Explore a new career with the BLM - where our people are our most precious resource. This position is located in Vernal, Utah. Information about Vernal and the surrounding area can be found here. We expect to fill one vacancy at this time; however, additional positions may be filled from this announcement if they become available.

Duties

This position serves as an Archeologist for the Green River District. Applies a professional knowledge of archeological principles, theories, concepts, methods and techniques to perform a variety of complex assignments related to heritage resource management. Ensures compliance with Section 106 and 110 of the National Historic Preservation Act. Completes determinations of Eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places (NR) for archeology sites. Prepares professional reports and studies and reviews reports made by others, ensuring all are adequate to meet compliance requirements of legislation, regulation and needs of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Oversees inventories to locate heritage resources and determine impacts due to developmental activities in accordance with applicable federal laws, regulations and policies. Conducts archaeological field work in accordance with the Secretary of Interior Guidelines for Historic Preservation. Works with BLM management, landowners, state, tribal, and local governments, consulting parties and the public to provide information, develop partnerships, and explain and apply legal requirements. Provides recommendations and solutions to eliminate resource conflicts. Assesses the planning area at a landscape level to determine the best management for heritage resources within that landscape and develops best management practices for such resources. Promotes participation and organizes volunteers and other interested publics in partnerships to protect and manage heritage resources. Ensures that inventory and site data are entered, managed and utilized in various geospatial databases. Advises higher level officials of any deficiencies in the heritage resource program and recommends what resources are needed to eliminate short falls. Using ArcGIS or similar computer mapping programs to process GPS data and create maps and working documents for reports. Prepare portions of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents related to cultural resources.

Requirements

• 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 period.

Qualifications

Selective Placement Factors: This position requires a special qualification that has been determined to be essential to perform the duties and will be used as a screen out element. Those who do not provide evidence they possess the following selective factor(s) will be rated not qualified: 1) Must possess (or obtain within 30 days of entrance on duty) and maintain a valid state driver's license while employed in this position. 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 at the GS-09 level you must meet the following: Specialized Experience: Applicants must possess one (1) full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-07 level comparable in difficulty and complexity to perform the duties of an Archeologist. Qualifying specialized experience includes: conducting archeological investigations as an experienced crew member or crew chief; conducting archaeological surveys using GPS mapping techniques or preparing GIS maps; conducting historical or prehistorical archeological field investigations; and preparing reports or report sections on archeological site investigations. OR Education: To qualify based on education you must have a Master's or equivalent degree, or two (2) full years (36 semester hours) of graduate-level education leading to a master's or equivalent graduate degree in a related field of study. OR Combination of Education and Experience: You may meet qualifications requirement for this position with an equivalent combination of specialized experience and appropriate graduate education. Graduate level education must demonstrate the difficulty and complexity to do the work of this position. Only graduate level education in excess of 18 semester hours may be combined with experience. To qualify at the GS-11 level you must meet the following: Specialized Experience: Applicants must possess one (1) full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-09 level comparable in difficulty and complexity to perform the duties of an Archeologist. Qualifying specialized experience includes: authoring or reviewing cultural resource sections of resource management plans or environmental documents; developing mitigation strategies to resolve adverse effects to historic properties; overseeing activities to protect and improve the conditions of cultural resources; and planning or carrying out archeological research projects. OR Education: To qualify based on education you must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or three (3) full years (54 semester hours) of graduate-level education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in a related field of study. OR Combination of Education and Experience: You may meet qualifications requirement for this position with an equivalent combination of specialized experience and appropriate graduate education. Graduate level education must demonstrate the difficulty and complexity to do the work of this position. Only graduate level education in excess of 36 semester hours 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 routinely requires physical exertion such as long periods of standing or walking over rough, uneven, rocky surfaces or mountainous terrain; recurring bending, crouching, stooping or reaching; using hand tools such as shovels, trowels, or screening devices; and lifting of moderately heavy items such as equipment and samples. Work Environment: The work regularly involves moderate risks or discomforts which may require special safety precautions, e.g., adverse weather conditions, hazardous driving conditions, irritating of occasionally hazardous chemicals; hostile wildlife; and travel in off-road vehicles. Incumbent will adhere to all safety rules and regulations as prescribed in manuals/supplements or by the designated Safety Officer.

Education

This position has a positive education requirement which requires:

A. Education

• 1. 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;

Archeological field school.

• 2. 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

B. 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

C. 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.

Contacts

• Address BLM Utah State Office BLM Utah State Office, UT-953 400 West 200 South Suite 500 Salt Lake City, UT 84101 US
• Name: BLM Utah HR Recruitment Team
• Email: [email protected]