Archeologist
Natural Resources Conservation Service - Department of Agriculture
Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined above. (Transcripts Required-Applicants who meet the Basic Requirement qualify for the GS-05 level.) Basic Requirement (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. OR 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 B. 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 C. 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 archaeology field experience, which may include that gained in an archaeological field school. Field experience should have included a combination of professional experience in archaeological 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 archaeologist, 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 archaeological project. In addition to meeting one of the Basic Requirements above, applicants must meet the following Minimum Qualifications Requirement in order to be considered for GS-07 grade level: Specialized Experience to qualify for the GS-07 level: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level or higher in Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. Examples of specialized experience include collecting, analyzing and interpreting data by applying archeology principles, theories, concepts, methods, and scientific techniques. OR Superior Academic Achievement in a bachelor’s degree curriculum directly related to the work of the position. To qualify for superior academic achievement, you must have ONE of the following: (1) standing in the upper third of your college class or major subdivision at the time you apply; (2) grade point average of B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) or its equivalent for all courses completed, either (a) at the time of application or (b) during the last 2 years of your undergraduate curriculum; (3) B+ (3.5 on a 4.0 scale) or its equivalent for all courses completed in a related discipline, either (a) at the time of application or (b) during the last 2 years of your undergraduate curriculum; OR (4) election to membership in one of the national honorary scholastic societies that meets the requirements of the Association of College Honor Society; OR Substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience: One year of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master’s degree in archeology, anthropology, or other directly related subject matter. OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of graduate-level education and experience, as described above, may be used to qualify for this position. This combination must have equipped you with the necessary knowledge and/or experience to successfully perform the duties of this position. Combinations of experience and education must total at least 100% as outlined in OPM Qualifications policy. In addition to meeting one of the Basic Requirements above, applicants must meet the following Minimum Qualifications Requirement in order to be considered for GS-09 grade level: Specialized Experience to Qualify for the GS-9 Level: One or more years of specialized experience at the GS-07 level or higher in Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service assisting in conducting background studies and document reviews pertaining to archeological project development. Examples of specialized experience include assisting in the examination, documentation and preservation of artifacts by applying principles, theories, concepts, methods, and scientific techniques. OR Substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience: Two years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master’s degree equivalent graduate degree (i.e., degree in archeology, anthropology, or any other directly related subject matter). OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of graduate-level education and experience, as described above, may be used to qualify for this position. This combination must have equipped you with the necessary knowledge and/or experience to successfully perform the duties of this position. Combinations of experience and education must total at least 100% as outlined in OPM Qualifications policy. Note: The OPM Qualification Standards for this position can be found at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=List-by-Occupational-Series 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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
The Pathways Recent Graduate Program is for recently graduated or graduating individuals who are looking for developmental experiences in the Federal Government intended to promote possible careers in the civil service. This paid appointment may offer additional Recruitment and Relocation incentives. It may allow for Student Load Repayment Program opportunities. Please see additional information in the announcement below.