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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-0193-9/11 working in Albuquerque, New Mexico for the Division of Visitor Services. This position will support cultural resource management for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico.

This position is also open to the public under announcement R2-22-11393190-CL-DE. You must apply to each announcement separately if you wish to be considered under both recruitment methods.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
02/24/2022 to 03/10/2022
Salary
$55,169 to - $86,770 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 9 - 11
Location
Albuquerque, NM
1 vacancy
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
Yes—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
11
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
R2-22-11393191-CL-MP
Control number
639315200

Duties

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As an archeologist, your duties will include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Conduct archaeological survey, site mapping, site documentation, and evaluation, using modern archaeological tools (such as GPS) and methods (such as GIS) to produce records and documents for submittal to the appropriate State Historic Preservation Office.
  • Prepare cultural resource identification and evaluation reports for compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.
  • Conduct literature research and prepare background and context information for evaluation of cultural resources.
  • Work with project proponents, Tribal representatives, agency land managers, and other archaeologists on cultural resource projects.
  • Conduct cultural resource surveys and inventories in the Southwestern, Southern Plains, and Texas Gulf Coast cultural areas.
  • Identify and document pre-contact archaeological sites in the Southwestern, Southern Plains, and Texas Gulf Coast cultural areas.
  • Identify and document post-contact rural vernacular sites, architecture, and structures in the Southwestern, Southern Plains, and Texas Gulf Coast cultural areas.
  • Use GIS applications for cultural resource map presentations and data analysis.
  • Perform technical analysis of artifacts from cultural resource sites to describe and evaluate the role of sites in past land use.
  • Produce archaeological technical reports for submittal to universities, institutions and/or State Historic Preservation Offices.
  • Publish articles for professional or scientific journals on archaeological subject matter.
  • Deliver formal papers at professional archaeological/anthropological conferences.
  • Present posters at professional archaeological/anthropological conferences.
  • Give oral presentations on archaeological information to co-workers, interest groups, civic groups, and professional organizations.
  • Prepare letters that summarize findings of effect for compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.
  • Manage cultural resources site data, maps, and reports using computer software, GIS, field forms, and filing management.
  • Establish and maintain ongoing working relationships with a variety of organizations involved with National Historic Preservation Act, Section 106 undertakings and cultural resource projects.
  • Prepare cultural resource identification and evaluation reports for federal agency compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.
  • Implement federal agency policy and procedure during the review of agency undertakings for compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.
  • Perform annual museum inventory and reporting while maintaining and updating museum collections database.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
  • Individuals assigned male at birth after 12-31-59 must be registered for the Selective Service. To verify registration visit SSS.gov.
  • Resume and supporting documents (See How To Apply).
  • 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.
  • Driver?s License: Selectees must possess and maintain a valid State driver's license at all times during their tenure.
  • Probationary Period: Selectees may be required to successfully complete a probationary period.

Qualifications

Only experience and education obtained by 03/10/2022 will be considered.

You must submit transcripts to support educational accomplishments.

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

Basic Qualification

Possess 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 4) surveying; AND

archeological field school, OR

Possess a degree with related curriculum: 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 1.A. above (including archeological field school), OR

Possess a combination of college-level or training education that provided knowledge equivalent to that described above plus appropriate technical experience or additional education, OR

Possess four years of archeological work experience that demonstrated a thorough knowledge of the fundamental principles and theories of professional archeology. This work experience includes archeological field experience, which may include that gained in an archeological field school. Field experience includes a combination of professional experience in archeological survey, excavation, laboratory analysis, and preparation of written materials. This field experience includes additional experience under the direction of a higher grade archeologist, and demonstrates your 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-9

Possess at least one year of specialized professional archeology experience equivalent to at least the GS-7 level in the federal service, or comparable non-federal experience, which includes the ability to design, conduct, analyze, report, and finish a cultural resource research project that applies current archaeological and anthropological method and theory; involves the collection and analysis of data from the field, literature, archives, or oral testimony that has been derived from the Columbia Plateau, Great Basin, Northwest Coast, or California culture area. This experience must be demonstrated through a professional-level document such as a technical research report, published article, book contribution, or graduate thesis, OR

Possess at least two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's or equivalent graduate degree, in archeology, anthropology, or other closely related field, OR

Possess an equivalent combination of specialized experience as described above and graduate education as described above, that when calculated as a percentage of each requirement and added together, equals at least 100%. Only graduate education beyond the first year is creditable to meet this standard.

Minimum Qualification GS-11

Possess 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in a field directly related to archeology, OR

Possess one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 grade level in Federal service. Examples of specialized experience include: Experience in planning, implementing and evaluating cultural resource studies and assessing the value and quality of investigative results, and evaluating the significance and proper management of archeological resources, especially those related to the Gulf States; providing recommendations to protect cultural resources from management activities or projects, OR

Possess a combination of graduate level education and professional experience described above that, together, equals 100% of the requirements.

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


PCS INFORMATION: Yes, entitlements for payment of basic moving expenses, as required and to the extent allowed by the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) 302-3.101, are authorized for eligible applicants changing duty station when the change meets the distance tests as provided in FTR 302-1.1 and 302-2.6. All moving expenses are taxable. In addition, relocation discretionary entitlements May be authorized for this position excluding contractor-provided home sale.

Telework: This position is suitable for telework and 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) Career Transition Assistance Plan (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, and 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 and ICTAP click here


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.

For Eligibility Information click here: USAJOBS Help Center | Land Management


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 based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the online assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

Attention to Detail, Decision Making, Flexibility, Integrity/Honesty, Interpersonal Skills, Learning, Reading, Reasoning, Self-Management, and Teamwork.

  1. Professional ability with the theories, principles, and methods of archaeological and historical research, field work, and report preparation for compliance with section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.
  2. Applied and professional knowledge of the methods, theories, legislation, and management of North American cultural resources including pre-contact archeological sites and rural vernacular historical sites, as evidenced by job experience, and research and publications in North American archaeology and cultural resource management.
  3. Skill and experience to analyze, plan, and implement efficient and innovative compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act for Federal land managing agencies.
  4. Above average written communication skills in order to explain the significance of archeological and historic sites.
  5. Above average oral communication skills in order to explain the significance of archeological and historic sites.


In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

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