechanic and electrical machinery operations, stooping, standing, walking, climbing, bending, carrying heavy objects, and exposure to sun, wind, and rain and rough seas. Some activities will occur in physically dangerous areas or settings. Incumbent will be expected to engage in diving operations for potentially hazardous underwater environments classified by the Office of Personnel Management as hazardous duty. Documentary research and report writing work are sedentary, which entails the ability to concentrate and write for long periods of time.

Working Conditions: Work is performed both indoors and outdoors. Virtually all field duties will be performed outdoors in all kinds of weather. Incumbent must be able to prepare for, and cope with, uncomfortable weather and living conditions. Submerged cultural resource survey work requires extensive exposure to weather and salt water and oceanic fauna, some of which sting, bit and can cause injury. Field assignments involve travel from main duty station with exposure to adverse weather conditions, temperature extremes and hazards associated with boat operations in remote open water environments and diving. Travel assignments may entail extended periods (e.g. 30-90 days) away from home and family and typical yearly travel demands may be on the order of 3-7 months, depending upon park and project demands. Incumbent will live in a variety of commercial and park housing situations, or on vessels offshore during fieldwork. These living situations may be cramped, crowded, and uncomfortable for days or weeks at a time. Often few amenities are available for considerable length of time.

The National Park Service has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework only during an emergency or natural disaster.

Selectee must be able to pass the requirements of the National Park Service Diving Examination (Blue Card).

Employer paid and reimbursed relocation expenses are considered taxable income. The NPS does not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. Employees should consult professional tax, legal and accounting advisors regarding concerns about the financial implications of a Permanent Change of Station (PCS).

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document that you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application. Click the following link for more information, https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Alternate_Application_Information.

How you will be evaluated

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

A review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses provided in the Assessment Questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score will be adjusted accordingly. If a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you can lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully; errors or omissions can affect your rating.

Candidates will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. These procedures place candidates with veteran's preference above non-preference eligibles within each category. Veterans with a service connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level or higher. Under Category Rating, candidates will be rated and ranked into one of three categories:

  • Best Qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position
  • Well Qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in most of the requirements of the job
  • Qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in some, but not all of the requirements of the job.
You will be evaluated on the following competencies:
  • History and Archaeology
  • Surveying
  • Teamwork
  • Technical Competence
  • Technical Competence

Your session is about to expire!

Your USAJOBS session will expire due to inactivity in 8 minutes. Any unsaved data will be lost if you allow the session to expire. Click the button below to continue your session.