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Seasonal Archeological Technician

Department of the Interior
National Park Service
Denali National Park and Preserve

Summary

NOTE: OPM has identified this position as eligible for an exception to the typical 1039-hour season. This exception allows up to 1560 hours which may extend the season(s) reflected in this announcement. See the Additional Information section for details.

The typical season for this position is April - September but can be variable during these months due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding. The anticipated entry on duty is April 2026.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
02/20/2026 to 03/03/2026
Salary
$22.07 to - $35.54 per hour

An additional 3% cost of living allowance (COLA) will be added to the salary above. Pay is subject to annual review and adjustment.

Pay scale & grade
GS 5 - 7
Location
4 vacancies in the following location:
Denali Park, AK
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
50% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Temporary - 1560 hours
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
None
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
Yes
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
AK-1537-DENA-26-12892741-LH
Control number
858327100

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

This position is being filled using the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) local hiring authority (16 USC 3198). Any U.S. Citizen who has acquired special knowledge or expertise regarding the natural or cultural resources of Denali National Park and Preserve, by reason of having either lived or worked in or near the unit may apply. See Qualifications section for eligibility requirements.

Duties

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If selected, you will work as an Archeological Technician, GS-0102-05 or 07, Denali National Park and Preserve. Duties include but are not limited to the following:

  • Works with other members of the cultural resources team to find and document archeological sites.
  • Uses compass, topographic maps, GPS, and aerial photographs for wayfinding and locating archaeological sites to be investigated.
  • Prepares extensive and detailed field notes documenting archaeological findings.
  • Photographs archaeological and historical materials
  • Prepares maps in GIS, charts, graphs and other supporting documents for technical reports.
  • Digs shovel test pits

In addition to the above, at the GS-07 grade level duties include but are not limited to the following:
  • Assign tasks and monitoring status of assignments.
  • Processes recovered specimens.
  • Prepare recovered specimens for shipment to laboratories.


Please visit find a park for additional park information.

Requirements

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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.

  • You will be required to submit to a drug test and receive a negative drug test result prior to appointment. In addition, this position is subject to random testing for illegal drug use.

  • You will be assigned the collateral duty requiring firearms in the back-country or other locations for non-law enforcement reasons such as protection from animals.

  • You will be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties; a valid driver's license is required. You will be required to submit a Motor Vehicle Operator's License and Driving Record. You must also 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 disclose all valid driver's licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you.

  • You may be required to complete training and operate a four-wheel drive vehicle.

  • You must be familiar with outdoor safety and survival skills and must be able to operate a vehicle on rough roads.

  • 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, and overtime.

  • You may be required to travel overnight away from home up to 15 nights per month.

  • You may be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority.

  • Applicants must be at least 18 years old.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement 03/03/2026 unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
Special knowledge or expertise concerning the park's or preserve's natural and/or cultural resources and the management thereof is required. Local knowledge of the resources and the typical conditions that affect the work to be accomplished will be applied in the performance of duties.

-AND-

To be eligible your application package must clearly show periods of time having lived or worked in or near the area of consideration. The area of consideration can be found in the below paragraphs.

Areas considered "near" Denali National Park and Preserve include only: Anderson, Cantwell, Chulitna, Clear, Curry, Denali Park, Ferry, Healy, Kantishna, Lake Minchumina, McKinley Village, Nenana, Nikolai, Petersville, Talkeetna, Tanana, Telida, and Trapper Creek.

-ALSO-

The following are the competencies identified for this position. Applicants are not required to address these competencies in a separate document but are encouraged to include in their resumes experience related to these competencies:

  1. Knowledge of the principles and theory of archeology.
  2. Ability to complete small archeological projects within the scope and specifications provided by the supervisor.
  3. Skill in using basic tools and equipment common to archeological functions (e.g., topographic maps).
  4. Ability to communicate information in a clear and concise manner.

Education

There is no substitution of education for the required special knowledge or expertise concerning the park's or preserve's natural and/or cultural resources and the management thereof as outlined in this announcement.

Additional information

NOTE: In support of Executive Order (EO) 14189 "Celebrating America's 250th Birthday" and EO 14314 "Making America Beautiful Again by Improving our National Parks," the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has approved an exception to the 1039-hour time limitation for this position. This approval may extend the time limitation up to 1560 hours for this temporary seasonal appointment.

A selectee receiving a first appointment to the Federal Government (Civil Service) is entitled only to the lowest step of the grade for which selected. The display of a salary range on this vacancy shall not be construed as granting an entitlement to a higher rate of pay.

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

This is an excepted service appointment that does not confer competitive status.

Government housing is not available.

All travel, transportation, and relocation expenses associated with reporting for duty in this position will be the sole responsibility of the selectee.

Alaska currently does not have a state income tax.

Selectee may be moved between duty stations within park boundaries.

Physical Demands: The work is partially sedentary with prolonged standing, walking, stooping, and bending often required. Heavy items (e.g., packs up to 50 pounds) must be lifted and carried on a routine basis.

Working Conditions: The work is performed both in an office setting and in the field. Survey and excavation work is typically performed in isolated areas; the incumbent must therefore be familiar with outdoor safety and survival skills and must be able to operate a vehicle on rough roads. Sustained periods of camping under primitive conditions are routine.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

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

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents, responses to the questions in the assessment). If your application package does not clearly reflect having lived / worked within the area of consideration, does not clearly reflect special knowledge of the natural and/or cultural resources of the park or preserve, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible' or 'not qualified'.

Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted. You may only submit one resume. Only the document submitted as the "Resume" under the Documents section will be used to determine your qualifications/eligibility and for rating purposes. In the event you submit more than one resume, only the latest submission will be reviewed.

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