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

Archeologist

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

Summary

This position is a Archeologist, GS- 0193-12 working in either one of the following cities for the R1-Visitor Services and Cultural Resources Branch.

Auburn or Sacramento,CA
Portland or Sherwood, OR
Boise or Chubbock, ID

This position is also open to merit status eligible candidates under announcement R1-22-11588290-MR-MP. You must apply to each announcement separately if you wish to be considered under both recruitment methods.

Overview

Help
Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
07/29/2022 to 08/12/2022
Salary
$79,363 to - $103,176 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12
Locations
3 vacancies in the following locations:
Auburn, CA
Sacramento, CA
Boise, ID
Chubbuck, ID
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
50% 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
12
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
R1-22-11588291-MR-DE
Control number
668195900

Duties

Help

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

  • Implement the National Historic Preservation Act, particularly Section 106, performing the following duties: Work with 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 research at libraries, agencies, and other institutions for archaeological, historical, and ethnographic information.
  • Conduct archaeological surveys, site identification, and evaluations using standard archaeological and historic preservation techniques for compliance with Section 106 of the NHPA.
  • Create and implement a cultural resource administrative program for the FWS.
  • Update and maintain cultural resource hardcopy and computer records tracking project status, sites, inventories, consultations, artifact collections, and other pertinent management information.
  • Provide information for various comprehensive reports.
  • Prepare scopes of works for contracts to conduct archaeological and anthropological work for FWS lands and projects. Serve as the Contracting Officer's Technical Representative on cultural resource contracts.
  • Review cultural resource documentation prepared by consultants, distill, and transmit to consulting parties.
  • Prepare and conduct educational and outreach activities, presentations, and events that provide information on the cultural resources of the FWS.
  • Implement other historic preservation legislation for FWS lands and programs, including: Evaluate Archaeological Resource Protection Act (ARPA) permit applications, issue ARPA permits, track ARPA permit compliance. Assist FWS staff and LE officers to implement the site protection provisions of the Archaeological Resource Protection Act (ARPA), as necessary. Exercise the provisions of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) as necessary.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

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

Qualifications

Only experience and education obtained by 08/12/2022 will be considered.

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

Basic Requirement:

  1. Possess a degree from an accredited college or university that included (A) 3 semester hours in EACH of the following course areas: history, or 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 wherein methods include (but are not limited to) typology, classification, sampling, cultural evolution, diffusion, dating, and analytical techniques; and 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 (B) 6 semester hours of related coursework in geography, geology, cultural geography, history, historiography, historical archeology, environmental studies, scientific writing (nonfiction English composition) and/or surveying; AND (C) archeological field school. (All education must be substantiated by transcripts.);
    1. .Education - 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 1(A) above (including archeological field school). OR
  2. Combination of Education and Experience: College level education or training that provided knowledge equivalent to that described in above, plus technical experience or additional education which together equals 100% of the requirement. OR
  3. Four years of archeological work experience that demonstrates a thorough knowledge of the fundamental principles and theories of professional archeology. This experience Includes archeology field experience, including that gained in an archeological field school. Field experience consisted of a combination of professional experience in archeological survey, excavation, laboratory analysis, and preparation of written materials. (Applicants with the experience described should, after additional experience under 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 part of a larger archeological project.)
Minimum Qualification [GS-12]
  1. You must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience, equivalent to GS-11 level in the Federal Service or comparable experience not gained through Federal Service. Examples of specialized experience may include: Experience that equips the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position to be filled. Specialized experience for this position may include: a) Planning and implementing efficient and innovative compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act for Federal land managing agencies. b) Skill balancing compliance laws, regulations, and policies of federal historic preservation legislation with the goals and mission of a Federal agency. c) Preparing letters and agreement documents (MOAs, PAs) with SHPOs, Tribes or Native Hawaiian Organizations, and agencies for compliance with NHPA. d) Skill working with Native American Tribes or Hawaiian Organizations on issues concerning archaeology, burials, and traditional cultural properties. e) Research and field experience in the cultural history and archaeology of the California Great Basin and/or Columbia Plateau culture areas.
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.

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

Salary:
For locality pay table for each location please click HERE

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.

-Discretionary entitlements are not authorized for this position

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

Reasonable Accommodation Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended and Americans with Disabilities Act 1990 as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a reasonable accommodation in your online application. Requests for Reasonable Accommodations for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for Reasonable Accommodation must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for Reasonable Accommodations 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. 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 Reasonable Accommodation, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Reasonable_Accommodations_for_USA_Hire

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):

  • 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.
  • Skill and ability to communicate verbally and in writing, the execution of and compliance with laws, regulations, and policies of federal historic preservation legislation and the goals and mission of Federal agencies.
  • Applied and professional knowledge of the methods, theories, legislation, and management of North American cultural resources including pre-­contact archaeological sites and rural vernacular historical sites, as evidenced by job experience, and research and publications in North American archaeology and cultural resource management.
  • Ability and experience working with Native tribes on issues concerning archaeology, burials, and traditional cultural properties. Ability and skill 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 analyze, plan and implement archeological program objectives
  • Ability to use automated systems or software
  • Skill in communicating information to various audiences
  • Knowledge of archaeological principles, theories, concepts, methods and techniques
Attention to Detail, Customer Service, Decision Making, Flexibility, General, Integrity/Honesty, Interpersonal Skills, Learning, Reading Comprehension, Reasoning, Self-Management, Stress Tolerance, Teamwork, and Technical

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.

All qualified candidates will be assigned to a quality category. The category assignment is a measure of the degree in which your background matches the competencies required for this position. The category ratings for this position are: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, and Qualified

The category rating process protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each quality category. Veterans' preference eligibles who meet the qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent will be listed in the highest quality category (except in the case of scientific or professional positions at the GS-09 level or higher).

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.