Archeologist (Temporary)

Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to United States Citizens; U.S. Nationals; and Career transition eligibles (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL).

Up to three GS-07 and one GS-09 positions are being filled. There is no promotion potential for the GS-07 positions.

Yosemite National Park is recruiting for TEMPORARY seasonal positions not to exceed 1 year. Some of the duties you will perform will include, but are not limited to. GS-07 duties include:

• Use Geospatial Information to inform future scientific investigations and improve the understanding of cultural resources in the park.
• Collaborate with and support teams focused on major seasonal projects in archeology (eg., construction monitoring, wilderness restoration, Fire, Forestry) in order to strengthen resource stewardship across the park.
• Support compliance with NHPA, ARPA, NAGPRA, and other cultural resource law and policy; gain experience needed to conduct project reviews, serve on Interdisciplinary Teams, complete backlog project reporting.
• Conduct field projects, including pedestrian inventory, archeological evaluation, resource advising to other teams, and archeological site monitoring in front and back country locations.
• Archeological field work often includes walking over uneven terrain, covering up to 10 miles per day; repetitive twisting, bending; lifting up to 40 pounds; physical exertion in extreme weather conditions.

• Participates in, and conducts independently, a variety of archeological and cultural resource tasks including pre-fieldwork research, consultation, survey, reconnaissance, monitoring, test excavation, data recovery excavation, analysis and reporting.
• Provides professional and technical assistance in a variety of areas related to or impacted by the archeology function, including National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) Section 106 compliance, clearance and planning, archeological assessments, evaluations, and field inspections.
• Prepares the following types of documentation including, but not limited to: Archeological Small Project Reports, Cultural Resource inventory Systems (CRIS), and site forms.
• Drafts correspondence and complete archeological project packages for consultation.
• Maintains databases, forms, maps and files with project information.
• Enters archeological artifact and project data including artifact information, catalog records, field notes, site records and GIS information into automated systems.

Physical Demands: The work is partially sedentary with prolonged standing, walking and bending often required. Heavy items such as backpacks weighing 40-50lbs must be lifted and carried on a regular basis. Backcountry operations may require hiking with a full pack for 10 or more miles in a day, sometimes across off-trail areas. Archeological survey work may be carried out in steep, isolated terrain. You must be able to hike on rough, obscure trails, and be able to navigate cross-country using a map and compass. Excavations may require strenuous physical exertion and heavy lifting.

Working Conditions: Approximately 60-75% of the work is performed in the office. Survey, testing, excavation, and monitoring work is performed in park areas, often these are located in the backcountry. You may be required to work independently to complete fieldwork projects in isolated and rugged areas. You must be familiar with outdoor safety and survival skills and must be able to operate a vehicle on rough roads. Backcountry operations are usually limited to the summer season, although fieldwork may occur year-round and limited backcountry operations may be required at any time of the year. You must be able to operate effectively in the backcountry for extended periods (7-10 days). Project areas vary from heavily forested river valleys to steep subalpine and alpine landscapes; therefore, you need to be knowledgeable about the hazards of working in each setting. The Cascades Mountains are known for their rapidly changing weather conditions. You need to be able to operate effectively in a variety of less than optimum weather conditions.

For more information about this park, please visit Yosemite National Park (U.S. National Park Service).

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 may 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 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 complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority.
• Applicants must be at least (1)18 years old or (2) at least 16 years old and: (a) Have graduated from high school or been awarded a certificate equivalent to graduating from high school; or (b) Have completed a formal vocational training program; or (c) Have received a statement from school authorities agreeing with their preference for employment rather than continuing their education; or (d) Be currently enrolled in a secondary school and either work only during school vacation periods or work part-time during the school year under a formal student employment program.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-08/31/2026-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.

Basic Qualifications: successfully completed a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's degree or higher that included 3 semester hours of EACH of the following course areas: History of Archeology; Archeology of a major geographical area such as North America or Africa; Regional archeology, archaeological 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); AND Archaeological 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); or surveying;
-OR-
Related Curriculum: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelors degree or higher in anthropology (with emphasis on ethnology, physical anthropology, or scientific linguistics), history, American studies, or related discipline, provided the curriculum supplied academic course work sufficiently similar to the requirements stated above (including archaeological field school).Combination of Education and Experience - I have a combination of education and experience that provides knowledge equivalent to that described in A above, plus appropriate additional education or technical experience to total 4 years. This combination demonstrates that I possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the work of an archaeologist comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of a full 4-year course of study.
-OR -
Experience - I have four years of archaeological work experience that demonstrates a thorough knowledge of the fundamental principles and theories of professional archeology. The work experience includes archeology field experience, which may include that gained in an archaeological field school. Field experience includes a combination of professional experience in archaeological survey, excavation, laboratory analysis, and preparation of written materials. Applicants with such field experience should, after additional experience under the direction of a higher-level archaeologist, 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 archaeological project.
AND

Minimum Qualifications:

To qualify for this position at the GS-7 grade level, you must possess at one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:

EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-5 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience includes activities such as (1) conducting archeological site inventories and cataloging; (2) Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to inform survey needs and landscape sensitivity; (3) contributing to archeological survey and excavation reports; and (4) using Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to record archeological site and features. . You must include hours per week worked.
-OR-
EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least one full year (18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours) of progressively higher-level graduate education. To be qualifying, graduate study must have been in archeology, anthropology, or other closely related field. You must include transcripts.
-OR-
Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. To combine education and experience, For example, I have six months of specialized experience (50% of the experience requirement), and 9 semester hours of graduate education in archeology, anthropology, or other closely related field (50% of the education requirement. You must include transcripts.
-OR-
Superior Academic Achievement (SAA): Successfully completed a bachelor's degree in a directly related field AND meet one of the following: (1) Class Standing: rank in the upper 3rd of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, based on the completed courses; OR (2) Grad-Point Average (GPA): earn a GPA of (a) 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field, or the required courses completed during the final two years. Note: GPA will be rounded to the one decimal place, for example, 2.95 = 3.0, 2.94 = 2.9; OR (3) Membership in a National Scholastic Honor Society: elected membership in one of the national scholastic honor societies.

To qualify for this position at the GS-9 grade level, you must possess at one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:

EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience includes activities such as: applying the theories, principles, practices, and techniques of archeology to the conduct of prehistoric and historic archeological field investigations and cultural resource projects in the American West which included the preparation of survey reports, site recording forms, site maps, overlays, field notes, and using Global Positioning System (GPS) and Geographic Information System (GIS). GS-07 Archeological Technician experience is NOT qualifying to meet this requirement.
-OR-
EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or completion of all requirements for a master's or equivalent graduate degree. To be qualifying, graduate study must have been in archeology, anthropology, or other closely related field. The total education offered to meet this provision must have provided you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to successfully perform the work of this position. To receive credit, you should describe how the specific course work, research projects, dissertation, theses, etc. demonstrate the ability to perform the duties of this position. (Eighteen semester hours or 27 quarter hours or the number of credit hours the school attended has determined to represent one year of full-time study is considered to be equal to one full year of graduate education).
-OR-
COMBINATION: Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. Note: Only graduate education in excess of one year is creditable for combination.

Continued in the Education Section.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g. resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of any additional assessment(s) required for this position.

Your resume must not exceed 2 pages. Only the document submitted as the "Resume" under the Documents section will be used to determine your qualifications/eligibility and for rating purposes. In the event you submit more than one resume, only the latest submission will be reviewed.

Candidates will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. These procedures place candidates with veteran's preference above non-preference eligibles within each category. Veterans with a service-connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level or higher. Under Category Rating, candidates will be rated and ranked into the following categories:

• Best Qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position

• Well Qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in most of the requirements of the job

• Qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in some, but not all of the requirements of the job.

You will be assessed in the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

• Applies Technology to Tasks
• History and Archaeology
• Planning and Evaluating
• Research
• Technical Competence

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

Current or former displaced Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP). To be considered under CTAP/ICTAP, you must be well-qualified, score at least 85 (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements), and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry.

Providing false or misleading information on your resume or supporting documentation may result in removal from consideration or other action consistent with applicable federal hiring regulations. Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position.

The following documents are required and must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 08/31/2026:

1. Resume which includes a list of all significant jobs held and duties performed, with dates in month-year format (include month/day/year format if needed for 52 weeks of experience), and indicate hours worked per week (or full-time). Your resume must clearly show how long you have held each grade/rank. Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted. The minimum font size is 10-point for all body text. All resumes must maintain a minimum 0.5-inch margins on all sides to ensure readability and prevent excessive content compression. Including supplemental pages or attachments disguised as resume extensions are prohibited and will not be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications. Your 2-page resume must contain information sufficient to make a valid determination that you fully meet the specialized experience requirements. If you have federal experience, you should include series, and grade for each position held, and if experience is part of a career ladder position, you must clearly distinguish the job duties and length of time working for each grade level. More information on how to write a Federal Resume: https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include
2. Complete All Required Assessments.
3. All college transcript(s), if qualifying based on education. Please submit both undergraduate and graduate level transcripts, as applicable.
4. Veterans Preference Documentation, if applicable. Veterans must submit a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (member 4 copy) or other Documentation of Service and Separation under Honorable Conditions, as listed on the SF15. If you are a Disabled Veteran, Purple Heart Recipient, or Parent or Spouse of a Disabled or Deceased Veteran, you must submit all additional proof required by the SF15, and if applicable, a completed SF15. You may request a copy of your Department of Veterans Affairs letter from www.va.gov/records/ or call 1-800-827-1000. If you are a veteran within 120 days of discharge, you must submit signed documentation from the Armed Forces certifying: 1) your expected release/retirement from active duty, 2) under honorable conditions, 3) your pay grade/rank/rate at time of discharge, 4) dates of active-duty service, 5) any campaign or expeditionary medals received, & 6) dated within 120 days of your separation.
5. Interagency Career Transition (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP): You MUST submit proof of eligibility including 1) copy of the agency notice, e.g., RIF Separation Notice, Notice of Proposed Removal, etc.; 2) SF-50s (Notifications of Personnel Action) showing career/conditional tenure competitive status, promotion potential and duty location; and 3) your most recent performance appraisal. To exercise selection priority, displaced or surplus Federal employees must be well qualified. For more information visit: USAJOBS Help Center - Career Transition Programs (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL).

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