Student Trainee (Archeological Technician)

Duties

Participate in cave exploration, cartographic surveys, inventory culturally-significant items or structures, and carry out reconnaissance for new caves. Records data and prepares survey records (e.g., site maps, photographs, surface artifact analysis forms, field notes, etc.). Conduct limited supervised excavation and testing of sites, including the careful recovery of sample materials. Duties include completing standard feature and level forms, screening soils to recover artifacts and performing flotation of soil samples. Participate in cave resource management projects and research, which includes but is not limited to bat population studies and estimations, establishing cave monitoring transects, geological research and archeological inventories associated with caves and rock shelters. Communicate with Cultural Resource staff to update and document findings and consult regarding issues of concern. Participate in joint operational plans, research plans, and agreements. Assist with inventory activities, including mapping, surveying, and explorations of new cave passages. Help maintain a filing system for inventory records as well as all cave files. Perform data entry for cave survey and other inventory data into digital databases and a GIS system as appropriate. Help maintain inventories for archival and natural history records. Accompany visiting scientists, Monument staff, and representatives from formal caving organizations such as the Cave Research Foundation and the National Speleological Society into the park caves to assist in project completion. Operates vehicle over paved and unpaved roads and rough terrain to access remote field sites and transport equipment.

Area Information: El Malpais National Monument comprises 114,748 acres of lava fields, sculptured sandstone formations, and ponderosa, pinon and juniper forests with 85% of the park managed as wilderness. Elevation ranges from 6,600 to 8,372 feet, and temperatures range from 90+ degrees in summer to below zero in winter. Headquarters is located in Grants, New Mexico (pop.10-12,000) and all major services are available. The area offers plentiful and outstanding outdoor recreation opportunities. Rental rates range from $500 and up, real estate market for housing is $90,000 and up. Albuquerque, New Mexico is 75 miles east, and Gallup, New Mexico is 65 miles west on I-40.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position at the GS-5 grade level, you must possess 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-4 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience includes activities such as: specialized experience. You must include hours per week worked. Examples of specialized experience include, but are not limited to, the following: participating in cave archeology, archaeological field surveys; searching for archaeological features and artifacts and recording survey results through field notes, site maps, or photographs; conducting supervised excavation and testing of archaeological sites; and similar work.

-OR-

Education: Four year course of study in an accredited educational institution above high school leading to a bachelor's degree in anthropology, archaeology, or related fields. You must include transcripts.

-OR-
Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. Equivalent combination of such education and experience. For example, I have 6 months of the specialized experience described (50% of the experience requirement), and three years (90 semester hours or 135 quarter hours) of progressively higher level college study as defined above in an accredited educational institution (50% of the qualifying education). 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.

You must include months, years and hours per week worked to receive credit for your work and/or volunteer experience. One year of specialized experience is equivalent to 12 months at 40 hours per week. Part-time hours are prorated. You will not receive any credit for experience that does not indicate exact hours per week or is listed as "varies".

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. You will NOT be considered under Pathways unless you provide supporting information from your school. Documentation may be provided in letter format from your academic advisor, school counselor, admission office, etc. to proof enrollment OR it may be provided in the form of several official documents from your school such as a copy of your official transcripts and a copy of your class schedule for next semester. Copies of documents from your school website are acceptable if they contain all relevant information as listed above. Letters from advisors or other school officials must be on school letterhead.