Seasonal Archeological Technician

Summary

This position is located at New River Gorge National Park and Preserve; Division of Resource Management. Duties for this position are to participates in archeological field surveys by walking over the landscape and searching for archeological features and artifacts.

The seasonal Entry-on-Duty period for is April/May 2026 but can be variable during these months due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding. The anticipated Entry on Duty: May 2026.

Duties

Help

MAJOR DUTIES MAY INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING:

• Conducts literature reviews, GIS reviews, and database searches to determine presence or potential presence of archeological sites within project areas.
• Conducts archeological field surveys and prepares summary survey reports.
• Documents the location and condition of archeological sites.
• Uses mobile devices and applications to record field data, and uses software such as ArcGIS to organize, analyze, and display spatial data. Maintains related databases, forms, maps, and files. Enters archeological site, artifact, and project data into automated systems.
• Processes archeological artifacts and samples in the field and office. Prepares archeological artifacts for long-term curation.
• Assists in the development of a variety of cultural resource documents by gathering data from files and reports, conducting research, evaluating available information, and preparing draft text, tables, figures, and charts.
• Provides logistical and technical support to researchers, partners, and contractors conducting archeological surveys and projects.
• Provides work direction, training, and guidance to technicians, interns, and volunteers, including use of standard operating procedures, equipment, tools, data collection, and data management.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship required.
• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males.
• DIRECT DEPOSIT: Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
• DRIVER'S LICENSE: Must possess or be able to obtain a valid state driver's license within 7 days of appointment.
• You will be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties; a valid driver's license is required. You may be required to submit a Motor Vehicle Operator's License and Driving Record. You may also 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 disclose all valid driver's licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you.
• GOVERNMENT HOUSING: Occupancy of government housing may be required.
• UNIFORM: You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
• WORK SCHEDULE: You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, and overtime.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-12/19/2025-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.

EXPERIENCE: At least one full 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). The specialized experience required is normally work performed in a controlled environment. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include work involving archeological support such as: conducting archeological field surveys; documenting archeology sites; collecting, processing and managing field data; leading field crews; and preparing text, figures, and tables for reports and technical publications. YOU MUST INCLUDE HOURS PER WEEK WORKED.

OR

EDUCATION: One full year of graduate education in a related field such as: Historical or Precolonial Archeology, Anthropology, Cultural Anthropology, Geoarchaeology, History, or Historic Preservation. YOU MUST INCLUDE TRANSCRIPTS.

OR

COMBINATION: Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. YOU MUST INCLUDE TRANSCRIPTS.

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.

CTAP / ICTAP: Current surplus and current or former displaced Federal individuals who have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection. Well qualified means that the applicant meets the following: OPM qualification standards for the position; all selective placement factors, where applicable; special qualifying conditions that OPM has approved for the position, where applicable; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and is rated by the organization at least at the well qualified level on all competencies. Federal employees seeking CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit proof that they meet the requirements of 5 CFR 330.605(2) for CTAP and 5 CFR 330.704 for ICTAP. This includes a copy of the agency notice, a copy of their most recent Performance Rating, and a copy of their most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location. Please annotate your application to reflect that you are applying as a CTAP/ICTAP eligible. If you are selected for Federal employment, you will be required to fill out a Declaration of Federal Employment, OF-306, prior to being appointed to determine your suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation. Failing to answer all questions truthfully and completely or providing false statements on your application may be grounds for not hiring you, or for firing you after you begin work. Also, you may be punished by fine or imprisonment (U.S. Code, Title 18, section 1001).

Education

To qualify based on education, you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an accredited institution 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 education completed in foreign colleges or universities 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.

Additional information

ADDITIONAL SELECTIONS: This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.

Non-Competitive Rehire Eligibility: Temporary seasonal employees can only maintain their non-competitive rehire eligibility if they work no more than a combined total of Temporary NTE less than 1040 hours anywhere in the National Park Service (NPS) within their established service year. Accordingly, non-competitive rehire eligibility allows for re-appointment to the same position or another position appropriate for temporary appointment with the same qualification requirements (5 CFR 316.402[b][7]), based on series and grade, anywhere in the major subdivision (NPS).

If you have held a temporary seasonal appointment in the past 12 months and have already worked the maximum temporary appointment less than 1040 hours during that period, you are still welcome to apply. However, please be aware that exceeding the limit of 1040 hours in your established service year will result in the loss of your non-competitive rehire eligibility.

The limit can be exceeded by working multiple temporary seasonal positions that result in a combined total greater than 1040 hours. The limit also can be exceeded by working a single temporary seasonal appointment that exceeds 1040 hours, unless granted an exception by OPM.

Employment may be terminated at any time due to fluctuations in funding levels, project needs, employee performance, or other considerations.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The work is performed in the office, museum, and field. Field work involves routine physical exertion, including prolonged standing, hiking, and carrying equipment and packs up to 45 pounds over steep, rough, uneven, and rocky terrain. Independent work in remote field locations is sometimes required. Field work results in exposure to extreme weather conditions and terrain, pesticides, poisonous plants, biting insects, wet slippery conditions, swift water, and wild animals

Office work includes prolonged periods of sitting, often in front of a computer.

WORKING CONDITIONS: The work is performed both in an office setting and in the field. Survey and excavation work is typically performed in isolated areas; the incumbent must therefore be familiar with outdoor safety and survival skills and must be able to operate a vehicle on rough roads. Sustained periods of camping under primitive conditions are routine.

TELEWORK: The National Park Service has determined that the duties of this position are not suitable for telework.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Help

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

---