Job Information
Bureau of Reclamation Archeologist in Billings, Montana
Summary Reclamation is seeking a career professional looking for an opportunity to capitalize on their expertise as an Archeologist. You can make a difference in the West by assisting in meeting increasing water demands while protecting the environment. Duty Location: Billings, Montana For living conditions go to: https://www.usbr.gov/gp/employment/living_conditions.pdf . Responsibilities Performs all National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) compliance activities, including the preparation of appropriate cultural resource and historic property related documents. Identifies existing and potential cultural resource impacts associated with planning, construction, operation, and maintenance activities of Reclamation projects for the Montana Area Office (MTAO). Collaborates with engineers, hydrologists, planners, facility managers, environmental specialists, natural resource specialists, and other professionals and specialists to identify, minimize, or mitigate adverse impacts to cultural resources and/or historic properties, and/or paleontological resources. Provides assistance and serves as cultural resource liaison to other Federal agencies, Indian tribes, as well as State and local entities to ensure that outside customers have a clear understanding of NHPA and Reclamation's responsibilities for compliance. Prepares other special technical reports, such as those related to museum and historic properties, and/or academic papers, and lends technical assistance to Government or contracting personnel involved in preparing such reports and/or permits. Reviews and interprets reports received to ensure they meet Reclamation standards. Interprets and provides advice on the National Historic Preservation Act and regulations of 36 CFR Part 800, Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, Archaeological Resources Protection Act, and/or other cultural resources legislation to Area Office staff and management. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National. You must be suitable for federal employment, determined by a background investigation. You must submit a resume and supporting documentation (see Required Documents). You must submit eligibility documents for veterans consideration (see Required Documents). You must meet any minimum education and/or experience requirements (see Qualifications). You must submit transcript(s) to verify education requirements (see Qualifications/Education). You must maintain a valid State Driver's License at all times as the position requires operation of government vehicles on government and public roads. Failure to maintain a valid State Driver's License at all times will result in removal from the position. Who May Apply: 30% or More Disabled Veterans Bureau of Reclamation Employees (Competitive) Bureau of Reclamation Employees (Non-Competitive) Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) Department of the Interior Employees (Competitive) Department of the Interior Employees (Non-Competitive) Federal Employees (Competitive Transfer) Federal Employees (Non-Competitive Transfer) Former Federal Employees (Competitive Reinstatement) Former Federal Employees (Non-Competitive Reinstatement) Individuals with Disabilities (Schedule A) Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) Military Spouses Miscellaneous Appointing Authorities Pathways Program - Conversion Eligible Peace Corps & AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteers Public Lands Corps (PLC) Hiring Authority Special Hiring Authorities Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA) Veterans Recruitment Authority (VRA) Qualifications In order to qualify for the Archeologist position, you must meet BOTH the Basic Education Requirement and the Additional Requirements. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience. A copy of your unofficial transcripts must be provided with your application. Basic Education Requirement: A 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 OR Related Curriculum - You could otherwise meet the basic education requirement with a 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 is sufficiently similar to the requirements above including archeological field school. OR Combination of Education and Experience - You can combine education and experience to meet the basic education requirement College-level education or training that provided knowledge equivalent to that described 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. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENT: In addition to meeting the basic education requirement, you must also meet the qualifications below: GS-11: Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to at least the GS-09 level in federal service such as experience planning and conducting archeological investigations; conducting or overseeing work in support of historic preservation; conducting cultural resource fieldwork such as surveys and excavations; and performing field inspections, research, or assessments. OR Education: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education, in a related field. OR Combination of specialized experience and graduate education as defined above. 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. Time-In-Grade: Current career or career-conditional employees of the Federal government, or former career or career-conditional employees, who have a break in service of less than one year, are required to meet the time-in-grade restriction of one year of Federal experience at the next lower-grade, with few exceptions outlined in 5 CFR 300.603(b). You must meet all Eligibility and Qualification requirements, including time-in-grade restrictions and any selective placement factors if applicable, by 12/16/2024. Education This vacancy announcement allows substituting education for experience at the GS-11 grade level. You must submit a copy of college transcript(s) (unofficial copy is acceptable) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. Transcripts must include the name of the college or university and date the degree was conferred. A typed list of courses, grades, semester/quarter hours, GPA, etc. will not be accepted. Non-submission may result in being rated not-qualified for the position. This position has a mandatory education requirement. You must submit a copy of college transcript(s) (unofficial copy is acceptable) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. Transcripts must include the name of the college or university and date the degree was conferred. Non-submission will result in being rated not-qualified for the position. You will be required to provide official college transcripts to verify educational qualifications, if selected. An official transcript must be sent directly from the University's Registrar's office and must be provided from the institution awarding the degree. Academic transcripts certified by notary publics are NOT official. Official transcripts must be submitted prior to reporting to work as a condition of employment. Failure to submit official transcripts may be grounds for dismissal or rescission of the job offer. Accreditation: Only education from an accredited college or university recognized by the Department of Education is acceptable to meet education requirements or to substitute for experience, if applicable. For additional info, refer to the Office of Personnel Management and U.S. Department of Education. Foreign Education: To receive credit for education completed outside the United States, you must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs. For additional info, refer to the U.S. Network for Education Information. Additional Information You may be required to serve an initial probationary period. Reclamation has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and you may be allowed to telework with supervisory approval. Permanent Change of Station (PCS) expenses are authorized with the exception of the Guaranteed Home Sale Provision or first-post-of-duty relocation expenses are authorized, as applicable. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), signed into law December 2017, suspends the moving expense deduction and the exclusion from income of qualified employer reimbursements of moving expenses that was allowed under previous tax laws. Employer reimbursements for moving costs are now generally taxed at the same rate as ordinary income. If otherwise eligible and qualified, you may request consideration for a Superior Qualifications Appointment. For information, visit: OPM Fact Sheet. Related non-Federal experience or related experience as retired members of the uniformed services may be credited towards computing entitlement to leave accrual, at managerial discretion, providing that experience meets certain criteria. This provision allows new employees to earn annual leave at a higher rate than would otherwise be allowed. (5 Code of Federal Regulations, 630). For additional information, please visit: Creditable Service for Annual Leave DOI uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including applicant rights and responsibilities, please visit https://www.e-verify.gov/ This position is designated as a LOW RISK position. It requires a fully completed and favorably adjudicated SF85 Background Investigation (T1 or equivalent) that is current (within the last 5 years). This is a condition of employment. Male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must certify registration with the Selective Service System or that the applicant is exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. Go to: https://www.sss.gov This is a bargaining unit position represented by a Union. Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.