Museum Technician (Geology) (Seasonal)

National Park Service • Kimberly, OR

1d

About The Position

This is a seasonal Museum Technician position supporting geological collections. The typical season lasts no more than six months between May and November, though timing may vary based on weather, project needs, or funding. The anticipated entry-on-duty date is May 2027. The position may be filled at the GS-05 or GS-07 grade level.

The technician assists with processing, cataloging, storing, researching, cleaning, and documenting museum objects, following established National Park Service procedures and standards. Duties include basic clerical support for curatorial operations and assistance with paleontology fieldwork. At the GS-07 level, the technician also independently processes objects, identifies preservation needs, maintains and organizes curatorial records, and implements museum housekeeping schedules.

Work takes place in museum exhibit and storage areas, a workroom or laboratory, and offices. The work is partly sedentary but often involves prolonged standing, walking, and bending. Routine lifting and carrying of heavy items, such as equipment and packs weighing up to 50 pounds, is required. Occasional work with dusty materials or materials stored with protective chemicals may require protective equipment.

The position may require a uniform, on-call availability, evening, weekend, holiday, overtime, or shift work; overnight travel; operation of four-wheel-drive or other government or private vehicles; and completion of related training. Government housing may be available but is not guaranteed, and occupancy of government quarters may be required. A uniform allowance is provided. Employment may end early because of funding, project needs, performance, or other considerations.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Appointment is subject to a background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered for Selective Service.
• Must successfully pass E-Verify employment verification.
• Must be at least 18 years old to operate government vehicles; a valid driver's license is required when vehicle operation is part of official duties.
• Must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes if required.
• Must meet the stated minimum age and education or enrollment conditions for employment.
• GS-05 qualification: one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-04 involving museum or similar collections, or four years of post-high-school education (120 semester or 180 quarter hours) toward a bachelor's degree with related study, or an equivalent combination.
• GS-07 qualification: one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-05 involving museum or similar collections, or one year of related graduate-level education (18 semester or 27 quarter hours), or an equivalent combination.
• Specialized experience may include collections management, registration, cataloging, research, preservation, restoration, or conservation of museum collections; qualifying experience includes object processing, identification, labeling, storage or display preparation, records work, and routine object cleaning as appropriate to grade.
• Applicants claiming education as a qualification must submit transcripts; foreign education must be evaluated for U.S. equivalency.
• Applicants claiming experience must document duties, dates of employment, and hours worked per week on a resume of no more than two pages.
• May be required to wear a uniform and comply with National Park Service uniform standards.
• May be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime, and/or shifts.
• May be required to complete training and operate a four-wheel-drive vehicle.
• May be required to travel overnight away from home occasionally.
• May be required to complete training and obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority.
• May be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronic Funds Transfer Program.

Responsibilities

• Assist with unpacking, processing, and limited cleaning of museum objects.
• Place objects in storage while maintaining the organization established by the supervisor.
• Conduct routine research for catalog records, exhibits, and other assigned purposes.
• Catalog objects and enter cataloging data into the designated NPS catalog program using established procedures.
• Clean objects as directed and according to established standards.
• Perform basic clerical operations supporting curatorial work.
• Identify and label objects by matching them with documentation, field labels, notes, and other records.
• Assist with paleontology fieldwork.
• At the GS-07 level, independently unpack and process objects, identify preservation needs, and recommend additional actions.
• At the GS-07 level, prepare, maintain, and organize manual and automated curatorial records, including accession records, catalog records, donation forms, inventories, and object lists.
• At the GS-07 level, implement museum maintenance and housekeeping schedules. [sic]

Benefits

• A uniform allowance will be provided.
• Government housing may be available but is not guaranteed.
• Federal employees have access to a comprehensive benefits package; specific eligibility depends on position type and other factors.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed