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Archeologist

Department of Agriculture
Forest Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

These positions are located at a Forest Service office within the Intermountain Region, Region 4.

Please see "Education" section.

Responsible for planning, developing, implementing, administering, directing, and managing heritage and cultural resource program activities.

For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Richa Wilson at richa.wilson@usda.gov.

Applications will expire in 90 days. To remain in consideration, you must resubmit your application.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
08/30/2023 to 02/29/2024
Salary
$57,118 to - $82,830 per year

Salary wage as shown is for Rest of the U.S. For more information, refer to the Office of Personnel Management, Salary and Wages web page.

Pay scale & grade
GS 9 - 12
Locations
Many vacancies in the following locations:
Bridgeport, CA
Ashton, ID
Boise, ID
Burley, 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 for meetings, trainings, and/or site visits.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—Relocation expenses may be reimbursed at the discretion of management in accordance with agency policy.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
00 - Promotion Potential will vary based on position filled and will either be at the GS-09, GS-11 or GS-12 level.
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
23-R4OCR-0193-11-12-DP
Control number
746226100

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Duties

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  • Duties at the GS-12 performance level.
  • Primary advisor to the Forest leadership for matters relating to Heritage, overseeing a diverse professional staff across the forest, and providing leadership, guidance, and expertise in historic preservation and cultural resource management .
  • Plans, directs, implements and administers a diverse and highly complex Forest's Heritage Program, including the formulation of short and long term plans, policies and program guidelines in order to achieve goals and objectives.
  • Develops and implements an annual program of work including procedures and objectives based on established goals and priorities set by the leadership team.
  • Provides advice and assistance in the resolution of complex or controversial issues related to cultural resource management independently, or as a member of interdisciplinary group.
  • Oversees Section 110 identification, evaluation, and management of historic properties and a large Section 106 and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance workload.
  • Duties at the GS-11 performance level.
  • Plans, directs, coordinates and executes surveys for the location and verification of archeological and historical sites and provides guidance to the line management in marking, protection, and salvage of these sites.
  • Provide heritage and cultural resource management orientation to Forest Service personnel on statutes, regulations and purpose of work to be performed.
  • Consult with recognized Indian Tribes under provisions of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), and Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) to discuss concerns, ensure compliance, and assess impact.
  • Administer archeological examination of road, reservoir, recreation, and other ground disturbing projects where archeological materials may be subject to destruction or damage for protection and mitigation of cultural sites.
  • Duties at the GS-09 performance level.
  • Assists in ensuring integration with heritage and cultural resource activities and establishment of priorities.
  • Organizes, supervises, or directly performs inventory of areas. Work includes preparation of maps, inventories, reports, and records related to the discovery, protection, inventory, salvage, and interpretation of heritage and cultural resource areas.
  • Determines eligibility of historical properties for the National Register of Historic Places.
  • Prepares determinations of effect for such projects identified during project inventories. Recommends mitigation procedures.
  • Assists in developing and carrying out projects related to stewardship enhancement and public interpretation of heritage and cultural resources, such as partnership agreements and site steward programs.
  • All grades perform supervisory duties 20% or less of the time.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service or exempt.
  • Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
  • Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served.
  • Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
  • Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify.

Qualifications

In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards.

Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary


Basic Requirement:

  1. Education

    1. 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, 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:

        • geography, geology, or cultural geography;
        • history, historiography, or historical archeology;
        • environmental studies;
        • scientific writing (nonfiction English composition); and/or
        • surveying;

        and

      • Archeological field school.

    2. 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 A.1 (including archeological field school).

    or

  2. Combination of Education and Experience

    College-level education or training that provided knowledge equivalent to that described in A above, plus appropriate technical experience or additional education.

    or

  3. Experience

    Four years of archeological work experience that demonstrated 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 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.


In addition to meeting the basic requirement, you must also possess experience and/or directly related education in the amounts listed below.

Specialized Experience Requirement:
GS-09:
One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service. Examples of specialized experience include one or more of the following: Assisted in conducting background studies and document reviews pertaining to archeological project development; Participated in archeological survey and site evaluation work and preparation of technical reports; interpreted cultural resources to public contacts in one-on-one conversations; Received formal and on-the-job instructions and training on the practical application of archeological principles, theories, methods, practices, and techniques; and/or Developed and coordinated networks and contacts beneficial to the successful performance of archeological work assignments, such as interacting technically with colleagues and supervisors, and demonstrating the ability to work cooperatively with other persons.
OR
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.
OR
Appropriate combination of graduate education (only graduate education in excess of 18 semester hours may be used to qualify applicants for this grade level). The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and must be directly related to the position being filled and specialized experience that is directly related to the position.

GS-11:
One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service. Examples of specialized experience include one or more of the following: Performed standard tasks or portions of larger projects of an archeological program, such as conducted performance studies and examined historical research documents pertaining to project development; Interpreted cultural resources to public and professional audiences through presentations, exhibit development, or publication in professional journals; Assisted professional archeologists in developing/enhancing archeological program components, such as scientific reporting, records and database management, and cultural resource condition monitoring; and/or Evaluated problems associated with archeological site protection and implemented corrective measures within the framework of archeological program and legal requirements.
OR
3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent Doctoral degree that is directly related to the position.
OR
Combination of graduate education (beyond what is required for a master's degree, i.e., more than 36 semester hours leading to a Ph.D.) and specialized experience that is directly related to the position.

GS-12:
One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Examples of specialized experience include one or more of the following: Administer archeological examination of road, reservoir, recreation, and other ground disturbing projects where archeological materials may be subject to destruction or damage; Planned, directed, coordinated and executed surveys for the location and verification of archeological and historical sites and provides guidance to the line management in marking, protection, and salvage of these sites; Recommended and carried out required elements for research plans related to studies, including specifying the methods and conditions under which excavations will be performed, the laboratory and analytical techniques to be used in artifact analysis, and the content of reports; and/or Evaluated archeological and historical sites and identified which are appropriate for inclusion to the National Register of Historic Places.

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

See "Qualification" section above for education that may be qualifying.

Current vacancies include the following but more may open up in the future.

Heritage Program Manager/ Forest Archaeologist- GS-12- Boise, ID
Heritage Program Manager/ Forest Archaeologist- GS-12- Cedar City, UT
Zone Archaeologist- GS-11- Cedar City, UT
Zone Archaeologist-GS-09/11- Cedar City, UT
Assistant Zone Archaeologist- GS-07/09- Cedar City, UT
Assistant Zone Archaeologist- GS-07/09- Cedar City, UT
Zone Archaeologist- GS-11- Ferron, UT
Zone Archaeologist- GS-11- Monticello, UT
Zone Archaeologist- GS-09- Monticello, UT
Archaeologist- GS-09- McCall, ID
Archaeologist- GS-09 - Salmon, ID or North Fork, ID
Archaeologist- GS-09- Salmon, ID
Archaeologist- GS-09 - Salmon, ID or North Fork, ID

Additional information

The USDA Forest Service has legislative authority to recruit and fill Permanent (Career/Career-Conditional), Temporary, and Term Appointments under the USDA Demonstration Project. Under this authority, any U.S. citizen may apply.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP eligibles must meet the agency's definition for a quality candidate as provided in the How You Will Be Evaluated section of this announcement to be considered.

If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is not guaranteed.

This position may be eligible to telework up to four days per week, based upon the duties of the position. This position may also be eligible for flexible work arrangements as determined by agency policy and any applicable collective bargaining agreements.

The Forest Service may use certain incentives and hiring flexibilities, currently offered by the Federal government, to attract highly qualified candidates. Additional information is available at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/pay-and-leave-flexibilities-for-recruitment-and-retention/

This is a non-bargaining unit position.
THIS IS AN OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT. This type of announcement provides the Forest Service with a readily available source of applicants when vacancies occur. Eligibility and qualifications will be verified when there is a vacancy for the location and grade for which you applied. Information on specific locations where jobs are being filled and the dates when applications are due for these locations can be found at https://fsoutreach.gdcii.com/Outreach.

Selectee will be responsible for tax obligations related to payments for moving expenses - 2017 Tax Cuts and Job Act, Public Law 115-97. Questions should be directed to the Travel Help Desk, 877-372-7248, Option 1, or email SM.FS.asc_tos@usda.gov.

We may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies.

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 in accordance with the category rating procedure as defined in the USDA Demonstration Project Plan. Applicants who meet the basic minimum qualification requirements established for the position will be placed in the Eligible category. You will be further evaluated against criteria for placement in the Quality category. This evaluation is based on the level of your experience, education, and/or training as determined by your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire. Individuals with veterans' preference are listed ahead of applicants who do not have veterans' preference within each category.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service.

To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12107519

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