Archeologist

Natural Resources Conservation Service • Boise, ID

8d • Hybrid

About The Position

This Archeologist (State Cultural Resources Specialist) serves on a Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Resource Conservation Staff in a State Office. The position provides guidance and assistance to field personnel and resource technical teams on conserving, protecting, and enhancing cultural resources—including Native American and Alaska Native issues—encountered in NRCS programs and activities.

The specialist advises on cultural resources issues arising from Agency programs, conducts field investigations, and prepares professional-quality investigation and assessment reports. The role also maintains technical guides, prepares cultural-resource sections of contracts and other Agency documents, identifies needed studies, develops scopes of work, and evaluates resource significance under applicable guidelines and National Register of Historic Places criteria. The specialist provides technical assistance, guidance, and training to Agency personnel and communicates study results and compliance requirements to managers and stakeholders with varying familiarity with archaeology and cultural-resource laws.

The work takes place in both office and field settings. Fieldwork can involve rough terrain, moderate climbing, bending, lifting and carrying moderately heavy objects, adverse weather, and unimproved roads; special protective equipment may be needed. Office duties involve extended computer use. Evening work and overnight travel are occasionally required. Telework may be available under agency policy.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizen or U.S. National.
• Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with Selective Service or exempt.
• Satisfactory adjudication of a background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Serve a one-year probationary period unless previous federal service is creditable.
• Successfully pass E-Verify employment verification.
• Possess and maintain a valid state motor vehicle operator's license for the type of vehicle operated in performing the duties.
• Meet the GS-0193 basic archeology qualification requirement through qualifying education, a combination of education and experience, or four years of archeological work experience demonstrating thorough knowledge of professional archeology principles and theories.
• For the education route, coursework must include specified archeology courses, six semester hours of related coursework, and an archeological field school, or a qualifying related curriculum with sufficiently similar coursework including field school.
• For the experience route, field experience must include a combination of archaeological survey, excavation, laboratory analysis, and preparation of written materials.
• For GS-12, have one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-11 in federal service or comparable experience outside federal service.
• Specialized experience includes assisting with background studies and document reviews for archaeological project development; developing state cultural resources preservation and tribal consultation policy and procedures; managing archaeological field experience; providing technical assistance, guidance, and training; and evaluating the significance of archaeological, historical, and traditional cultural resources.
• If qualifying based on education, submit transcripts showing course details; foreign education must include required equivalency documentation and English translations.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a staff specialist on cultural resources issues and concerns arising from Agency programs and activities.
• Conduct field investigations and prepare professional-quality cultural resources investigation and assessment reports.
• Prepare and maintain technical guides and information concerning cultural resources.
• Prepare technical cultural resource sections of contracts, environmental documents, agreement documents, and other instruments of Agency intent.
• Stay current on developments and research in archaeological methods and procedures.
• Identify necessary cultural resources studies and develop specifications for scopes of work.
• Determine the cultural and scientific significance of identified resources under applicable guidelines and National Register of Historic Places criteria.
• Provide archaeology and cultural resources technical assistance, guidance, and training to Agency field-area and State Office employees.
• Communicate archaeological study results and cultural resources compliance requirements to managers and stakeholders with varying levels of familiarity with archaeology and cultural resources laws.
• Visit project locations to inventory and gather cultural resources and Tribal data.

Benefits

• Comprehensive federal employee benefits package available to eligible employees and their families.
• Recruitment and/or relocation incentives may be authorized.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior