ARCHEOLOGIST (Cultural Resource Specialist) - Natural Resources Conservation Service

Summary This position serves on a NRCS State Resource Technology Staff and is located in a State Office of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The incumbent provides leadership for archeology and cultural resources activities of NRCS in New York and is supervised by the State Resource Conservationist. NOTE - Recruitment and/or relocation incentives may be authorized as allowable by OPM and USDA policy. Responsibilities Reviews proposals and reports relating to NRCS sponsored cultural resource work. Prepares technical cultural resource sections of contracts, environmental documents, agreement documents, and other instruments of agency intent. Carries out field investigations and produces professional quality cultural resources investigation and assessment reports. Determines and prioritizes allocation of time and resources to best achieve annual goals of the cultural resource program for the assigned area of responsibility. Defines areas of major cultural resource/environmental concerns, and designs and implements methods and procedures to address such concerns. Serves as agency liaison to other federal, state and local agencies involved with cultural resource issues. Assists in the development of computer and Web-based programs and tools for cultural resources subjects, including linking to the Conservation Desktop - the NRCS field level planning tool, as appropriate. Utilizes computer systems and associated software to interpret, summarize, and exchange cultural resources data and other technical information in order to provide technical assistance to field employees. Provides archaeology and cultural resources technical assistance, guidance and training to NRCS field area and state office employees. Keeps abreast of developments and research in archaeological methods and procedures. Transfers methods and procedures to NRCS field offices, as appropriate. Identifies cultural resources studies, develops specifications for work, determines cultural and scientific significance of identified resources in accordance with Department of Interior guidelines and National Register of Historic Places criteria. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Time in grade: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade to be considered for the next higher grade (e.g. one year at the GS-09 grade level for consideration for the GS-11 grade level and one year at the GS-11 grade level for consideration for the GS-12 grade level).You must possess the Basic Requirements indicated below, plus additional specialized experience and/or education to be considered eligible for this position. This position has a positive education requirement; therefore, a legible copy of your college transcripts is required to be attached to your application prior to the closing date of the announcement; applicants who fail to submit their transcripts will not be given credit for their education. Your application or resume must clearly show that you possess the appropriate specialized experience requirements. The following link provides more information on the qualifications for these positions: Professional and Scientific Positions. Basic Requirements: A. Education1. Degree: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree that included a major field of study 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).ORB. Combination of Education and Experience: College-level education or training that provided knowledge equivalent to that described 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 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 the requirements described above, the following additional experience is required: Specialized experience GS-11: You must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience, equivalent to GS-09 level in the Federal Service or comparable experience not gained through Federal Service. For this position, specialized experience is defined as experience assisting in conducting background studies and document reviews pertaining to archeological project development. Examples of specialized experience include: Assisting in the development of compliance policy and procedures for cultural resources preservation and tribal consultation in the state; Managing archeology field experience with a combination of archeological survey, excavation, laboratory analysis, and preparation of written materials; Providing archaeology and cultural resources technical assistance, guidance and training to various personnel; and evaluating the significance of archaeological, historical, and traditional cultural resources; OR Substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience: 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in Archaeology or a related field; OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of 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. Specialized experience GS-12: 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. For this position, specialized experience is defined as experience conducting background studies and document reviews pertaining to archeological project development. Examples of specialized experience include: Developing compliance policy and procedures for cultural resources preservation and tribal consultation in the state; Managing archeology field experience with a combination of archeological survey, excavation, laboratory analysis, and preparation of written materials; Providing archaeology and cultural resources technical assistance, guidance and training to various personnel; and evaluating the significance of archaeological, historical, and traditional cultural resources. Note: There is no education substitution for the GS-12 level. For more information on the qualifications for this position, click here: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=GS-PROF 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. Education If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements: You must submit a copy of your transcripts to include course number, title, completion and grade. Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. If a relevant course is not clearly qualifying (e.g. special topic, seminar, research, thesis, obscure or misleading course title, etc.), please submit an official course syllabi and/or detailed course description from the university/college for that particular course to ensure you are properly evaluated. Please note that qualifications determinations are based solely on the information submitted for each particular vacancy announcement. Important: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. Click on this link for more information. Failure to provide all of the required documents/information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating. Additional Information Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100. Promotion Potential: 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 neither implied nor guaranteed. Recruitment and/or relocation incentives may be authorized. Physical Demands: The position requires both sedentary work, usually performed in an office setting, and moderate physical exertion, usually associated with outside field work. The incumbent is required to visit job sites where extensive walking on rough terrain, moderate climbing, bending, lifting, carrying moderately heavy objects, and being outdoors in all types of weather may be required. Office work includes the use of a computer and other office equipment, with the physical demands typical of an office setting. Work Environment: The work is performed in both an office and field environment. Field visits are made to project locations to inventory and otherwise gather cultural resources and Tribal data. Adverse weather and unimproved roads are often encountered during field visits and may require the use of special protective equipment. Office work includes the use of a computer for extended periods of time. Evening work and overnight travel are occasionally required. PLEASE NOTE: In the interest of filling these positions as efficiently as possible, we are requiring the following: If called for an interview, applicants must be available to interview within 3 business days of being contacted. If a tentative job offer is extended, selectee will have 2 business days in which to accept or decline. This position is eligible for telework within the local commuting area of the position and other flexible work arrangements. Current USDA policy includes telework for an 8 hour work day, 4 days per week; other flexibilities are possible dependent upon availability and/or the position and its associated duties. Employee participation is at the discretion of the supervisor. Recruitment and/or relocation incentives may be authorized.