Archeological Technician

Clarification from the agency

U.S. Citizens, Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) in the local commuting area.

Duties

Some of the duties you will perform will include, but are not limited to:

Participates in archeological field surveys, including pedestrian survey, shovel tests, site mapping, site condition assessments, site and artifact photography, and taking extensive, detailed, legible notes. Assists in or independently use GPS and GIS or similar computer mapping programs to document site and feature locations, and to prepare maps for technical reports. Evaluates and assists in the evaluation of specimens. Processes specimens recovered in the field. Prepares specimens recovered in the field for specialized analysis to be sent to dating and other laboratories. Identifies, labels, and packages artifacts for curation. Maintains related databases, forms, maps, and files. Enters archeological artifact and project data including artifact information, catalog records, field notes, site records, etc. into automated systems, appropriate forms, and archival records. Assists in the development of a variety of documents by gathering data from files and reports, performing library and archival research, and preparing maps, tables, figures, and draft sections of technical reports. Uses topographic maps, aerial photographs, GPS and compass for wayfinding in remote, difficult terrain and inclement conditions. Conducts excavation and testing of archeological sites, including the careful recovery and documentation of sample materials.
Area Information:
Situated on the United States-Mexico border, Amistad National Recreation Area is known primarily for excellent year-round water-based recreation including boating, fishing, swimming, scuba diving. and water-skiing. Amistad NRA also provides opportunities for picnicking, camping and hunting. Amistad Dam created the reservoir, at the confluence of the Rio Grande, Devils and Pecos rivers, in 1969. In addition to excellent recreation, this area is rich in archeology and rock art, and contains a wide variety of plant and animal life. Headquarters is located in Del Rio, Texas, population 35,000. Del Rio offers all amenities. The nearest cities of any size are San Angelo (150 miles), Laredo (180 miles, and San Antonio (153 miles). This part of South Texas has sunny, humid and hot summers and mild winters. July and August are the hottest months with average high temperatures in the mid-90's and overnight lows in the 70's. Coolest months are December and January when average lows are around 40 degrees.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

U.S. Citizenship required. Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication. Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males. Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program. You will be required to submit to a drug test and receive a negative drug test result prior to appointment. In addition, this position is subject to random testing for illegal drug use. You will be required to obtain a Department of Interior Motorboat Operator Certification Course certificate. You will be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties. Prior to your first official motor vehicle operation, and again every year thereafter (or more frequently if management determines such need exists), you will be required to sign an affidavit certifying to your possession of a valid State issued driver's license that is current and has not been revoked, suspended, canceled, or otherwise disqualified in any way to prohibit your operation of a motor vehicle. You will also submit a photocopy of your valid State issued driver's license prior to your first official motor vehicle operation, and again every year, or more frequently if management determines such need exists. Lastly, you may be required to submit (within a State sealed envelope or submitted directly by the State authorities), and at your own expense, all certified driving records from all States that discloses all valid driver's licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you. Please indicate in your application whether you possess a valid State driver's license. You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided. You may be required to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and overtime. If you are a new employee or supervisor in the Federal government, you will be required to complete a one-year probationary period. You may be required to travel overnight away from home up to 1 night per month. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes. You may be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-08/21/2024-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST clearly indicate the nature of the duties and responsibilities for each position, starting and ending dates of employment (month/year), and the resume must reflect full and/or part-time or total number of hours worked (i.e., work 40+ hours a week, rather than indicating full-time). If part-time, the hours must be annotated to be able to pro-rate the amount of qualified specialized experience.

To qualify for this position at the GS-07 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following OPM's Qualification Standards by close of the announcement:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-06 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is experience that equips the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of qualifying specialized experience includes but is not limited to: conducting work in support of historic preservation including archaeological inventory and monitoring, conducting literature searches in support of historic preservation, writing survey and excavation reports, laboratory analysis of archaeological materials, and using GPS and GIS to record archaeological sites and features; assisting in the preparation of documentation for purposes of compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act. You must provide hours per week and to/from dates (month/year) on your resume.

-OR-
EDUCATION: One year of graduate-level education (18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours or the number your school uses to represent one year of full time graduate academic study) that is directly related to the position being filled. You must provide copies of your transcripts.

-OR-
COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: An equivalent combination of such education and experience. To calculate your percentage of qualifying graduate education, divide your number of semester hours by 18 or the number your school uses to represent one year of full time graduate academic study. To calculate your percentage of experience, divide your months of qualifying specialized experience by 12. Add the two percentages. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must provide copies of your transcripts and the hours per week and to/from dates (month/year) on your resume.

Volunteer 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.

Education

To qualify based on education, you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Transcripts do not need to be official, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.

If you are using to meet qualification requirements, you must show that your education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.

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