Summary This Interdisciplinary Cultural Resources Specialist position is located at Padre Island National Seashore in the Resource Management division. Responsibilities Some of the duties you will perform will include, but are not limited to: Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and impact on particular civilization and cultures, and of preservation and archival techniques. Uses knowledge that is acquired through formal training or extensive on the job experience to perform one's job, works with, understands, and evaluates technical information related to the job; advises others on technical issues. Organizes work, sets priorities, and determines resource requirements; determines short- or long-term goals and strategies to achieve them; coordinates with other organizations or parts of the organization to accomplish goals; monitors progress and evaluates outcomes. Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, considering the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others. Recognizes or uses correct English grammar, punctuation, and spelling; communicates information (for example, facts, ideas, or messages) in a succinct and organized manner; produces written information, which may include technical material that is appropriate for the intended audience. Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level. Padre Island National Seashore Area Information: Padre Island National Seashore was established in 1962 to protect the longest stretch of undeveloped barrier island in the world, and the park's more than 130,000 acres host a rich variety of cultural and natural resources. Located between the Gulf of Mexico and the Laguna Madre, Padre Island contains coastal prairie, wetland, and wind tidal flat habitats. Recreational opportunities include saltwater fishing, kayaking, windsurfing, and birding. Learn more about the park's resources at https://www.nps.gov/pais/index.htm by navigating to the "Learn About the Park" drop-down menu. The park is located approximately 25 miles southeast of the city of Corpus Christi, Texas (population of the metropolitan area is approximately 430,000), 170 miles southeast of San Antonio, and 240 miles southwest of Houston. Corpus Christi has all the amenities of a small city, including a wide variety of housing, shopping, and recreational opportunities, including an aquarium, museums, sporting events, concerts, and botanical gardens. Several school districts, hospitals, and universities/colleges are located within 30 miles of the park boundary. Visit http://www.visitcorpuschristitx.org/index.aspx to learn more about the Corpus Christi area. Please note that there is no regularly scheduled public or commercial transportation to the park and the nearest gas station and other amenities are located approximately 13 miles north of the park entrance. Requirements 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 may be required to complete training and operate a four-wheel drive vehicle. 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 weekends and 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 travel overnight away from home up to 5 nights per month. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes. You may be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority. Obtain within 90 days of appointment and maintain UTV operator certification. Obtain within 6 months of appointment and maintain motorboat operator certification (MOCC). Ability to hike up to 10 miles daily and to perform strenuous physical activities in adverse weather conditions. Qualifications This position may be filled in any one of the following professional occupational series: History GS-0170, Archeology GS-0193 or Landscape Architecture GS-0807. You must meet the Basic Requirements for each series you wish to be considered for, AND also meet OPM's Qualification Standards for Professional and Scientific positions. Basic Requirements for History GS-0170: Degree: A degree in history; or related field that included at least 18 semester hours in history. -OR- Combination of Education and Experience: A combination with courses equivalent to a major in history, or a major in a related field that included at least 18 semester hours in history, as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Basic Requirements for Archeology GS-0193: Degree: Must have obtained the education described in A through C in this paragraph: A) Bachelor or higher degree that includes 3 semester hours each in the following 5 course areas: 1) History of archaeology; 2) Archaeology of a major geographical area such as North America or Africa; 3) Regional archaeology, 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; 4) Theory and methods of archaeology. Methods include, but are not limited to, typology, classification, sampling, cultural evolution, diffusion, dating and analytical techniques; 5) 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. B) IN ADDITION, must have taken six semester hours of related course work in: geography, geology, or cultural geography; history, historiography, or historical archaeology; environmental studies; scientific writing (nonfiction English composition); and/or surveying. C) AND must have completed archaeological field school. Field school must be documented in your transcripts or resume. -OR- 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 stated in A above, including archaeological field school. Field school must be documented in your transcripts or resume. -OR- Combination of Education and Experience: A combination (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 archaeological work experience that demonstrated a thorough knowledge of the fundamental principles and theories of professional archaeology. The work experience must have included archaeology field experience, which may include that gained in an archaeological field school. Field experience should have included 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-grade 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. Basic Requirements for Landscape Architecture GS-0807: Degree: A degree in landscape architecture or landscape design. -OR- Combination of Education and Experience: A combination with each year short of graduation, the applicant must have had 1 year of experience under professional leadership and guidance of such character and diversity as to be a satisfactory substitute for the required education. This experience must have included original landscape design. In addition to the basic requirements above, to qualify for this position at the GS-09 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following: Experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 level in the Federal service. Examples of qualifying specialized experience includes but is not limited to: identifying potential solutions relating to management of cultural resources; assisting with development of a variety of integrated management/operating plans; providing guidance on complex historic preservation issues in accordance with relevant laws, policies and standards; assisting with preparation of historic preservation and compliance documentation as required by Section 106 and section 110 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). -OR- Education: Two years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree that is directly related to the position being filled. -OR- Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience as described above. NOTE: Only graduate level education in excess of one year may be combined with experience. To calculate your percentage of qualifying graduate education, divide your number of semester hours in excess of 18 semester hours by 18. To calculate your percentage of experience, divide your months of qualifying specialized experience by 12. Add the two percentages. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. In addition to the basic requirements above, to qualify for this position at the GS-11 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following: Experience: One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Examples of qualifying specialized experience includes but is not limited to: identifying potential solutions relating to management of cultural resources; assisting with development of a variety of integrated management/operating plans; providing guidance on complex historic preservation issues in accordance with relevant laws, policies and standards; assisting with preparation of historic preservation and compliance documentation as required by Section 106 and section 110 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA); conducting project reviews, and providing technical assistance and information regarding cultural resource compliance. -OR- Education: Three years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. -OR- Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience as described above. NOTE: Only graduate level education in excess of two years may be combined with experience. To calculate your percentage of qualifying graduate education, divide your number of semester hours in excess of 36 semester hours by 18. To calculate your percentage of experience, divide your months of qualifying specialized experience by 12. Add the two percentages. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. *Specialized experience is experience that equips the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. *One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent one year of full-time study. If that number cannot be obtained from school, 18 semester hours should be considered an academic year of graduate study. 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. All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-10/23/2024-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. For current Federal employees, if hours worked per week are not included on your resume, you must submit a non-award SF-50 for each federal position listed as part of your application to be used to validate your work schedule and determine the amount of qualifying experience that you will be granted. An award SF-50 will not be acceptable documentation for which to consider your amount of qualifying experience. For all other applicants who are not current federal employees, your resume must state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience. Failure to adequately provide information needed to determine number of hours worked in each position may result in that time not being credited when evaluating qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and/or part-time hours requirement as the service dates will be reflected. 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. Additional Information A selectee receiving a first appointment to the Federal Government (Civil Service) is entitled only to the lowest step of the grade for which selected The display of a salary range on this vacancy shall not be construed as granting an entitlement to a higher rate of pay. A Recruitment Incentive May Be Authorized for a newly selected employee when appointed to a permanent, temporary, or term position. A Federal employee who is transferring to the National Park Service from another component, bureau or Federal agency and who does not meet the conditions under 5 CFR §575.102 is not eligible for a recruitment incentive. A Relocation Incentive May Be Authorized for a Federal employee when the employee must move, as directed by the National Park Service (NPS) either through a management directed reassignment or selection for employment, to a different location at least 50 miles away from the one where his/her position of record held at time of selection is currently located, due to a need of the NPS. A relocation incentive is not the same as a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) move and, as such, may be granted in conjunction with one another. Promotion to the full performance level is neither guaranteed nor implied and will be based solely on your ability to satisfactorily perform the work of the position, existing work at the higher grade level, and recommendation by the position's supervisor. Physical Demands: Documentary research and report writing work is sedentary, which entails the ability to concentrate and write for long periods of time. The position may require strenuous physical activity, including field surveys and construction site inspection trips and occasional backcountry projects that require hiking and possibly camping for several days. Such trips involve a considerable amount of physical activity, including but not limited to standing, walking, climbing, lifting objects over 50 pounds, and stooping. Working Conditions: Work is performed primarily in an office environment. Some work may occur in storage areas that are confined spaces lacking windows. Field work includes exposure to extreme weather conditions and terrain, poisonous plants, biting insects, and wild animals. Work may occasionally involve exposure to hazardous chemicals. On occasion, flying in fixed winged aircraft and helicopters is possible. The National Park Service has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework only during an emergency or natural disaster. Documentation for the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) eligibility, You must submit ALL SF-50s and performance information for each period of temporary/term employment that qualifies for LMWFA. Performance documentation can be obtained by contacting the supervisors for the positions you served in during your 24 months. If they did not complete performance appraisals ask them to provide a statement of performance for each period of service. The statement must specify the dates for each employment period and your level of performance consistent with your SF_50s.