Archeologist/BLM Full Time Permanent

Summary

Explore a new career with the BLM – where our people are our most precious resource.
This position is located in BLM Bakersfield Field Office located in Bakersfield, CA. Information about Bakersfield and the surrounding area can be found linked.

We expect to fill 1 vacancy at this time; however, additional positions may be filled from this announcement if they become available.

Duties

• The selection will be assigned to the Master Operations and Maintenance Consolidation (MOMAC) Team.
• The MOMAC Team is designed to support the field offices throughout the state in the larger processes of data reconciliation, resources support, GIS and geodatabase management and communication.
• Consult internally with other archeologists and resource specialists in Field, District and State Offices and externally with State and Federal Agency cultural resource professionals and educators.
• Conducts inventories, which may include compiling and analyzing existing data from institutional files and databases, professional literature, archival and other historical documents, original interviews, and other indirect sources.
• Participate as a team member in preparing multiple-use resource management plans and environmental impact documents, identifying special cultural resource considerations, potential multiple-use conflicts, and potential impacts to cultural resources.
• Review applications for cultural resource use permits and fieldwork authorizations, recommending approval or denial and/or changes in work proposed or personnel to be utilized.
• Works closely with other Division team members and Managers in District and Field Offices to resolve challenges facing the cultural resources program.

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Be sure to read the How to Apply and Required Documents Sections.
• You cannot hold an active real estate license: nor can you have an interest or hold stocks in firms with interest in Federal Lands.
• Direct Deposit Required.
• Appointment will be subject to a favorably adjudicated background/suitability investigation/determination.
• Your resume must contain enough information to show that you meet the qualification requirements as defined in the announcement. In addition, your responses to the questions must adequately reflect in your resume.
• An applicant appointed to this position must possess (or obtain within 30 days of entrance on duty) and maintain a valid state driver’s license while employed in this position.
• May require a one year probationary or two year trial period.
• This position is included in a bargaining unit. The National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE), Local 2052, is the exclusive representative of all employees in this bargaining unit.

Qualifications

This position has an individual occupational requirement (IOR). To be considered you must meet one of the requirements outlined in the “Education” section.

In addition to the IOR outlined in the “Education” section, in order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the qualification requirements – please be sure to include this information in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your experience.

To qualify for the GS-09 grade level, in addition to meeting the IOR outlined in the “education” section, applicants must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07. Examples of specialized experience may include: Assisting in conducting background studies and document reviews pertaining to archeological project development. Utilizing Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to record archeological site and features. Conducting routine field reconnaissance searches in areas planned for such activities as wildlife habitat improvement/road construction/recreational development concerning possible effects that proposed resource management activities may have on existing archeological remains. Conducting Section 106 inventory and monitoring projects. Prepare determination of effect for such projects identified during project inventories.
OR
Successful completion of at least two years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master’s degree or master’s or equivalent graduate degree. This education must be directly related to the position being filled. You must include transcripts.
OR
Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above.

To qualify for the GS-11 grade level, in addition to meeting the IOR outlined in the “education” section, applicants must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09. Examples of specialized experience may include: Planning and carrying out specific project and assignments to their completion. Planning and conducting archeological research, excavations, documentation, and investigations. Incorporating appropriate geographic information system (GIS) technology to provide comprehensive and scientifically sound answers to complex issues. Preparing or interpreting a variety of technical documents, such as, archaeological evaluations, completion reports, management summaries, permits, publications and/or peer-reviewed journal articles.
OR
Successful completion of three years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in an accredited college or university.
OR
A combination of graduate education and experience. Only graduate level education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be combined with experience.

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, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

Physical Demands: Field Work requires physical exertion such as long periods of standing or walking through rough, uneven, or rocky terrain. Physical work requires some bending, crouching, reaching, use of hand tools and lifting moderate to heavy equipment or samples.

Work Environment: May be exposed to moderate risks, adverse weather conditions, hazardous chemicals, and wildlife. May require travel via off road vehicles, government, or commercial transportation. Office work may be completed in a typical office setting.

This position is considered a career ladder opportunity, with a full performance level of GS-11. If selected at a lower grade level, you may be non-competitively promoted to the next grade level at the discretion of your supervisor and is contingent upon meeting regulatory and legal requirements for promotion, satisfactory performance, and the availability of higher-level work. Promotion is not guaranteed, and no promise of promotion is implied.
Education
This position has an individual occupational requirement (IOR). To be considered you must meet one of the below requirement:

Education

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.
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

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

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.

If using education to qualify, you must submit copies of all transcripts or a list of college courses that include hours and grades from an accredited U.S. college/university. See Required Documents section for more information.

Additional Details