Archaeologist

Immediate Office of the Chief of Naval Operations•Washington Navy Yard, DC

About The Position

The Archaeologist serves as the Archaeological Collection Registrar in the Underwater Archaeology Branch of the Collection Management Division (CMD) of the Naval History and Heritage Command. The role manages, documents, analyzes, interprets, curates, and loans archaeological materials recovered from U.S. Navy sunken and terrestrial military craft. The registrar develops and implements policies and procedures for record-related and physical inventorying of the Branch’s archaeological artifact collection and ensures its loan program complies with Branch, CMD, and NHHC guidance, industry standards, best practices, and applicable laws and regulations. The position also produces and reviews technical and scholarly materials related to archaeological research, conservation, naval history, and historic preservation; disseminates findings through presentations, lectures, publications, and website content; and participates in fieldwork as an Underwater Archaeology Branch team member. The employee supports maintenance and operational readiness of curatorial facilities, equipment, and supplies associated with the collections.

Requirements

Must be a U.S. citizen and determined suitable for federal employment.
Must participate in the direct deposit pay program.
Must successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check if a new Department of the Navy employee.
Retired military members appointed to a civilian DoD position within 180 days of retirement are subject to 5 U.S.C. 3326.
Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered for Selective Service.
Must obtain and maintain an interim and/or final security clearance before entering on duty; failure may result in withdrawal of the offer or removal.
Must have at least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to GS-09, including independent management of federally administered artifact collections and knowledge of applicable policies, procedures, curation standards, inventory, cataloguing, documentation, digital and physical records, handling, environmental monitoring, and regulatory compliance.
Must have experience independently preparing and executing artifact loan agreements, tracking them, corresponding with borrowing institutions about loan issues, and ensuring compliance with professional standards and regulations.
Must have experience preparing complex correspondence for international or foreign governments, federal and state agencies, the private sector, interest groups, academia, and the public.
Must meet the basic OPM archaeology requirements through qualifying education, a combination of education and experience, or four years of qualifying archaeological work experience.
The education route requires specified archaeology coursework, including archaeological field school, plus six semester hours of related coursework; a qualifying related curriculum may also satisfy the requirements if sufficiently similar.
The experience route requires four years of archaeological work demonstrating knowledge of professional archaeology principles and theories, including field experience in survey, excavation, laboratory analysis, and written-material preparation.
Applicants qualifying through education in lieu of experience may use three years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree directly related to the position.
A transcript must be provided to receive credit for basic requirements and/or qualify based on education.
May be required to lift up to 60 pounds.
May be required to continuously wear personal protective equipment, including helmets, gloves, coveralls, glasses, goggles, respirators, and safety shoes, for the duration of the work shift.

Responsibilities

Manage, document, analyze, interpret, curate, and loan archaeological materials recovered from U.S. Navy sunken and terrestrial military craft.
Develop and implement policies and procedures for record-related and physical inventorying of the Underwater Archaeology Branch archaeological artifact collection.
Ensure the Branch archaeological artifact loan program complies with Branch, Collection Management Division, and NHHC guidance, industry standards, best practices, and applicable laws and regulations.
Draft, edit, and review technical reports, peer-reviewed articles and journals, and other literature related to archaeological research, conservation, naval history, and historic preservation.
Disseminate archaeological findings through professional presentations, academic lectures, scholarly and popular publications, website content, and other means.
Participate as an Underwater Archaeology Branch field team member.
Support maintenance, storage, and organization of curatorial facilities, equipment, and supplies for operational readiness.